Global Tennessee

Geopolitical Divergences on the Korean Peninsula by Tennessee World Affairs Council

Reshaping of the Middle East by Tennessee World Affairs Council

After an unprecedented year of elections, new leaders around the globe who have promised change will be expected to deliver in 2025. The world will also be coming to terms with the outcome of America's elections in November and the implications for global security, trade, and climate policy. New alliances are forming, and old ones are fraying in an increasingly tense and dangerous world. But the adoption of green tech continues to outpace the most optimistic forecasts, even as concerns grow over artificial intelligence and its voracious appetite for chips, energy, water, and data. Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist and editor of The World Ahead 2025, will consider these and other trends and their implications for geopolitics, business, and culture in the coming year.

Mark Reese began his thirty-year career in Central Asia as the first Peace Corps volunteer to serve in Kokand, Uzbekistan, from 1994-1996. Through the University of Washington, he subsequently established and managed a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program centered around Islamic studies and curricula reform in Uzbekistan through the Department of State's Uzbekistan Partnership Program in Islamic Studies. Mr. Reese managed translation and cultural advisement task orders for a broad spectrum of government and private industry clients. Over seven years, he conducted groundbreaking work through dynamic educational program development as Founding Director for the Center for Regional Studies at the United States Naval Academy. His flagship work surrounds his translation of Abdullah Qodiriy's O'tkan Kunlar, the first full-length novel in the Uzbek language. For his efforts, the Republic of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Mr. Reese the Presidential Order of Do'stlik for furthering awareness of the Uzbek language and culture. In 2023, he was awarded the Tourism Fo'ydasi for developing tourism content in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. As CEO of Suhbat LLC, Mark is currently engaged in strategic communications and cultural program development for a variety of clients in Central Asia.

The dialog between the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of America (WACA), Matthew Hughes, and Hon. Karl Dean, will verse around the importance of WACA and all 90 World Affairs Council in engaging the public and leaders in global affairs in an age of rapidly shifting international order. At the center of the discussion will be the impact of WACA in informing and educating students about global professional opportunities and the importance for them to understand different corporate cultures.

Moderated by Chinese journalism expert Jeremy Goldkorn, this in-depth discussion with James Siebens (Fellow, Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program) explored how China leverages armed coercion to achieve its goals without direct conflict. This session is essential for anyone interested in global security, international relations, and current geopolitical dynamics.

The Middle East is at a hinge moment. The old order is collapsing, and a new one has yet to emerge. While the region's tectonic shifts predate Hamas's terror attack on Oct. 7, the ensuing conflict in Gaza and its reverberations across the region are the crucible in which the new contours of the Middle East will take shape. USIP's Mona Yacoubian will provide insights on the regional flashpoints that have erupted in the wake of the Gaza conflict as well as the broader implications for a region in a state of enormous flux.

Do you wonder what jobs and careers there are in international affairs?  There's more than you think.  Every Fall and Spring the World Affairs Council assembles diplomats, business people, NGO officials, returned Peace Corps volunteers and more to talk about their experiences and insights and to answer your questions at this very popular panel.  The ICP will feature four panelists from different professions sharing hard to come by information on working in multicultural societies. This is a special opportunity to listen to distinguished professionals' experiences and insights and to discuss: preparation and transition from colleges to careers including the tools; skills and competencies needed to enter the profession; the upsides and downsides of working in those jobs and internship opportunities in their organizations. The panel is aimed for college students, high school students and young professionals but they're open to everyone including TNWAC members and partner institutions around Tennessee.

This discussion will focus on Chinese engagements in Africa and Latin America, and the implications for US strategic relations and interests. Tugendhat will give opening remarks based on the view from Washington, the view from Beijing, and common views among many Global South capitals around these significant engagements. This will then lead into a series of questions and answers with the moderator and audience.

ARCHIVE - Global Nashville with Karl Dean - Dr. Sarah Gardial - Dean Massey College of Business by Tennessee World Affairs Council

Hard to come by insights and perspectives from Distinguished Professor of History Thomas Schwartz and moderator, Dr. Breck Walker. At the beginning of the Cold War, Republican Senator Arthur Vandenberg announced his support for Democratic President Harry Truman's Marshall Plan for Europe by proclaiming that “Politics stops at the water's edge.” In more recent times, however, American domestic politics appears to have had a strong effect on foreign policy, particularly in election years. In this webinar, we will discuss the potential impact of America's election year politics on the important issues of foreign policy, including the Middle East, Ukraine, and China.

Ambassador William Taylor, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, talked to a TNWAC Global Town Hall in Nashville on November 29, 2023 about the war in Ukraine. The session was moderated by Vanderbilt University Distinguished History Dr. Thomas Schwartz. They covered the background and context of the fight over Ukraine as well as the current situations and issues and the role of the United States and the West. Ambassador William B. Taylor is vice president, Europe and Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. In 2019, he served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv and as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance and support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. He served in Jerusalem as the U.S. government's representative to the Mideast Quartet. He served in Kabul in 2002 and in Baghdad in 2004. In the 1990s, Ambassador Taylor coordinated U.S. assistance to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He earlier served on the staff of Senator Bill Bradley. Ambassador Taylor is a graduate of West Point and Harvard's Kennedy School and served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Germany.

