05 January 2026
Dear Members and Friends of the National Security Forum,
As we begin a new year, I am delighted to welcome you—our members, partners, sponsors, and guests—to what promises to be an exceptional and timely season of programming for the National Security Forum of Nevada (NSF). It is a privilege to continue this work with a community that values thoughtful analysis, civil discourse, and a deep commitment to understanding the forces that shape our nation’s security and future.
The year ahead holds special meaning for our country. As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, NSF’s 2026 program series will deliberately look backward as well as forward—examining today’s national security challenges through the lens of history. Across our forums this year, we will spotlight topics that illuminate the roots of the American experiment, the enduring principles that have guided the nation since its founding, and the ways those principles have been interpreted, tested, and refined across generations.
Our goal is not nostalgia, but perspective. By grounding contemporary debates in historical context, we aim to better understand where American strategy has been consistent over time, where it has diverged, and why those choices matter today. We will launch our 2026 programming with an in-depth examination of the Trump Administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy, the first such strategy of President Trump’s second term. This opening forum will explore how the 2025 Strategy aligns with—or departs from—decades of national security strategies produced under Administrations of both parties.
This kickoff event sets the tone for the year ahead: rigorous, historically informed, and focused on the real-world implications of strategy for deterrence, diplomacy, economic security, and national resilience.
New Venue
Beginning in 2026, NSF will host its in-person breakfast forums at a new but familiar venue: the J Resort, located at 345 N. Arlington Avenue, Reno, Nevada 89501—known to many longtime Nevadans as the old Sands. We are thrilled to return NSF programming to downtown Reno and believe this venue will be more accessible to our local business community and students from the University of Nevada, Reno, and Washoe County schools.
As always, NSF will continue to offer hybrid events, allowing you to join us in person or via Zoom from anywhere.
What to Expect in Our Programs in 2026
- The evolution of U.S. national security strategy from the Founding era to today
- America’s engagement in South America, then and now
- Great power competition and deterrence in historical perspective
- Nuclear strategy, arms control, and strategic stability
- Energy security, industrial strength, and national resilience
- Intelligence, surveillance, and the origins of spying in America
NSF Board Updates
We are very grateful to Dr. Kevin Schaller for his service as NSF Board President over the last three years and for his generous support to our programs. Dr. Schaller has stepped down as board president while remaining on the board as Vice President for Engagement. Susan Malone (US Marine Corp, ret) has assumed the role of board president. Thank you, Susan for your leadership. We are also very pleased to announce Mig Gasca as our newest board member. Thank you, Mig! NSF is still seeking additional board members to help with expanding our membership and sponsors.
We want to hear from you
- Follow our program announcements and check out videos of past programs on our website at: nationalsecurityforum.org
- If you are not an NSF member already, please join us at: https://nationalsecurityforum.org/membership/about-our-membership/
- Interested in joining the NSF board, email Leila at: leila@nationalsecurityforum.org
- Have suggestions for NSF forum topics, email me at: mccarthy@nationalsecurityforum.org
- Any other questions, requests, or comments, email us at: info@nationalsecurityforum.org
Thank you for being part of the National Security Forum community. I look forward to welcoming you—online or downtown at the J Resort—as we begin an exciting new year of NSF programming.
With warm regards,
Maureen McCarthy, PhD
NSF Director of Programs & Commentary