Speakers

Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere is Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike capability, and combat support to USSTRATCOM and other geographic combatant commands. The command is comprised of more than 33,700 professionals operating at two numbered air forces; 11 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve wings; and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all U.S. Air Force intercontinental ballistic missiles and bomber aircraft, UH-1N helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force NC3 weapons system.

Gen. Bussiere is a 1985 distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC from Norwich University. He has held a variety of flying, staff and command assignments including the Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense and Current Operations, Joint Staff; Inspector General, Headquarters, AFGSC; Advanced Programs Division, Headquarters, Air Combat Command and duty as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Camp Victory, Baghdad. He commanded the 325th Bomb Squadron, 13th Bomb Squadron, 509th Operations Group and the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. He also served as the Commander, Alaskan Command, United States Northern Command; Commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and Commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Commander, Eighth Air Force; Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Commander, Joint Functional Component for Global Strike; Commander, Task Force 204, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Gen. Bussiere is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and the U.S. Army War College Advanced Strategic Arts Program. Prior to his current position, Gen. Bussiere served as Deputy Commander, USSTRATCOM.

Gen. Bussiere is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours in the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor. He led F-15C combat missions during operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior and B-2 combat missions during operations Allied Force and Iraqi Freedom.

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Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara is Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Virginia. The general is responsible to the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for strategic deterrence policy, including nuclear oversight, arms control and the Department of Defense foreign clearance program, as well as providing focus on the nuclear deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction missions for the Air Force. 
 
Lt. Gen. Gebara entered the Air Force in 1991 after commissioning through the U.S. Naval Academy. His staff assignments include duty at the National Security Council, the Joint Staff, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Central Command, the International Security Assistance Force, Headquarters Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command. A veteran of four campaigns, he has commanded at the squadron, wing, and numbered air force level and has served tours of duty with the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. 
 
Lt. Gen. Gebara is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flight hours, including 46 combat sorties in the A-10 and B-2 in support of operations Iraqi Freedom I, Allied Force, Joint Guard, and service both in the air and on the ground in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Gebara led approximately 21,000 Airmen across six installations as Commander, Eighth Air Force, and Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. 

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Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser is Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. She is responsible for more than 12,000 Airmen providing nuclear global strike and nuclear weapons sustainment for the U.S. Air Force.

Maj. Gen. Huser commissioned through Officer Training School in 1996 after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Central College, Naperville, Illinois. She has extensive experience in space and missile operations. Maj. Gen. Huser has served as a space operations crew member, instructor and training manager, as well as an ICBM combat crew commander, evaluator and chief of emergency war order plans. She also completed staff tours in the Secretary of the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office and at United States Strategic Command. Maj. Gen. Huser commanded the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska; the 91st Missile Operations Group, Minot AFB, North Dakota; and the 90th Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming.

Prior to her current assignment, Maj. Gen. Huser served as the Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. In that role, she assisted the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs to maintain the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

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Maj. Gen. Jason R. Armagost is the Commander, Eighth Air Force, and Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. "The Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft. The J-GSOC serves as the central command and control node for all operations within Air Force Global Strike Command, orchestrating warfighting and readiness activities for the Commander, Air Forces Strategic.

Maj. Gen. Armagost graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned in 1992. He has served in multiple operational and training assignments and logged more than 2,900 hours in the B-2A, F-16CJ, F- 16CG, B-1B, B-52H and T-38A. His notable educational and staff assignments include a fellowship at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, California, Chief of Nuclear Operations on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, and Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command.

Maj. Gen. Armagost commanded the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. His operational assignments supported contingency operations during operations Desert Strike, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel and Deliberate Resolve. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General for Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, where he led coordination of the DoD’s historic security assistance support effort to the Ukrainian government. Further, he has flown numerous combat missions in the F-16CJ, B-2A, B-1B and the B-52H.

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Brig. Gen. Christopher E. Menuey is the Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. He assists the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs to maintain the safety, security, and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

Brig. Gen. Menuey received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in May 1996. He has held a variety of operational, staff and command assignments. He commanded the 90th Operations Support Squadron, 341st Operations Group and 91st Missile Wing. His staff assignments included the Joint Staff, U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command. Brigadier General Menuey is a School of Advanced Air and Space Studies graduate and was a National Defense Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Menuey was the Director, Commander’s Action Group, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he led a joint team to develop and implement the Commander’s vision, engagements, and communication.

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Adm (R) Chas Richard completed a distinguished career of over 41 years in service to the nation.  His final assignment was as Commander, US Strategic Command, from November 2019 to December 2022, responsible for one of 11 Unified Commands under the Department of Defense.  At STRATCOM Richard was directly responsible for the global command and control of all the nation’s nuclear forces to achieve the national security objective of strategic deterrence.  At STRATCOM Richard was responsible for over 150,000 people conducting strategic deterrence and nuclear operations, nuclear command and control, global strike, missile defense, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and analysis and targeting. 