On the anniversary of the launch of ChatGPT, TNWAC's Global Dialogue featured Paul Maguire, co-founder and CEO of Knowmadics and entrepreneur and technical innovator. TNWAC President Emeritus Patrick Ryan and Maguire talked about the evolution of AI leading to the current boom in AI technologies; democratization of data access through Open AI models and the warnings about damage that can be caused by malicious use of AI. Is the emergence of AI into mainstream technological uses another "Oppenheimer moment", where technologies that provide great benefit can also pose great risks. They discussed the global competition for AI dominance coupled with great power competition between the United States and China and other American adversaries. They concluded with comments on industry developments like the CEO shakeup at ChatGPT. Paul Maguire is CEO and Co-Founder of Knowmadics, Inc, an innovative solutions provider. A serial entrepreneur, Mr. Maguire co-founded Knowmadics with Claire Ostrum in 2013, where he continues his track record of growing small businesses to successful acquisition. Prior to Knowmadics, Mr. Maguire served as President of Ultra Electronics ProLogic, where he managed the integration of small government IT contractor ProLogic following its 2008 acquisition by Ultra Electronics, as well as two other acquisitions worth a combined $128M. He had earlier served as ProLogic's Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, driving the company's growth from $1.7 million to $50 million+ over seven years, and ultimately leading to its acquisition. Mr. Maguire previously worked at Autometric as a project, program, and product line manager with both P&L management and sales target responsibilities. His product led Autometric's 33% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over seven years, which led to Autometric being acquired by the Boeing Company in 2000. Mr. Maguire has more than 12 years of Board experience, and currently sits on the Boards of Knowmadics and professional services firm Markon Solutions. He frequently speaks as a subject matter expert on the uses of commercial technology at the United States Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security events, and at international conferences on Security and Counter Terrorism. Mr. Maguire holds multiple patents and is the principal author of two U.S. Military Remote Sensing User Guides for Multi-spectral Imagery. He also served for eight years in the U.S. Navy, including as an Iraqi Analyst during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Oct 3, 2023 | Watch this important Town Hall conversation from the Tennessee World Affairs Council's distinguished visiting speaker program. Daniel Runde talks about the competition with China and disruption from Russia in shaping American influence in the world and who gets to set global rules. “We're at a moment in this period of great power competition, whether or not you want to call it a second Cold War, where the national security imperatives of dealing with a resurgent China and a disruptor in Russia require us to go back to the drawing board on our soft power instruments to respond to this new challenge.” — Daniel F. Runde DANIEL RUNDE. Center for Strategic and International Studies Senior Vice President; William A. Schreyer Chair; Director, Project on Prosperity and Development and Author of “American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power” DR. AMY SAYWARD. Moderator. Executive Director, The Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) Professor of History, Middle Tennessee State University

GNKD host, former Nashville Mayor and TNWAC Board Chair Karl Dean talks with Andy Moats, Executive Vice-President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment Pinnacle Financial Partners. The wide ranging conversation covered Andy's professional experiences in music -- from touring with a rock band to leadership in music banking; to directing financial services for entertainers and sports figures. His passions and pursuits include fast cars and his role in bringing Grand Prix racing to Nashville. There's much more to this story. You won't want to miss this story about a Nashville native who has been key to many of the special aspects that make Nashville a global city. TNWAC wishes to thank Pinnacle Financial Partners for support to the Council and the goal of bringing global affairs awareness programs to the community. Recorded: Sep 25, 2023 | RT 30:10 Bio Andy Moats, 46, is a Nashville native whose background combines restaurants, music, racing, and creating a bank. After graduating from Vanderbilt University (Economics, 1999) Andy took time to pursue his passion for music, touring and supporting a multi-platinum rock band during the year 2000. Having played in various bands from an early age, his days performing may be over but his passion for music has helped to grow one of the largest music and entertainment focused banks in the country. In 2001, Andy began his banking career at Union Planters Bank then-turned Regions Bank, rising to the role of Commercial Real Estate Credit Manager with credit responsibility for all real estate loan activity in the Southeast. While pursuing his career path in banking, Andy was also heavily involved in his family's NASCAR business – Brewco Motorsports (#27, #37, #66) – and various family restaurant companies. In 2006, Andy co-founded what would become Avenue Bank. While at Avenue, as a member of the Bank's Executive Team Andy served the dual roles of Chief Credit Officer – managing all aspects of lending and credit - and Bank Group Director, which included leadership of Avenue's retail branch network, business banking division, private banking division, and music & entertainment division. In February of 2015, Andy and team embarked on their first public company ‘road show' and successfully took Avenue Bank public on the Nasdaq Exchange (ticker symbol: AVNU). In July of 2016, Avenue Bank merged with Nashville based Pinnacle Financial Partners to form one of the Top 50 largest Banks in the United States. Andy joined the leadership team of Pinnacle following the merger and currently serves in the role of Executive Vice President, Director of Music, Sports, & Entertainment. In this role, Andy develops and manages $2B in entertainment related accounts with clients including artists, songwriters, international label and publishing businesses, touring, athletes, and professional sports franchises, among others. Outside of Banking, Andy is a founder and partner of the Music City Grand Prix, an IndyCar race televised in over 180 countries attracting over 100,000 fans each year. Other pursuits include film (Executive Producer - Murder at Yellowstone City) and early-stage company development and investment. Andy's community involvement and accolades include: Exchange Club Family Center, former Chairman of the Board; founding member of Nashville Emerging Leaders; Montgomery Bell Academy Alumni Board; M Street Entertainment Advisory Board; Leadership Music Class of 2014; Nashville Film Festival Music Committee; The Tennessean's “Next Up”; Nashville Business Journal's “40 under 40”; Billboard Magazine's 2020, 2021, and 2022 Nashville “Power Players”, Music Publishing “Dealmakers”, and 2022/2023 all-industry “Power 100” ranking the music industries 100 most powerful players; Tennessee Entertainment Commission Board (Governor Appointed); Pet Community Center Board; Nashville Entrepreneur Center Board.

