"NEW MODEL" MENTORSHIP GATHERINGS

Gathering with friends, mentors, and peers while enjoying a cigar and some Scotch has long been an integral part of working in strategy (at least in the U.S. community). Beginning in the summer of 2013, Nate Finney started gathering of folks interested in strategy to converse over cigars and libations in Washington, DC - leading the effort into a form of "new model" mentoring. It quickly grew as word of mouth spread - apparently the DC area is a hub for the strategically-minded.

Since that time, these gatherings have grown, including a chapter in DC, Carlisle PA, Boston MA, and beyond.  These gatherings have become a diverse and changing group of policy wonks, strategists, think tankers, academics, researchers, authors, analysts, and more from all walks of life. These gatherings host speakers at several venues on a monthly basis to talk strategy, the military art, and the profession of national security. 

CigarS, Scotch, & Strategy — Washington, DC

If you live in the DC area (or find yourself in town) and interested in strategy, CS&S would love to have you join the monthly gatherings. You can contact the current group's viceroy, Marc Schanz and ask to join the email list.  When you email, make sure to let him know 1) who you are, 2) what brings you to the area, 3) and what your interests are!

Update: As of 2024, this group is no longer regularly meeting. Mr. Schanz does maintain the group email list, however, in the event gatherings restart in the future.

"Cogito, Agnosco, Confero"

Carlisle Strategy Sessions — Carlisle, PA

If you live in Central Pennsylvania (or find yourself at the U.S. Army War College) and interested in strategy, CSS would love to have you join our monthly gatherings. You can contact the current group's Hosts Al Lord, JP Clark, or Bill Ault and ask to join the email list.  When you email, make sure to let them know 1) who you are, 2) what brings you to the area, 3) and what your interests are!

"Cogito, Agnosco, Confero"

The Strategy Bridge Boston (TSB2) — Cambridge, MA

The Strategy Bridge Team is sponsoring gatherings for the strategic minded in the Boston area, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. Watch for announcements on Facebook and Twitter or email the organizers, Jeremy Gwinn and Justin DeShazor.

Drink & Think — Melbourne, Australia

If you live in the Melbourne area (or find yourself in town) and interested in strategy, our Drink & Think community would love to have you join the monthly gatherings. To get involved, you can contact the leader of our engagement, Clare Murphy, or you can get in touch with us through Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Be certain to let her know 1) who you are, 2) what brings you to the area, 3) and what your interests are!

"Think in Excess, Drink in Moderation"

These venues have hosted varied speakers, including:

  • Prof. John Brown, US Senior Foreign Service (Ret.) and Georgetown University public diplomacy and propaganda historian

  • Col. Sue Bryant, US security coordinator (USSC) for Israel and the Palestinian Authority

  • Dr. Scott Buchanan, USD for Policy-NATO/Fmr Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan Ministry of Defense

  • Dr. Ash Carter, former United States Secretary of Defense

  • LTGEN Angus Campbell, Chief of the Australian Army

  • Dr. Andrew Carr, Senior Lecturer in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University

  • The Hon. Derek Chollet, Senior Advisor for Defense and Security Policy at the German Marshall Fund and former ASD for International Security Affairs - author, The Long Game

  • The late Duane "Dewey" Clarridge, author, A Spy for All Seasons, and former CIA officer

  • August Cole and Peter Singer, authors of Ghost Fleet

  • Col. Greg Daddis, US Military Academy at West Point, head - American History Division

  • Dr. Malcolm Davis, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute

  • Dr. Peter Dean, Senior Fellow at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

  • Amb. Joe Donovan, former director American Institute of Taiwan - DC office (US representation to Taiwan)

  • Dr. Antulio Echevarria, editor in chief of US Army War College journal Parameters

  • Amb. Chas Freeman, American diplomat, businessman, and writer

  • Dr. Mark Hagerott, Chancellor of the North Dakota University system, formerly of the US Naval Academy and professor of cyber security

  • Dr. Nina Kollars, Franklin and Marshall College, assistant professor of government and military innovation scholar

  • Dr. Mike Matheny, US Army War College, professor of military strategy and operations

  • Prof. David Maxwell (Colonel,US Army Special Forces, ret.), Associate Director, Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University

  • Dr. John Nagl, author Knife Fights and Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife

  • Mr. Mark Perry, Middle East analyst, journalist, military historian, and author - Partners in Command: George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower in War and Peace, Four Stars: The 40 Year Battle Between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and America's Civilian Leaders, and The Most Dangerous Man in America: The Making of Douglas MacArthur

  • MAJGEN Mick Ryan, Commander Australian Defence College