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DXC Technolgy
Conference sponsor
Overview
For over a decade, the Land Warfare Conference has been the UK’s pre-eminent gathering of the land forces community, bringing together leading practitioners, academics, policy makers and the private sector in a unique forum for unparalleled discussion, debate and networking.
While the British Army is at its smallest for two centuries, the tasks assigned to it range ever-wider, from national resilience at home and countering terrorism overseas, to conventional deterrence against state threats through restoring the capability for war-fighting at scale.The conference explored this ‘adaptability challenge’ through the following themes:
Uncertain Threats – uncertainties of state, non-state and hybrid threats
Theories and Practices for Adaptability – insights from historical, contemporary and private sector adaptability
Partnering for Adaptability – at home and internationally, whether military, cross-government, industry or civil society
Confronting the Challenge – perspectives from ‘the generation that matters’
Chief of the General Staff Keynote – force development for adaptability
Transcripts
Agenda
Day 2
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Registration
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Session Six: Partnering for Adaptability
Consideration of how the British Army, at its smallest size in two centuries, can optimise its relationship with wider military, cross-governmental, industrial, civil society, and non-traditional partners, at home and internationally.
Chair: Lieutenant General Nicholas Pope, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Professor John Louth, Senior Research Fellow and Director for Defence, Industries and Society, RUSI - View the presentation slides
Dr Nic Anderson, Managing Director of Land, Babcock International Group - View the presentation slides
Mr Jerome Paolini, Chairman, Sovereign Global UK Ltd
Lieutenant General Carsten Jacobson, Deputy Inspector, German Army - View the presentation slides
Lieutenant General Milosav Simović, Army Commander, Serbian Armed Forces - View the presentation slides
Major General Bill Hix, Director Strategy, Plans & Policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, US Army - View the presentation slides
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Tea and Coffee
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Session Seven: Confronting the Challenge
Innovative approaches to confronting the challenges of uncertain threats and constrained resources, from ‘the generation that matters’ – that which will command the British Army of the future, yet under design today – followed by a question and answer session.
Chair: Major General Bob Bruce, Director Capability
Advanced Command and Staff Course 19, Joint Services Command and Staff College
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Lunch
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Session Eight: Secretary of State Keynote Address
The Secretary of State for Defence gives an overview of the value of expeditionary adaptability and the international, partnership driven design of the SDSR.
Chair: Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General & Research Director, RUSI
Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence
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Session Nine: Adaptability and the British Army
Future force designs for adaptability and how the Army will adapt over the next five to ten years as it moves towards and beyond Army 2020.
General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff
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Session Ten: Chief of the General Staff Q&A Session
General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff
Warrant Officer Class One Glenn Haughton, Army Sergeant Major
Day 1
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Registration
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Session One: Keynote Address
Chair: Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General, RUSI
General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff - -
Session Two: Uncertain Threats?
Consideration of the re-emergent threat from state actors, the on-going evolution of non-state actors, and a seemingly increased level of uncertainty in the contemporary operating environment.
Chair: Dr Rob Johnson, Director, Changing Character of War Programme, University of Oxford
Speakers:
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Commanding General, US Army Europe
Mr James Sladden, Analyst, RAND Europe
Ms Linda Robinson, Senior International Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation Mr Charles Farr, Chairman, Joint Intelligence Committee - -
Tea and Coffee
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Session Three: Unpacking Deductions from Uncertain Threats
A keynote on implications from the breadth and hybridity of threats for future capabilities and force design. Followed by panel discussion on opportunities and threats posed by adaptable force postures.
Chair: Lt Gen (Retd) Professor Sir Paul Newton, Director, Strategy and Security Institute, Exeter University
Professor Eliot Cohen, Robert E. Osgood, Professor of Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS
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Lunch
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Session Four: Theories and Practices for Adaptability
Theories of adaptation and insights on their practical application from leaders across the private sector and wider government; offering best practice for structuring organisations to think and behave adaptively in the midst of uncertainty and adversity.
Chair: Major General (Retd) Andrew Sharpe, Director, Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research
Mr Tim Harford, Economist and Author of ‘Adapt: How Success Always Starts with Failure’ - View the presentation slides
Ms Kirstan Marnane, Senior Expert, McKinsey and Company Mr Herman Narula, Chief Executive Officer, Improbable - View the presentation slides
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Tea and Coffee
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Session Five: Military Adaptation in Action
Case studies of the British Army and other militaries’ adaptation in conflict, throughout history and on contemporary operations, with lessons to be drawn for the future.
Chair: Dr Harlan Ullman, Senior Adviser, Atlantic Council
Dr Niall Barr, Reader in Military History, King’s College London - View the presentation slides
Mr Antony Beevor, Military Historian and Author
Lt Gen Michel Yakovleff, Vice Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Brigadier General (Retd) Dr Meir Finkel, Director, Dado Center for Interdisciplinary Military Studies - View the presentation slides
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Drinks Reception
Sponsor
DXC Technology
Conference sponsor