“Oppenheimer”: What Does The Story Tell Us About Existential Threats Then and Now with Dr. Rachel Bronson | August 16, 2023 A conversation about this summer's blockbuster biopic "Oppenheimer" and the consequences of powerful technologies that provide opportunity and peril to humanity. Dr. Bronson talked with TNWAC president emeritus Patrick Ryan about the movie, the role of The Bulletin and the modern threats posed by technology. Dr. Rachel Bronson is president and CEO of The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (TheBulletin.org) Read Dr. Bronson's op-ed: https://tinyurl.com/ycye2x29 Read about the Tularosa Downwinders (those affected by the Trinity atomic test) https://www.trinitydownwinders.com Read Dr. Bronson's bio: https://thebulletin.org/biography/rac... The Bulletin keeps track of the “Doomsday Clock,” and every January reminds us how close we are to midnight. This year the clock ticked closer. "A time of unprecedented danger: It is 90 seconds to midnight," January 2023 “Doomsday Clock” Statement

American diplomat and businessman talks about AI as a challenge for the US-EU The challenges and promises of AI have exploded this year in the wake of OpenAI's release of its detailed, human-like responsive ChatGPT conversational technology. It highlighted the power and problems posed by AI, from business potential like insights and predictive analysis to startling concerns of existential threats to humanity. TNWAC has invited Ambassador John Kornblum to talk about these challenges in the context of implications for the United States and Europe. Kornblum, a former senior U.S. diplomatic official in Europe and distinguished businessman, has said that the currency of the new world will be the production, evaluation, and application of data – a revolution of fundamental importance to the US and EU. The “massive” consequences of this new digital era necessitate that “correct values are part of the process from the beginning” to ensure the revolution is based on Western democratic concepts.

Ambassador John Kornblum, among the most knowledgeable American diplomats on US-Europe and US-Russia relations has anchored TNWAC's series "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine." In this edition he discusses the current situation, a view of Moscow, the longer-range picture for US interests in Europe and the relationship with Russia, as well as the China factor in the Ukraine War. Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin.

PLEAE LIKE AND SHARE. The Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC.org) presents our April 27, 2023 conversation with Deputy Director of the State Department Office of Russia Affairs Liz Zentos about the view from Foggy Bottom as part of our special series, "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine." Watch this important conversation about U.S.-Russia relations, diplomatic activity during the months ahead of invasion, policy objectives, Vladimir Putin and his designs on Ukraine and the impact of dealing with an accused war criminal, China's role, detained Americans in Russia, cooperation among allies, the damage to the international rules based order and more. Liz Zentos Deputy Director of the Office of Russian Affairs at the U.S. State Department Liz Zentos is currently the Deputy Director of the Office of Russian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. From 2020 to 2021, she served as the Deputy Political Counselor at U.S. Embassy Kabul. Prior to that, she served as Political and Economic Affairs Chief at U.S. Embassy Tbilisi from 2018 to 2020 and as External Affairs Chief at U.S. Embassy Moscow from 2017 to 2018, when the Russian government declared her persona non grata. From 2015 to 2016, Liz served as the Director for Eastern Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, where she covered Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and the OSCE. From 2012 to 2014, she served as Political Military Chief at U.S. Embassy Kyiv, where she covered Ukraine's Maidan Revolution, Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea, and Russia's first invasion of eastern Ukraine. Other previous assignments include Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for International Security and Arms Control, Ukraine Desk Officer, and Information Officer in Yerevan, Armenia. Liz speaks Russian and has a Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

On April 19, 2023 TNWAC hosted a seminar featuring women from a variety of national security disciplines to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in the field. Moderator: Deborah Monroe | Senior Defense Intelligence Officer (Ret) Leila Gardner | Assistant Director of Intelligence for Information, Headquarters USMC & USN Reserve Intelligence Officer Safa Shahwan Edwards | Deputy Director of Cyber Statecraft, Atlantic Council Maureen Page | Research Director, Defense Intelligence Agency Complete bios at TNWAC.org

What's it like working in the world? TNWAC hosts a seminar featuring professionals from a variety of occupations to discuss their career paths, experiences and ups and downs of working in international jobs. Dr. Gretchen Neisler - Moderator - University of Tennessee Vice Provost for International Affairs, Director, Center for Global Engagement; Member of Board of Directors, Tennessee World Affairs Council Terrance Fluker – U.S. Peace Corps, Tennessee Regional Recruiter Saúl Hernández – U.S. State Dept. Foreign Service Officer and Southeast Diplomat in Residence Sabrina Miller – SVP, Pinnacle Financial Partners, former Foreign Exchange Manager Rachel Bowen Pittman – Executive Director, United Nations Association, USA April 12, 2023

TNWAC had the honor of talking with Her Excellency Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the United States in January. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan spoke with her about the business interests connecting Ireland and Tennessee and the wider United States, political developments in Ireland and the European Union and the special relationship between Ireland and the United States and the historical connections to Tennessee. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland's 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Geraldine was Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in New York (2017- 22). Previously, she served as Ambassador to France (2014-17), Second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) (2011-14), Ambassador and Ireland's Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU (2005-11)), and Director of the National Forum on Europe (2004-05). During her career, Ambassador Byrne Nason has served in Brussels, New York, Paris, Vienna and Helsinki. As Second Secretary-General in the Department of the Taoiseach from 2011-2014, she was the highest ranking female public servant in Ireland. During that period, she also was Secretary General of Ireland's Economic Management Council. On her arrival in New York, Ambassador Byrne Nason led Ireland's successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, and led the New York Security Council team for the 2021-2022 term. Geraldine was Chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for 2018 and 2019. She has also co-chaired high-level political negotiations on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and on the ‘Samoa pathway' for Small Island Developing States. A native of County Louth, in 2020 Ambassador Byrne Nason was awarded the Freedom of Drogheda, the town's highest honour and was the third woman to receive the award of its 35 recipients. In 2014, Geraldine was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland's highest academic honour. Ambassador Byrne Nason holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Maynooth University as well as Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Literature from Saint Patrick's College in Maynooth (NUIM). Ambassador Byrne Nason is married and has one son.

The story of the Iraqi Kurds and the establishment of the autonomous zone and the Kurdish Regional Government is a great Middle East epic that continues to play out. The Kurds have sought to carve out their own state amid the turmoil of unfolding regional history. They've been gassed and chased into the mountains by Saddam Hussein and attacked by the dangerous terror group ISIS. The Kurds have stood up courageously against their opponents. The Iraqi Kurds and the United States have had a long history of cooperation and, sadly, at times abandonment. The aspirations of the people of Kurdistan took shape in the 2017 independence referendum as the coalition battle against ISIS was winding down. The referendum won with 92% of Kurds voting to free the region from Baghdad's authority. However, the central government through a Supreme Court ruling, quashed the initiative. The KRG continues its close relationship with Washington as it continues to navigate a tough neighborhood, wedged among its Iraqi neighbors and Turkey, Iran and Syria. The KRG has been very well represented in Washington by the Hon. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman. TNWAC is pleased to host her for a conversation about the relationship with the U.S. and developments in Kurdistan and the region. Join us.

