Georgetown Security Studies Program

We are wrapping up another incredibly successful Kalaris Intelligence Conference.

Thank you to everyone who joined us over the past two days! Special thanks to the International Intelligence History Association for partnering with us for this year's conference and for bringing together such enriching academic paper presentations from intelligence historians.

We also want to extend our gratitude to Mr. Michael P. Dempsey, former Acting Director of National Intelligence, who sat down for a fireside chat with SSP Director Dr. Rebecca Patterson. Their authentic and insightful discussion focused on the current state of American intelligence and the significant opportunities and challenges the Intelligence Community faces moving forward.

We hope the concluding event of the conference, the SFS Career Center Kalaris Intelligence Conference Career Fair, was helpful to students. We look to you in shaping the future of the IC!

This conference is made possible in part by the generosity of the George T. Kalaris Intelligence Studies Fund. Born in Billings, Montana, George Kalaris spent most of his career as a CIA clandestine operations officer across Greece, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, and Brazil after joining the agency in 1952. In 1979, he was named special assistant to DCI Stansfield Turner, and the following year was credited with ending decades of tension between the agency and the FBI through the creation of a joint operation to turn Soviet agents into defectors.

You can stay connected with the conference at https://kalarisintelligence.squarespace.com/ and view upcoming SSP events at https://events.georgetown.edu/css.

Over the weekend, SSP students enjoyed an immersive experience led by Dr. Brad Wineman at the historic Chancellorsville Battlefield.

The "Staff Ride" provided an in-depth assessment of the battle while challenging much of the orthodox historical interpretation of the past 150 years.

Thank you to Dr. Wineman for providing students with a chance to experience classroom concepts and materials in a real-life historical setting!

(Photo Credit: J. Tan)

This week, SSP had the chance to sit down with author Geoffrey Gresh, non-resident Senior Fellow with the University of South Florida, to discuss his new book "Leaning Seaward: Japan as a Maritime Great Power." Gresh spoke in his personal capacity about his book.

Gresh shared his examination of Japan as a comprehensive maritime power in the twenty-first century and considered what that status means in an age of great power competition. Students engaged in discussion on Japan’s maritime capabilities and influence across economic, industrial, and security sectors throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and we hope to see you at the next CSS Speaker Series!

🗓️ Check out upcoming SSP events: https://events.georgetown.edu/css

🎤 2026 Kalaris Intelligence Conference Speaker Feature: Michael P. Dempsey

Join us for a fireside chat on day 1 of the conference with Michael P. Dempsey, former acting Director of National Intelligence, moderated by SSP Director Rebecca Patterson.

About the Speaker:
Michael P. Dempsey is a senior advisor at The Eurasia Group and a non-resident senior scholar at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program. He has previously worked as a Vice President of Space, Cyber, and Intelligence at Northrop Grumman, and before that spent nearly three decades in the U.S. Intelligence Community, serving from 2014-2017 as Acting and Deputy Director of National Intelligence. In the latter role, Mike served as President Obama's primary intelligence briefer, led the effort to integrate the community's 18 agencies and departments, and regularly represented the community at National Security Council meetings and in congressional testimony. Prior to joining the CIA in 1990, Mike served as an artillery officer in the 101st Airborne Division. During his career, Mike received the Presidential Rank Award, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Award, the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, and the Intelligence Community Seal Medallion. He is a member of The Council on Foreign Relations, and his analysis on national security, technology, foreign policy , and leadership has been covered in numerous publications, including the New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politico, Wired Magazine, and the Harvard Business Review.

He earned a Master of International Public Policy from John Hopkins, School of Advanced International Studies, a Master of Diplomatic History from the University of New York at Albany, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Siena College.

Register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kalaris-intelligence-conference-2026-tickets-1998991350942?aff=oddtdtcreator

The full agenda can be found on the conference website: https://kalarisintelligence.squarespace.com/2026-agenda

Congratulations to SSP students Ernesto ('29) and Nicholas ('27)!

10 Georgetown Grad Students Named Bryce Harlow Fellows - Graduate Studies For the second year standing, Georgetown students comprise a majority of awardees for the government advocacy award.

We could not have asked for better weather or company during this weekend's Gettysburg Staff Ride, led by Professor Tom McNaugher.

For SSP students, staff rides offer a unique chance to experience history firsthand. These scholar-led tours deepen classroom material while providing a great opportunity to connect with classmates outside of the classroom.

Thank you to Professor McNaugher for guiding a fantastic weekend on the battlefield!

Over the weekend, the Security Studies Program welcomed back Hoyas for our annual Fall Alumni Reception, bringing together graduates spanning from the 1970s through the Class of 2026. Thank you to all who joined us, and we hope to see you next time!

The Security Studies Program had the distinct privilege of kicking off this semester’s events with an exclusive pre-screening of the premiere episode of TNT Drama's limited series HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM. Following the screening, SSP Associate Director Dr. Heidi Urben moderated an insightful discussion with John Nixon (SSP’97), touching on his journey from SSP to, six years later, debriefing Saddam Hussein at the CIA.

John Nixon served as a senior leadership analyst with the CIA from 1998 to 2011 and was the first CIA officer to interrogate Saddam Hussein after his capture in December 2003. Inspired by the memoir “Debriefing the President,” the eight-episode political thriller, HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM, chronicles one man’s relentless pursuit of truth amid a nation’s complicated quest for justice.

🎬 Watch the official trailer for HIGH VALUE TARGET: THE HUNT FOR SADDAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=one0WWrdCIg

The series premieres on TNT with the first two episodes on Sunday, September 13 at 9pm ET/PT, followed by episode three on Monday, September 14 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT. New episodes will premiere on subsequent Sunday and Monday evenings at 9pm ET/PT, culminating with the finale on Sunday, October 4 on TNT.

🗓️ Check out upcoming SSP events: https://events.georgetown.edu/css

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