On Wargaming, Part I: How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future
Summary:
Lecture: The History of Wargaming from ancient times through World War II. Presented by Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming.
Description:
Wargames are as old as civilization, and perhaps older. This is an overview of the development of wargaming from ancient times to the End of World War II. Part 1 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming and author of "On Wargaming," a US Naval War College free publication available at https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/
On Wargaming, Part II: How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future
Summary:
Lecture: The History of Wargaming since World War II. Presented by Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming.
Description:
Wargames are as old as civilization, and perhaps older. This is an overview of the development of wargaming from the End of World War II to today. Part 2 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming and author of "On Wargaming," a US Naval War College free publication available at https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/
On Wargaming, Part III: How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future
Summary:
Lecture: Toward More-Effective Wargaming. Presented by Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming.
Description:
It has been said the foundations of science are observation and classification. Together they enable the forming of hypotheses that enable later applications. This focuses on the utility of wargames, and varied approaches, to wargaming. Part 3 of How Wargames Have Shaped History and How They May Shape the Future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming and author of "On Wargaming," a US Naval War College free publication available at https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/
Operation Market Garden - Was it really "A Bridge Too Far" (NSDM Lecture)
Summary:
Operation Market Garden 75th anniversary. A look at the Allies most ambitious Airborne operation & evaluation of why it failed. By Mike Tucker, NSDM staff.
Description:
75 years after the failure of Market Garden, there is still debate as to why this operation failed. The Allies seemed to have the Germans on the run and Market Garden could have given the Allies a bridge over the Rhine and ended the war by Christmas 1944. A look at the factors that lead to the dashing of Allied hopes of finishing the Germans off. Presenter: Mike Tucker of the National Security Decision Making, Inc staff.
Clausewitz, Mahan, Mitchell & others, strategic thinkers we've heard of but few know what they really said. Talk on what historical strategists actually wrote. By Dr. Craig Greathouse, NSDM staff.
Description:
Clausewitz, Mahan and Mitchell, among others, are strategic thinkers whom many talk about, but few have read them and examined what they actually have said. This lecture will look at some of the actual writings of significant strategic thinkers throughout history and put their ideas in the context in which they were written. It will look at a broad range of strategic thinkers and examine what they actually argued as compared to what people actually think they said. Presenter: Dr. Craig Greathouse of the National Security Decision Making, Inc staff.
U-505, a Uniquely Unlucky Submarine; 75th Anniversary Of its Intact Capture (NSDM Lecture)
Summary:
U-505 distinctions: 11 war patrols; sabotaged by French Resistance dockworkers; most damaged U-boat to return from patrol; one CO committed suicide; captured intact. Capt. Mark McDonagh, NSDM staff
Description:
When the German U-boat U-505 is mentioned, most think about its capture in 75 years ago, two days before D-day in June 1944, or of its status as a museum piece at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. But the Type IX submarine's wartime history is rich: 11 combat patrols; sabotaged by French dockworkers; distinction as the most damaged U-boat ever to return from patrol, and as instance during the war in which a submarine commander committed suicide in response to the stress of a prolonged depth charging. Lecture will cover details of the long and mixed-success of this most-famous of submarines. Presented by Capt. Mark McDonagh, USN/ret., a submarine officer with 12 years’ experience at the Naval War College, now on the National Security Decision Making, Inc staff.
How wargames assist with the advance of innovation. Evolution as tools for understanding the past and shaping the future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming.
Description:
How wargames assist with the advance of innovation. Evolution of wargames as tools for understanding the past and shaping the future. Presenter: Colonel Matt Caffrey (USAF, ret.), the "Dean" of Air Force Wargaming and author of "On wargaming," a US Naval War College free publication available at https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/
Overview of modern military thought on fighting in megacities. New technologies, UAVs, robots, AI, conventional, unconventional, future approaches. Panel by National Security Decision Making staff
Description:
An overview of modern military thought on fighting in the world's megacities. As the global population grows and cities become ever denser, military planners are preparing for near future conflict scenarios in and around urban megacities. Particularly in the developing world, how will new technologies-UAVs, robots, AI, space-based platforms-be employed in these challenging environments? Panel will review conventional, unconventional and future approaches. Panel by the National Security Decision Making, Inc staff.
“Near Future” Science-Fiction FastPlay National Security Decision Making Game
Summary:
Near-future variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing game. Crazed dictators, pandemics, environmental crises, malignant AI, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises.
Description:
Near-future, 2035 variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making Game. Players take senior leadership positions in a real-world nation. Explore the boundaries between science fact and science fiction. Experience world crises and experience mysterious events in this 2035 scenario. Deal with world challenges. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, pandemics, global warming, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite “as-you-know-it.” Presented by the National Security Decision Making Game staff.
“Near Future” Science-Fiction National Security Decision Making Contemporary Crisis Game
Summary:
Fast-paced version of NSDMG’s geopolitical-military RPG. It’s the world just a few years from now. You’re a key leader in a major nation. You’re called in after hours. What’s wrong now?
Description:
Near-future, 2-hour crisis-oriented variant of the geopolitical, military and economic role-playing National Security Decision Making Game with futuristic and science fiction elements. Take a senior leadership in the US, China, Russia, or other major power, facing a world crisis that might be tomorrow’s real-world headline. It’s the world almost as you know it, everything’s normal, then you’re called in after-hours and learn that everything’s no longer normal, not by a long shot. Expect anything from crazed dictators, revolutions, pandemics, climate change, uncontrolled and malignant artificial intelligence, universal state surveillance, new technologies, genetic breakthroughs, and other surprises in a world that is not quite “as-you-know-it.” Presented by the National Security Decision Making Game staff.