The TNWAC and American Council on German series "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine" presents "One Year Later." Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria. Dr. Liana Fix Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe. She is also the author of A New German Power? Germany's Role in European Russia Policy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). Dr. Fix's work focuses on German domestic and foreign policy, the European Union, transatlantic relations, and Europe's relations with Russia and China.

In Focus: Russia's Invasion | Ukraine Update | The Humanitarian Dimension Jan 25, 2023 The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has been catastrophic for the Ukrainian people. Millions of refugees have fled to neighboring nations to the west, horrendous war crimes have been committed in areas controlled by Russian forces and nation-wide attacks against civilian areas and infrastructure have caused extreme hardships in cities large and small. We continue our "In Focus" series on Russia's invasion with a conversation with Anna Novosad, former Minister of Education and Science from Ukraine and an education activist working to rebuild and restore schools and education infrastructure. She will join us from Kyiv where she is among her countrymen under constant Russian bombardment. We're also joined by Elena Byrd and Dr. Madeleine Byrd, a Nashville mother-daughter team who put everything else on hold to go to Warsaw, Poland to work in a refugee center aiding Ukrainian refugees. Don't miss these powerful stories.

Ireland | International Business | AMB Geraldine Byrne Nason | Jan 19 by Tennessee World Affairs Council

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and with Belmont University Center for Global Citizenship, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine via Zoom Putin and Russia's War: What Makes Putin Tick? with Katja Gloger Journalist and Author Andrew S. Weiss James Family Chair and Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Monday, November 14, 2022 @ 9:00 a.m. CT It is being reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Bali next week to participate in the G20 Summit. This was confirmed overnight by Moscow's embassy to Indonesia. At the same time, we are seeing reports that the Kremlin is withdrawing its troops from Kherson, the only regional capital it managed to capture since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February. The retreat from Kherson is one of the most serious blows to Russia in Putin's war. Just a month ago, he declared that Kherson and three other regions in Ukraine are part of the Russian nation at an event in Moscow's Red Square. Join us for a discussion with Putin biographers and Russia experts Katja Gloger and Andrew S. Weiss about the war in Ukraine.

Cyber Threats Across the Spectrum and What's Being Done With Former NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers Former Director National Security Agency and Commander U.S. Cyber Command Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:30-3:00 p.m. CT With Moderator Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5th) House Armed Services Committee Chair, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces And Panelists Ms. Casey Santos CIO, Asurion Mr. Paul Connelly VP Information Protection and Security at HCA Healthcare Dr. Brandon Prins Political Science Department Head, University of Tennessee Knoxville Curtis Clan Chief Information Security Officer State of Tennessee

The Tennessee World Affairs Council and Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce GLOBAL DIALOGUE SERIES Via Zoom The Geopolitics of Central Asia October 13, 2022 | 1 pm CT A Conversation With Professor John Miglietta With Moderator Professor Thomas Schwartz Professor John Miglietta who teaches international politics at Tennessee State University recently completed a year in Tajikistan as a Fulbright Scholar. In this Global Dialogue he will discuss the geography of the region, the politics and governments of the region and how these countries emerged from the Soviet Union. He will conclude by discussing the roles of China, Russia, and the US. Distinguished historian Professor Thomas Schwartz will moderate the conversation. Understanding developments in Central Asia is key to understanding developments in Russia and China and American interests in the region. Professor John Miglietta John Miglietta is a political scientist who focuses on the study of American foreign policy in the Middle East with an emphasis on international security issues. He is the author of American Alliance Policy in the Middle East, 1945-1992 (Rowman and Littlefield, 2002). This is a study of the dynamics of U.S. alliances in the region focusing on Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Miglietta also has research interests in studying American foreign policy in Central Asia, as well as weapons proliferation. Professor Thomas Schwartz Thomas Alan Schwartz is a historian of the foreign relations of the United States, with related interests in American politics, the history of international relations, Modern European history, and biography. His most recent book is Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography (Hill and Wang, 2020). The book has received considerable notice and acclaim.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg SPECIAL EDITION GLOBAL TOWN HALL SERIES In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Professor Marieta Velikova Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for International Business, Belmont University with moderator Dr. Breck Walker Vice President and Board Member, Tennessee World Affairs Council August 25, 2022 @ 1pm CT The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the friction between the United States and the Russian Federation on many fronts. Our conversation with Professor Thomas Schwartz on August 18 put the relationship in context by exploring the history of the Cold War and relevancy to today's challenges. Our August 25th session of "In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine" will bring that conversation up to date. We'll talk with Ambassador John Kornblum, former top American diplomat to Germany and numerous European affairs institutions, about the state of the US-Russian relationship, what underpins the diplomatic, political, security and economic factors, and where we're headed. We'll also talk with Professor Marieta Velikova, Director Belmont University Center for International Business, about the internal dynamics of Russia in the wake of the invasion. What impact has there been from the historic breadth and depth of Western sanctions, what are Russians able to learn about the outside world in a propagandized media environment, and how are Russians reacting to the consequences of Moscow's attack on its neighbor. Historian Dr. Breck Walker will moderate this insightful hour of insights and perspectives on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Join us.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce SPECIAL EDITION GLOBAL TOWN HALL SERIES via Zoom In Focus: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Cold Wars Prof. Thomas A. Schwartz Distinguished Professor of History, Vanderbilt University August 18, 2022 @ 12:00 p.m. CT with moderator LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN (Ret) President, Tennessee World Affairs Council The Cold War was a period of intense competition and geo-strategic struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies in the Western and Eastern blocs following World War II. At times it threatened to turn hot -- potential battles between combatants armed with thousands of nuclear weapons -- but always featured political, economic, ideological and military confrontation. The post-Cold War era saw the Russian Federation and the United States work together on bilateral and global issues, a spirit of cooperation. That has evolved into the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, the extensive support of Kyiv by the United States and its allies, the expansion NATO in reaction to Russian aggression and a disruption in global stability and international norms. Is this a new "Cold War?" Or is it something else? Join Vanderbilt Distinguished Historian Professor Thomas Schwartz in a conversation about Cold Wars, the "big one" and the current confrontation between Washington and Moscow and their allies.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany in association with Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce SPECIAL EDITION GLOBAL TOWN HALL SERIES via Zoom The War in Ukraine: How Will This End? Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Wednesday, April 13, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT with Dr. Liana Fix Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund Washington office And Moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol President, American Council on Germany --- The War in Ukraine: How Will This End? Although there has been a withdrawal of Russian troops in the north of Ukraine, the images of death and destruction from places like Bucha mark a grim turning point in Russia's war in Ukraine. Join the American Council on Germany and the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion with Ambassador John Kornblum, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Liana Fix, Program Director in the International Affairs Department of the Körber Foundation in Berlin, about the latest developments of the conflict in Europe and its lasting consequences. Join the American Council on Germany and the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion with Ambassador John Kornblum, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Liana Fix, Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (invited). They will talk about the latest developments of the conflict in Europe and put it in perspective by discussing the implications and possible paths ahead.