Admiral Richard has a unique breadth and depth of operational and policy experience in undersea and strategic warfare.  His flag assignments include commander, Submarine Forces, Norfolk, Virginia, deputy commander, U.S. Strategic Command, director of Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97) at the Pentagon, deputy commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike at U.S. Strategic Command, and command of Submarine Group 10, Kings Bay, Georgia. 

His operational assignments were in submarines focusing on special missions including command of USS Parche (SSN 683) and Submarine NR-1, then the U.S. Navy's only nuclear-powered, deep-submergence submarine. He also served aboard USS Portsmouth (SSN 707), USS Asheville (SSN 758), and USS Scranton (SSN 756). 

Richard's staff assignments include service as the executive assistant and naval aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy; chief of staff, Submarine Force Atlantic; and command of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 17, Bangor, Washington. Other staff assignments include director of resources on the staff of the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy); squadron engineer on the staff of SUBRON-8 and duty on the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations 
(Submarine Warfare) staff. He has also served as a member of Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group XXVIII, studying the integration of unmanned systems into naval force structure. 

Richard is a native of Decatur, Alabama and a 1982 graduate with honors from the University of Alabama. He earned master's degrees with honors from the Catholic University of America and the Naval War College.  He retired from active duty in January 2023.   He currently serves as the James R. Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the Miller Center for Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. 

Captain Mark Parrella, originally from Arlington, VA, attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated with merit in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering.  He also holds a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

After completing nuclear power and submarine training, Captain Parrella served aboard USS TOLEDO (SSN769), deploying in support of both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  He also served as a submarine intelligence analyst at the Office of Naval Intelligence.  

Captain Parrella has served at both the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA as an Assistant Project Officer for VIRGINIA Class Construction, and at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, CT as the VIRGINIA Class Project Officer and Program Manager’s Representative.  In these tours, he has led teams delivering 6 VIRGINIA-Class Submarines to the Fleet.

Captain Parrella has served as the Deputy Assistant Program Manager for New Acquisitions in the Advanced Undersea Systems Program Office (PMS-394), and as the Principal Assistant Program Manager for Construction and Test for the COLUMBIA Class Program Office (PMS-397).

Captain Parrella served as the Program Manager for Undersea Weapons (PMS-404) from August 2020 to April 2022.  In this role, he was responsible for all acquisition and life cycle support of all Navy undersea weapons programs, including two Joint Programs with the Commonwealth of Australia.  

Captain Parrella reported as the Program Manager of the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program (PMS-397) in May 2022.

Mr. James R. Howe is currently President, Strategic Concepts and Analysis for Vision Centric, Inc., a SETA to US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). He is also a consultant to National Security Research Institute (NSRI) (UARC to STRATCOM) and principal investigator on a study for OSD/NA to conduct open-source research into the future military utility and feasibility of space offensive warfare, and its impact on future warfare as a continuance of the revolution in military affairs. He was co-developer of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept, helped keep AHW concept sold and expanded the program (Now being developed and produced as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon).  

Mr. Howe developed a concept for destroying threat hypersonic vehicles using long-range high power microwave beams which has been briefed to STRATCOM, MDA, AFRL and OSD, as well as using the same HPM beam technology for a ground-based ASAT system which was briefed to USSF, USSC, AFRL and SMDC. Mr. Howe conducted studies for OSD/NA on future warfare, space warfare, future world orders, intercontinental conventional warfare (briefed 8 of Sec Def direct reports), and US/China counter-space 2040; DIA/MSIC on future missile threats; DTRA on advanced technology nuclear weapons and SMDC on Army future space force structure. From 2001-2005 he was Director, Threats and Future Requirements for Boeing, Missile Defense Division, and has over 40 years’ experience researching US/adversary strategic nuclear forces, strategic defenses, and space issues and as Executive Secretary of Rockwell/Boeing Strategy Working Group where his research developed new business opportunities and influenced national policy and threat decisions and was a win factor in Boeing capture of GMD contract. Briefed Rumsfeld commission on long range missile threat to CONUS that provided engineering proof, resulting in approval of GMD program and revision of NIE 95-19. Conducted extensive two-sided strategic nuclear campaign analysis to develop requirements for B-1B bomber.  

Mr. Howe is a Former US Army Armor Officer with command and intelligence assignments (25 years active and reserve). Mr. Howe earned a MS in International Economics from Oregon State University and MA in International Relations from University of Southern California. 

