Announcing the 9th National Security Law Workshop

We are excited to announce the Ninth National Security Law Workshop! We will be holding the ninth National Security Law Workshop September 27-28, 2018 at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA. This unique event brings civilian law faculty, Judge Advocates, ICRC representatives, and other government legal advisers together for two days of dialogue on national security law topics.

1. Location and Date

This year the workshop will be held at The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 27^th and 28^th.

2. Format

The goal of the workshop is to bring together national security law practitioners and academics to foster a deeper understanding of current and emerging complex national security issues. The format of the workshop will be a series of roundtable discussions focused on various national security law related topics. A draft agenda, with four potential topics, can be found at the end of this announcement.

3. Sponsors & Hosts

Co-hosted by:

Professor Geoff Corn, South Texas College of Law Houston

Professor Bobby Chesney, University of Texas Law School

Mark Nevitt, Sharswood Fellow, University of Pennsylvania Law School

CAPT Todd Huntley, JAGC, USN, The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School

Sponsored by:

The South Texas College of Law Houston

The Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas—Austin

The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School

4. Applications

Please submit your attendance requests and, if applicable, proposals to both:

Mark Nevitt (nevitt63@law.upenn.edu) and;

CAPT Todd Huntley (todd.c.huntley.mil@mail.mil)

by close of business on August 25th.

Select participants will be asked to draft a two page point paper (no later than September 18th) framing the issue for discussion and then lead the discussion on the issue. Those papers will be distributed to the other participants prior to the workshop so that they may develop questions and related issues for discussion. Note that you are welcome to request to serve that role if you are particularly interested in one of the topics listed in our agenda (in that case, please note this in your application).

Also, if you have a proposal for a discussion topic that is not listed, please send those (we will consider adding, or changing, the topics based on interest). Such proposals should include a brief (no more than two paragraphs) discussion explaining the topic and its significance.

Please send your request to participate via email, to the addresses noted above, including your name, contact information, organizational affiliation, and, if applicable, a topic proposal. Currently, we anticipate accepting 25-30 total attendees. We will notify those accepted as early as possible during the first week in September.

5. Expenses and logistics

The good news is that there is no registration fee or paperwork for those who are selected to attend (nor is there any CLE credit, alas). The bad news is that all attendees will be responsible for their own travel, lodging, and related expenses.

Once selections are made, we will provide further details on recommended accommodations and other logistical details.

6. Draft agenda:

Below is a current draft agenda. Based on proposals submitted by applicants, the topics may adjust to meet the needs and interest of the workshop.

Thursday September 27^th

0900-0930 Participants Arrive/Opening Remarks

Bobby Chesney (UT) & Geoff Corn (STCL)

0930-1200 Roundtable #1

Setting the Stage: The Legal Use of Force Under International and Domestic Law

The Domestic Legal Basis for the Use of Force in Syria & Beyond: RIP Congressional War Powers?

The International Legal Basis for the Use of Force and Challenges of Armed Conflict Classification in a Complex Environment

1200-1330 Lunch

1330-1600 Roundtable #2

Managing the Stage: Technology in a Changing National Security Environment

Digital Threats in the Information Age: Countering Cyber and Information Warfare at the Use of Force and sub Use of Force Level

Getting Past the Nuclear Plant Melt Down and Crashing Air Traffic Control Examples: What is an Armed Attack?

1700 No Host Happy Hour

Friday September 28^th

0900-1130 Roundtable #3

A Changing National Security Environment in the Global Commons

Climate Change & the Arctic: U.S., Russia, China’s “Polar Silk Road” and the National Security/Sovereignty Challenges in the High North

Law of the Sea and the South China Sea: The Canary in the Coal Mine for U.S.- China Relations?

1130-1230 Lunch

1230-1500 Roundtable #4

Our Uncertain National Security Future

Emerging Weapons of War: Artificial Intelligence, Bio-weapons, and the future of Unmanned Vehicles

Outer Space & a Future “Space Force?”: The Next Frontier for Warfare?

1500-1530 Closing Remarks