Dr. Roger Kangas, Ph.D. Academic Dean and Professor Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University TNWAC Global Town Hall at Belmont University, March 31, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. CT with Moderator, Dr. Thomas A Schwartz, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of History of U.S. Foreign Relations, Vanderbilt University Transcript available at TNWAC.org | Support the Tennessee World Affairs Council by becoming a member and making a contribution | Sign up for the newsletter | All on TNWAC.org Dr. Roger Kangas – Academic Dean and a Professor of Central Asian Studies at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. Previously Dr. Kangas served as a Professor of Central Asian Studies at the George C. Marshall Center for European Security in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; Deputy Director of the Central Asian Institute at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC; Central Asian Course Coordinator at the Foreign Service Institute for the U.S. Department of State; Research Analyst on Central Asian Affairs for the Open Media Research Institute (OMRI) in Prague, Czech Republic; and as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Kangas has been an advisor to the Combatant Commands, NATO/ISAF, the US Air Force Special Operations School, National Democratic Institute, International Research and Exchanges Board, American Councils, Academy for Educational Development, USIA, USAID, and other US government agencies on issues relating to Central and South Asia, Russia, and the South Caucasus. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Kangas holds a B.S.F.S. in Comparative Politics from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University. Dr. Thomas A. Schwartz Thomas Alan Schwartz is a historian of the foreign relations of the United States, with related interests in American politics, the history of international relations, Modern European history, and biography. His most recent book is Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography (Hill and Wang, 2020). The book has received considerable notice and acclaim. Harvard's University's Charles Maier has written: “Thomas Schwartz's superbly researched political biography reveals the brilliance, self-serving ego, and vulnerability of America's most remarkable diplomat in the twentieth century, even as it provides a history of U.S. engagement in global politics as it moved beyond bipolarity.” Earlier in his career, Schwartz was the author of America's Germany: John J. McCloy and the Federal Republic of Germany (Harvard, 1991), which was translated into German, Die Atlantik Brücke (Ullstein, 1992). This book received the Stuart Bernath Book Prize of the Society of American Foreign Relations, and the Harry S. Truman Book Award, given by the Truman Presidential Library. He is also the author of Lyndon Johnson and Europe: In the Shadow of Vietnam (Harvard, 2003), which examined the Johnson Administration's policy toward Europe and assessed the impact of the war in Vietnam on its other foreign policy objectives. He is the co-editor with Matthias Schulz of The Strained Alliance: U.S.-European Relations from Nixon to Carter, (Cambridge University Press, 2009).

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and with Belmont University Center for International Business, University of Tennessee Center for Global Engagement and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce SPECIAL EDITION GLOBAL TOWN HALL SERIES via Zoom The Implications and Consequences of Russia's War in Ukraine Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs with Moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol President, American Council on Germany Check TNWAC.org archives for video link and transcript.

The Unfolding War in Europe Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs March 2, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT with moderator Dr. Breck Walker Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria. Dr. Breck Walker Breck Walker received his PhD in Diplomatic History from Vanderbilt in 2007. His dissertation was on the foreign policy of the Carter administration. He taught at Sewanee, the University of the South, 2007-2012, and on the University of Virginia's Semester at Sea Program in Spring 2013 and Fall 2015. He worked as a historian in the Historical Office of the Office of Secretary of Defense 2013-2016, researching and writing a book on early Pentagon cyber policy. Prior to becoming a history professor, Breck worked for twenty years as an investment banker, the last ten as co-head of the Corporate Finance Group at J.C. Bradford & Co in Nashville. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford University. Breck serves as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

TNWAC's Global Dialogue speaker series brings insights, perspectives and analyses difficult to come by. We present leading figures in diplomacy, business, military affairs, think tanks, NGOs and elsewhere to help you understand important issues in global affairs. Today we present Ambassador John C. Kornblum War has come. The first major ground invasion of a country in the heart of Europe – cradle of two World Wars – since WWII. Putin has set fire to Ukraine. Moscow has signaled a ferocious attack and tens of thousands of civilians may be casualties. The potential for refugee flows into Eastern Europe is staggering. NATO is ramping up reinforcement of its Eastern flank. Stock markets are plunging. Oil prices are skyrocketing. For insights and analysis join TNWAC at a live virtual event with Ambassador John Kornblum, preeminent U.S. diplomatic and business voice on European affairs, NATO and U.S. interests. Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria.

