While the OUSSG has not held any recorded events since the Covid-19 pandemic and does not currently have plans to hold any in the near future, those that were held have been posted here for your convenience as a resource
Leading and Navigating in a Fast Moving and Turbulent World
with Amb. Christian Dussey
2020-06-16 — We live in a highly interconnected world marked by ongoing far-reaching transformation. Changes are occurring both gradually and abruptly, on different levels and in multiple spheres. Dealing with these challenges requires new skills and competences, different attitudes and a solid knowledge of today’s multilayered international environment. The discussion will cover the characteristics of today’s environment and the implications for organizations and individuals involved in international affairs.
Joining us for this podcast is Ali Soufan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Soufan Group. He is a leading national security and counterterrorism expert and plays an advisory role in global intelligence issues alongside serving as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Formerly an FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Mr Soufan investigated and supervised complex international terrorism cases, including the East Africa embassy bombings, the attack on the USS Cole, and the events surrounding 9/11. He has published two books on the subject, "The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against Al-Qaeda" and "Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of Bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State", informed by his on-the-ground experience. His talk will focus on intelligence sharing between intelligence agencies, specifically comparing the pre-9/11 failures to the contemporary situation, with a focus on the challenge that tackling white supremacy poses in this regard.
A discussion on White Supremacism and Disinformation with Ali Soufan
This talk provides a snapshot of how perceptions of biological and health security threats, and the political responses to them, have evolved over the last century. It covers the major biological warfare programmes of the Cold War and negotiations of key arms control treaties aimed at prohibiting biological weapons; the rise of bioterrorism and biopreparedness; the interface with naturally occurring infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies of international concern; and biosecurity threats linked to advances in science. The talk concludes with a consideration of potential future biological weapons, and argues that there is a narrowing window of opportunity to bolster the norm against this particular form of warfare.
Biosecurity Threats: A Long View with Dr. Filippa Lentzos
Dr Michael Martindale is a retired U.S. Air Force Space Operations Officer who specializes in strategic studies and the study and application of spacepower. Dr. Martindale was an instructor at the prestigious USAF Weapons School and a strategist for Checkmate, the Air Force's strategic planning group. He then served as a Professor of Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he was also the director of the Center for Airpower Studies. Since leaving active service, Dr Martindale has continued to be a thought leader in the realm of spacepower and its influence on national security, a role that has only become more prominent with the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. Currently, he directs the Space Education Committee for the Space Force Association and serves as editor of Space Force Journal.