Youth Security Forum 25-28 May 2021 (Via Zoom)
The National Security Forum of Nevada, in partnership with the Washoe County School District, is hosting a virtual forum for students to engage national security thought leaders in discussions about timely topics that are shaping the world we live in now and the future they will have a chance to lead.
Format: Each national security thought leader will record a 10 min introduction to the topic in advance. Students should watch it before the session. Thought leaders will then engage students in a discussion of the topic with ample time for questions on both the topic and their career paths in national security.
Thank You Letter from WCSD
Youth Security Forum Flyer (PDF)
Introduction Videos and Speaker Bios
Topic 1. Domestic extremism in the post Jan 6th world?
Thought Leader – Dr. Liz Yates (Senior Researcher for Domestic Radicalization, START Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Tuesday, May 25, 1:00 to 1:50 pm (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 2. Climate security – conflict and migration
Thought Leader – Dr. Tegan Blaine (Senior Advisor for Environment and Conflict, U.S. Institute of Peace, based in Geneva, Switzerland) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Wednesday, May 26, 8:00 to 8:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 3. 4th Branch of government – the media, news deserts, and disinformation
Thought Leader – Mr. Jon Ralston (Founder & Editor, The Nevada Independent, Las Vegas, NV) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Wednesday, May 26, 9:00 to 9:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 4. Health security – COVID, India, and the next pandemic
Thought Leader – Dr. James Wilson (Founder & CEO, M2 Medical Intelligence, Reno, NV) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Thursday, May 27, 1:00 to 1:50 pm (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 5. Election security – what happens when disinformation runs for office
Thought Leader – Mr. Matthews (Protective Security Advisor for Nevada, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency, Carson City, NV) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Wednesday, May 26, 10:00 to 10:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 6. Hacks, more hacks, and counterhacks – who wins a cyber war?
Thought Leader – Mr. Matthew Devost (CEO & Co-Founder of OODA, LLC, McClean, VA) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Tuesday, May 25, 9:00 to 9:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 7. When governments fail – Myanmar’s downward spiral
Thought Leader – Dr. Antonia Neubauer (Founder, Myths & Mountains and READ Global, Incline Village, NV) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Thursday, May 27, 10:00 to 10:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 8. Peacebuilding in the time of “forever wars”
Thought Leader – Ms. Karen Decker (Visiting Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace, former Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Kabul, Washington, DC) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Thursday, May 27, 9:00 to 9:50 am (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Topic 9. When bad guys get nukes – the troublesome cases of Iran and North Korea
Thought Leader – Mr. James McDonnell, MSTS, LLC, former Assistant Secretary of Department of Homeland Security for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, based in Las Vegas, NV) (Speaker Bio PDF)
Session Time: Wednesday, May 26, 1:00 to 1:50 pm (PDT)
Introduction Video
Full Session Video
Schedule (all times are in Pacific Time):
| Session Time | Tue 25 May | Wed 26 May | Thu 27 May |
| 8:00 – 8:50 am | Topic 2: Climate Security – migration and conflict | ||
| 9:00 – 9:50 am | Topic 6: Cyber hacks and counterhacks | Topic 3: 4th branch of government | Topic 8: Peacebuilding post forever wars |
| 10:00 – 10:50 am | Topic 7: Myanmar – When governments fail | Topic 5: Election security and disinformation | Topic 7: Myanmar – When governments fail |
| 1:00 – 1:50 pm | Topic 1: Domestic extremism post Jan 6th | Topic 9: When bad guys get nukes | Topic 4: Health security – post COVID |
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
We want to thank our sponsors for their generous support and making this forum possible.