Global Nashville with Karl Dean provides a spotlight on community leaders tied to international affairs, who talk about their professions and organizations, current developments in Nashville and their views on what makes Nashville a global city. The February 17, 2022 episode featured a conversation with John Scannapieco an attorney who is a partner at Womble Bond Dickson (US) LLP in Nashville. John has worked many years with international businesses involved in or looking to be engaged in commercial activity aboard, especially in East Asia. John has been Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and serves on the Board of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce GLOBAL TOWN HALL Russia's Threat to Ukraine: The Crisis Unfolds -- Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs February 15, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT with Moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol President, American Council on Germany This special event is free but please consider becoming a member or making a donation when you register. Thank you. The conversation will be guided by the President of the American Council on Germany, Steven Sokol. -- Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. From 2001 to 2009, he was chairman of Lazard Freres Germany. He currently serves as senior counsellor to the international law firm Noerr LLP and as a senior adviser to the worldwide consultancy Accenture. Mr. Kornblum has also served on a number of supervisory and advisory boards including those of Thyssen-Krupp, Technologies AG, Bayer AG, Russell Reynolds, and Motorola Europe. He is a member of the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the American Academy in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, and of numerous nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. He received a B.A. from Michigan State University in 1964, and he has been the recipient of many awards, including a Knights Cross of the Order of Merit from Germany and an Order of Merit from Austria. Steven E. Sokol is the President of the American Council on Germany. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and prior to that he was the Vice President and Director of Programs at the American Council on Germany. Earlier in his career, Steve served as the Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute Berlin, was the Head of the Project Management Department at the Bonn International Center for Conversion GmbH (BICC), and a Program Officer in the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He holds a Doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern University as well as an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University's Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He has also studied at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg and as a Fulbright Scholar at the Freie Universität in Berlin.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Global Nashville with Karl Dean A Conversation with Scott Hamilton Recorded: January 26, 2022 As the world turns attention to the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing we're reminded of past American Olympic glory. We're pleased to share this conversation with Olympic Champion Figure Skater Scott Hamilton. Among the many elements that make Nashville a global city is the athletes from around the world who have made Nashville their home. They include professional sports team members from hockey, soccer, and football. There is also a gem of an professional athlete who has made an impact on the community he has come to love -- Olympian, author, activist, youth and community leader, Scott Hamilton. In this episode of "Global Nashville" former Mayor Dean talks with the champion figure skater who broke onto the American consciousness at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, winning the Gold Medal. He has gone on to be a leader in many other areas -- advocate in the battle against cancer, having been touched by its scourge; and proponent and trainer of youth figure skating. We know you'll enjoy Karl Dean's conversation with this unique Nashvillian, Scott Hamilton. Scott Hamilton The most recognized male figure skating star in the world, Scott Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honors including an Emmy Award nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. In 1984, Scott captured the attention of the world with his Olympic Gold medal performances in Saravejo and since has shared his love and enthusiasm for the sport as a analyst/commentator, performer, producer and best-selling author (Fritzy Finds a Hat, 2020, Finish First: Winning Changes Everything, 2018; The Great Eight, 2009; Landing It, 1999). He further inspires others as a speaker, humanitarian, and as a cancer and pituitary brain tumor survivor. After losing his mother to cancer, then becoming survivor himself, Scott turned activist, launching the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship). He founded several education and survivorship programs including Chemocare.com and the 4th Angel Mentoring Program. Events such as Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer and An Evening with Scott Hamilton & Friends galas fund research into treatments that treat the cancer and spare the patient harm. He is also the founder of the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy at the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch, TN and Bellevue, TN, where he may frequently be found coaching Learn to Skate students and sharing his love of skating. In what little free time remains, Scott can be found on the golf course and enjoys spending time with his wife Tracie and four children – at their home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Germany, Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Kenya, Venezuela, Finland, Panama, Costa Rica, Sweden and more. Nashville is home to athletes who have come from around the world. Among the many elements that make Nashville a global city is the athletes from around the world who come to play in the city's professional sports teams — hockey, soccer, football. Take the Nashville Predators for example. In addition to the many Canadian players the roster includes talented athletes from Switzerland, Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. Just two of 22 players are from the U.S. Twenty came to Nashville from abroad. To explore the route of international players to Nashville and their experiences in Music City, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean spoke with Mattias Ekholm, veteran defenseman and alternate captain of the Nashville Predators. Mattias hails from Borlange, Sweden and has adopted Nashville as his new home to work his trade on the NHL ice and to raise his family of four. We're sure you'll enjoy this conversation about professional hockey and life in Nashville from a premier international athlete.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with the American Council on Germany and Belmont University Center for International Business, and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce GLOBAL TOWN HALL Germany's Response to the Ukraine Crisis Ambassador John Kornblum Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs February 1, 2022 @ 10:00 a.m. CT with Dr. Liana Fix Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund Washington office And Moderator Dr. Steven E. Sokol President, American Council on Germany This special event is free but please consider becoming a member or making a donation when you register. Thank you. When President Joe Biden met the press on January 19th he was candid when addressing consequences for Russia if it attacked Ukraine. “It depends on what [Putin] does as to what extent we're going to be able to get total unity on the NATO front.” The White House quickly cleaned up what he “meant” to say. In the days since official statements continue to stress NATO solidarity but questions remain. For example British aircraft carrying weapons to Ukraine flew “around” Germany sparking media questions about Berlin being onboard for support to Kiev, despite Defense Ministry denials it restricted the flights. That was followed by the resignation of Germany's Navy chief over controversial remarks about the threat to Ukraine. Writing for the Center for European Policy Analysis, Oxana Schmies spoke of “Germany's paralyzing fear of war,” and warned that for the new government it was “worryingly clear that forging a united Russia policy is difficult and marred by underlying disagreement. [Link] As the prospects of Russian provocation and action against Ukraine reach the boiling point it's a fair question to ask where Germany "is," as the United States and allies lean forward in deterrence and preparation for response. To address this question we turn to Ambassador John Kornblum, preeminent authority on America's relationship with Europe, and Germany in particular. Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin. The conversation will be guided by the President of the American Council on Germany, Steven Sokol.