Ms. Kelly Lee currently serves as the Director, Plans and Programs at Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). In this capacity, Ms. Lee provides executive leadership to SSP enterprise for the development and execution of the program plans and $4+ Billion annual budget for the Navy Strategic Weapons Systems and the joint Navy/Army Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. Ms. Lee leads the professionals acquiring strategic weapon systems and the operations of the strategic weapons processing facilities providing the nation with 70% of its deployed nuclear weapons as well as 100% of the United Kingdom’s strategic deterrent capability. 

Ms. Lee started her Navy career as an Engineer in Training at NAVSEA 05 where she gained Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) systems experiences. Ms. Lee moved to SSP when she was selected to serve as the Strategic Weapons Facility Operations Engineer in 1990. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Lee served as the Branch Head for TRIDENT (D5) Missile Systems responsible for design, development, production, technical services, operations, logistics and disposal of the D5 missile systems to include flight test instrumentation and special support equipment for United States and United Kingdom. Prior to her Missile branch head assignment, Ms. Lee served as an Assistant of Missile Production, Assembly and Operations of the Strategic Systems Programs. 

Ms. Lee earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Master’s Degree in Public Administrations from American University. 

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Madelyn Creedon had a long career in federal service; she served most recently as Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy, a position she held from 2014 to 2017. She also served in the Pentagon as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs from 2011 to 2014, overseeing policy development in the areas of missile defense, nuclear security, combatting WMD, cybersecurity, and space.

She served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services for many years, beginning in 1990; assignments and focus areas included the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces as well as threat reduction and nuclear nonproliferation. During that time, she also served as Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the NNSA, Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy, and General Counsel for the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. She started her career as a trial attorney at the Department of Energy. 

Following retirement from Federal Service in 2017, Madelyn established Green Marble Group, LLC, a consulting company and currently serves on several advisory and other boards related to national security.  She is also a non-resident senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, a research professor at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs and was the chair of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States.

She holds a J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Evansville.

Gordon G. Chang is the author of the recently published China Is Going to War. 

His other works include The Coming Collapse of China and The Great U.S.-China Tech War. 

He lived and worked in China and Hong Kong for almost two decades as a lawyer, most recently in Shanghai, as Counsel to the American law firm Paul Weiss and earlier in Hong Kong as Partner in the international law firm Baker & McKenzie.  

He is a columnist at Newsweek and writes regularly for The Hill and other publications. 

Mr. Chang has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, Central Intelligence Agency, State Department, and the Pentagon. Chang has appeared before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. 

He appears on Fox News, Newsmax TV, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox Business.  

He served two terms as a trustee of Cornell University. 

Follow him on X @GordonGChang. 

Dr. Matthew Kroenig is Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. In these roles, he manages the Scowcroft Center’s bipartisan team of more than thirty resident staff and oversees the Council’s extensive network of nonresident fellows. His own research focuses on US national security strategy, strategic competition with China and Russia, and strategic deterrence and weapons nonproliferation. 

Kroenig is currently a commissioner on the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. He previously served in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community during the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. He received the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. He was a national security adviser on the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney (2012) and Marco Rubio (2016). 

Kroenig is also a tenured professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. A 2019 study in Perspectives on Politics ranked him one of the top twenty-five most cited political scientists of his generation. He is the author or editor of eight books, including The Return of Great Power Rivalry: Democracy versus Autocracy from the Ancient World to the US and China (Oxford University Press, 2020) and The Logic of American Nuclear Strategy: Why Strategic Superiority Matters (Oxford University Press, 2018). Kroenig co-authors the bimonthly “It’s Debatable” column at Foreign Policy. His articles and commentary regularly appear in major media outlets, including: the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Politico, CBS, BBC, CNN, Fox News, and NPR. 

He has held fellowships at the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard University, and Stanford University. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds an MA and PhD in political science from the University of California at Berkeley. 

Senator John Hoeven was sworn in as North Dakota’s 22nd U.S. Senator, following ten years of service as the state’s governor. He is a member of the Defenser Subcommittee of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations which is tasked with writing the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. He also serves on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Committee on Indian Affairs.

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Senator Kevin Cramer was elected to the United States Senate on November 6, 2018 after serving three terms as North Dakota’s At-Large Member of the United States House of Representatives. He is the first Republican to hold this Senate seat in his lifetime. He serves on the Armed Services, Environment and Public Works, Veterans Affairs, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and Budget Committees.

Senator Cramer is the first ever North Dakotan to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Seapower. He is also on the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

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Congressman Kelly Armstrong is a lifelong, devoted North Dakotan and a tireless advocate for making North Dakota a better place to live and work. With his background in business, his love for the outdoors and his volunteer and public service experience, Kelly is fighting for our North Dakota values in Washington and working to advance positive changes to benefit our state and country. Kelly serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government for the 118th Congress. Kelly was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing the entire state of North Dakota in 2018.

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