National Security Conference – Latin America 2026 Program
Hosted by The Citadel Departments of Intelligence & Security Studies and Political Science
Capers Hall, Charleston, SC | 30 September – 2 October, 2026
Dress is business casual.
Wednesday, 30 September
5:00 PM – Welcome Reception
Happy hour and hors d’oeuvres
Johnson Hagood Stadium – 4th Floor Pearson Lounge
6:00 PM – Opening Toast and Welcome Remarks
Remarks by: Citadel Leadership
Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Ty Gilbert, Former Chief of the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center
Thursday, 1 October
8:30 – 9:00 AM – Conference Welcome
Opening Remarks: President of The Citadel, Gen. Frank McKenzie, Introduced by Dean Brian Jones
9:00 – 9:30 AM – Keynote Address
Ty Gilbert, Former Chief of the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center
9:35 – 10:35 AM – Cuba & Venezuela – Authoritarian Resilience and Opportunities
Panel led by Dr. Boersner-Herrera; with Prof. Andrew Rolander, The Citadel; Dr. John Polga-Hecimovich, U.S. Naval Academy; and Ambassador James Story
10:45 – 11:30 AM – Contesting Latin America – Transnational Threats, Russia, and Iran
Panel led by Dr. Boersner-Herrera; with James Coker, U.S. State Department; Monica Florez Cáceres, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada; and Ambassador James Story
11:35 – 12:30 PM – Student Intelligence Presentation
Intelligence & Security Studies Dr. Pat Hendrix and Cadets
12:30 – 1:30 PM – Lunch
Capers Hall Courtyard
1:30 – 2:15 PM – Latin America and the President’s Daily Brief
Dr. William Prillaman (former CIA/Deputy Assistant Director of Analysis and Chief of PDB and Analytical Tradecraft), in Fireside Chat with Alex Henry (The Citadel)
2:30 – 5:00 PM – Workshop with Students led by the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies and Dr. Prillaman
**In Separate Room**
Dr. Prillaman, Intelligence & Security Studies Department will support the workshop
2:30 – 3:30 PM – Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence
Panel led by Dr. Graves, The Citadel; with Shane Morris with beautifulmajesticdolphin, and Quartermaster.us https://www.quartermaster.us/about, and The Intelligence Futures & Judgment Lab
3:45 – 5:00 PM – What’s Next for U.S. Latin America Relations?
Panel led by Honorable Stephanie Dorsey; with James Coker, State Department Advisor to SOUTHCOM; and Dr. Brian Fonseca, Florida International University
5:00 PM – Networking Reception & Happy Hour
Capers Hall Courtyard
Friday, 2 October
8:30 – 8:45 AM – Citadel Leadership
8:50 – 9:00 AM – Relations with El Salvador
William N. Mosley, Distinguished Scholars Program
9:10 – 10:10 AM – The Importance of Relations in Latin America
Panel led by John Nelson; with Western Hemisphere Institute; Rene Howell, Former CIA Chief of Station in Latin America; Kenneth S. Hartman, South Carolina National Guard; and Frank Emerson, Former CIA Chief of Intelligence Center in South America).
10:20 – 11:20 AM – China’s Strategy in Latin America
Dr. Michael Sun, The Citadel