Language Matters A Conversation with Dr. Kathleen Stein-Smith, Distinguished Lecturer and Author with Dr. Debbie Barnard What is the state of foreign language training in the United States? We wanted to know so we asked TNWAC Advisory Board Member and Tennessee Tech University Associate Professor of French, Debbie Barnard to talk to Dr. Kathleen Stein-Smith, noted authority and advocate on the subject and author of, “Multi-lingualism as a Global Competency: Skills for a 21st Century World.” The answer? About twenty percent of students in America are studying or learning a language according to Stein-Smith who says, “That's very concerning,” adding, “That would mean a lot of Americans remain mono-lingual. Speaking only English. Understanding only English. The number reflects a decline in foreign language education. Stein-Smith says the decline isn't attributable to educators who she says are “dedicated and professional,” but rather to the lack of opportunity. “Foreign language programs have decreased in number significantly in our middle schools and most dramatically in our public schools,” she said, “The figures are really frightening.”

New World Order: The Middle East Biden Takes Over Amy Tachco Office of Regional and Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State December 17, 2020 @ 5p.m. CT President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take office on January 20 and their administration is likely to be far different from the one led by President Donald Trump.  TNWAC is pleased to join WACH in a discussions with experts in domestic and foreign affairs to discuss how the world is likely to change in 2021. Join us 5 p.m. (Central Time) Thursday, Dec. 17 for our conversation  with  Amy Tachco, director of the Office of Regional And Multilateral Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. We will open with remarks from Irina Karmanova, from the State Department Office of Public Liaison. ABOUT AMY TACHCO Amy Tachco joined the Foreign Service in 2002 after a brief stint in finance in New York.  She has served in Karachi, Casablanca, Madrid (twice), Beirut, and in Washington in the Bureaus of Near Eastern and African Affairs.  She served as Political Counselor at U.S. Embassy Damascus in the run-up to closure of the Mission in 2012, and was Minister Counselor for Political Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under Ambassadors Samantha Power and Nikki Haley. She also served as Foreign Policy Adviser to the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet Commander in Manama, Bahrain.  A graduate of Smith College and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, she speaks French, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic.

Global Nashville with Karl Dean A Conversation With Senator Bob Corker Join us for this important conversation with Senator Bob Corker who served in the Senate from 2009 to 20017. Corker served on the Foreign Relations Committee where he was Chairman from 2015-2019. The Tennessee World Affairs Council is proud to present one of Tennessee's and the country's most knowledgeable individuals on world affairs and the challenges the United States faces in the world. March 18, 2021 7:00-8:00 PM CT Senate Foreign Relations Committee Legacy: After becoming ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2013 and taking the reins as chairman in 2015, Senator Corker made restoring the committee's power and status a top priority. To do so, he concentrated on three key goals: making the committee function again, focusing the committee's work on core American interests, and making the committee genuinely matter to the American people and the rest of the world. In his work to restore the committee's functionality as a driving force for U.S. foreign policy and an effective check on the executive branch, Corker led a number of successful initiatives. First State Department authorization bill in 14 years Led the winning battle to ensure Congress had a say in determining whether President Obama's Iran nuclear deal could move forward (he ultimately opposed the JCPOA) CAATSA sanctions (Russia, North Korea, Iran) Uncovered State's system for evaluating progress in combatting human trafficking was subject to political interference, took steps to ensure the practice was ended Critical oversight of United Nations, including the pervasive problem of sexual abuse and exploitation being committed by U.N. peacekeepers Kept committee about the fray of the political rancor pervading Washington (tried to start every debate in a bipartisan manner) Prevented Obama administration from sidestepping the Senate on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Got the Senate back on track in fulfilling its responsibility to review and ratify treaties Bob Corker is a successful businessman, former United States Senator, and was previously named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. Corker represented Tennesseans in the Senate from 2007-2018, where he served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and became a national and global thought leader on fiscal, financial, and foreign policy issues. He was Tennessee's commissioner of finance and mayor of Chattanooga before being elected to the Senate, but he spent most of his life in business. At the age of 25, Corker started his own construction company with $8,000 in savings, eventually expanding operations to 18 states across the country. He later purchased two of the largest and oldest real estate holding companies in Chattanooga. He and his wife, Elizabeth, call Chattanooga home. Karl Dean was the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected on Sept. 11, 2007 and was re-elected on Aug. 4, 2011. He completed his second term in office on September 25, 2015. Dean first held public office when he was elected as Nashville's Public Defender in 1990, a post he was re-elected to in 1994 and 1998. He served as Metro Law Director from 1999 to January 2007, when he resigned to run for the office of mayor. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vanderbilt. Dean was the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Tennessee in 2018. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with Belmont University Center for International Business and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Global Nashville with Karl Dean A Conversation with Ralph Schulz, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Tuesday, November 9th at 7:00pm CT Ralph Schulz President, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Karl F. Dean Global Nashville explores the issues and developments that mark the city and region as part of the global network. Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean talks with community leaders about their insights and perspectives. Join him on November 9th as he talks with Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Schulz to talk about business developments in the region. We should mention here our thanks to Mr. Schulz for standing in as a guest host of the "Global Nashville" program. In August he interviewed Butch Spridon, head of the Nashville Convention and Visitor Corporation. Mr. Schulz was a "Global Nashville" guest in January 2021 and in April 2020, talking about Nashville businesses' resilience in the face of Covid and new developments in the community from international investments to the prospects for immigration to the area. On Tuesday, November 9th, Mr. Schulz will be back with updates on the broad array of business issues in the region and his insights and perspectives on the global agenda in Nashville.

Belmont University Center for International Business, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Japan-America Society of Tennessee and Sister Cities of Nashville GLOBAL TOWN HALL H.E. Koji Tomita Ambassador of Japan to the United States Join us for this special presentation by the World Affairs Council. Ambassador Koji Tomita is a seasoned diplomat -- 30 years in Japan's foreign service -- and he will talk about the U.S.-Japan relationship, economic developments, strategic challenges and much, much more. Don't miss this chance to hear his insights and perspectives and pose your questions to the Ambassador. Excerpt: The United States has long been a Pacific power but is focusing new attention on the importance of the region – political, economic and in defense and security. In our State, meanwhile, the relationship with Japan is flourishing to the great benefit of both Tennesseans and our Japanese partners... ...On November 2nd, Nashville will host the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Koji Tomita and his wife in a visit hosted by the Tennessee World Affairs Council. That evening he will talk with the community at a Global Town Hall at Belmont University about the depth and breadth of the U.S.-Japanese relationship, and everyone is invited. Ambassador Tomita is likely to speak to more than the importance of national security and business relations. A key strength is the people-to-people ties. Whether it's the Southern hospitality shown Japanese business people and their families in Tennessee cities and towns, the exchanges of students and teachers, or the gift of cherry trees, symbolizing the bonds of friendship, there are scores of ways Tennesseans and Japanese are connected. Our welcome for Ambassador and Mrs. Tomita on November 2nd will be one more expression of that friendship and you should join us at the Town Hall to make that welcome.

Ambassador John Kornblum Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed crosshairs on Ukraine, a country he sees as linked to Russia and the people of Ukraine as “one people” with Russians. To back up this fixation with repairing a “historic injustice” Moscow has amassed a force of over 100,000 troops and supporting armor and aircraft along the border with Ukraine. Leading the West's response, President Biden has threatened “massive consequences” if Russia invades Ukraine. American and Russian diplomats are meeting this week. However, the lines are drawn: Putin is demanding an end to NATO's eastward expansion, to include Ukraine, and Biden and the West say there will be a very high economic price to pay as well as increased deployments on NATO's eastern flank. What is the context for this provocation and what are the U.S. and Allies prepared to do? Join the American Council on Germany and the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion with Ambassador John Kornblum about the crisis. Joining us from Berlin, he will also discuss how we got to where we are and what the possible courses of action for the U.S. and Europe might be. The conversation will be led by Dr. Thomas Schwartz, Distinguished Professor of History at Vanderbilt University. This event is held in cooperation with the Belmont University Center for International Business and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

October 28, 2021 - TNWAC Global Dialogue + In "Home, Land, Security: Deradicalization and the Journey Back from Extremism," Carla Power explores what draws young people to violent extremism and what could bring them back to society. Through a series of interviews with mothers of young men who joined ISIS, a Canadian imam running a "jihadi detox program," a former neo-Nazi who now deradicalizes white supremacists, and many more, Carla explores what lies beyond the stereotypes and headlines. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan, former military intelligence terrorism analyst, talked with Carla Power about "Home, Land, Security," and how militants are radicalized and some of the efforts at deradicalization.

October 28, 2021 - TNWAC Global Dialogue + In "Home, Land, Security: Deradicalization and the Journey Back from Extremism," Carla Power explores what draws young people to violent extremism and what could bring them back to society. Through a series of interviews with mothers of young men who joined ISIS, a Canadian imam running a "jihadi detox program," a former neo-Nazi who now deradicalizes white supremacists, and many more, Carla explores what lies beyond the stereotypes and headlines. TNWAC President Patrick Ryan, former military intelligence terrorism analyst, talked with Carla Power about "Home, Land, Security," and how militants are radicalized and some of the efforts at deradicalization.

October 27, 2021 Do you wonder what jobs and careers there are in international affairs? There's more than you think. On October 27th we had a conversation with a distinguished panel of women working in global business fields. They shared what preparation they undertook to pursue their careers, what the day to day life is like in their jobs and the pros and cons of the work they undertake. ___ Lucy Buck, Moderator Beth-Ann Martorello, Senior VP, Chief Audit Officer, Alliance Bernstein (AB) Masami Tyson, Global Director of FDI and Trade, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Lulu Lim Copeland, Executive Director TN-China Network; Independent Economic and Workforce Development Consultant Robin Reliford, Head of Health and Safety, WorldStrides Check out the complete biographies of the panel to learn about their experiences and achievements. https://bit.ly/3bjp8wT

The Tennessee World Affairs Council in association with Belmont University Center for International Business and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Global Nashville with Karl Dean A Conversation with Belmont University President L. Gregory Jones Global Nashville explores the issues and developments that mark the city and region as part of the global network. Former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean talks with community leaders about their insights and perspectives. Join him on October 26th as he talks with Belmont University's new President, Dr. L. Gregory Jones, about his ideas on global engagement and the mission of Belmont to produce citizens ready for the world. --- About Dr. L. Gregory Jones Known for his entrepreneurial leadership and fundraising ability, Dr. Greg Jones served as the longtime dean of Duke Divinity School from 1997-2010 and again from 2018 until becoming Belmont's president on June 1, 2021. Between 2010 and 2018, he served in a variety of roles, including vice president and vice provost for global strategy at Duke University and also as provost and executive vice president of Baylor University. In addition, he has served in advisory and strategic roles with several foundations and educational institutions in the United States as well as in Armenia. During his time at Duke Divinity, Jones strengthened the School's financial trajectory, diversified the faculty and staff and led a strategic planning process that garnered great enthusiasm for the school's future, all while setting new records for gifts to the Annual Fund and to the Divinity School overall. In addition, he currently serves as a senior fellow at Leadership Education, which he founded, and senior fellow at the Fuqua-Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics, both at Duke University. He is passionate about re-shaping cultures within and across organizations and has coined the term “traditioned innovation” to capture how he re-frames complex challenges to seize significant opportunities. Jones' tenures as dean were marked by significant growth in Duke Divinity School. More than $102 million was raised under his leadership in The Campaign for Duke (1998-2003), and major new initiatives begun during his tenure include the Center for Reconciliation, the Thriving Rural Communities Program, the Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation, the Clergy Health Initiative, the Reynolds Program in Church Leadership and numerous international partnerships, especially with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, the United Methodist Church in Cote d'Ivoire, and the Center for Reconciliation's Great Lakes Initiative which embraces the central-east African region. As Duke's Global Strategist, he led initiatives in China and India as well as helped to engage work in Singapore.