National Security Conference 2026 Program
Hosted by The Citadel Departments of Intelligence & Security Studies and Political Science
Capers Hall, Charleston, SC | September 30 – October 2, 2026
Dress is business casual.
Wednesday, 30 September
5:00 PM – Welcome Reception
Happy hour and hors d’oeuvres
6:00 PM – Opening Toast and Welcome Remarks
Remarks by: Citadel Leadership
Introduction of Keynote Speakers: Michael Buemi (Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Counternarcotics and Global Threats), and Ty Gilbert (Former Chief of the NATO Intelligence Fusion Center)
Thursday, 1 October
8:30 – 8:45 AM – Conference Welcome
Opening Remarks: Citadel Leadership
8:45 – 9:15 AM – Keynote Address
Michael Buemi (Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Counternarcotics and Global Threats)
9:20 – 10:35 – Contesting Latin America – Transnational Threats, Russia, and Iran
Panel led by Professor Adriana Boersner-Herrera (The Citadel) with DASW Michael Buemi, Monica Flores (Universidad Militar Nueva Granada), and Ambassador James Story
10:40 – 11:30 Student Intelligence Presentation
Intelligence & Security Studies Professor Pat Hendrix and Cadets
1135 – 1230 – Cuba & Venezuela – Authoritarian Resilience and Opportunities
Panel led by Andrew M. Rolander (The Citadel), with John Polga-Hecimovich (U.S. Naval Academy), Professor Adriana Boersner-Herrera (The Citadel), and James Coker (State Department Advisor to SOUTHCOM Commander)
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:15 – 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 – Workshop with Students led by the Department of Intelligence and Security Studies and Dr. Prillaman
**In Separate Room**
with support from Amanda Timko
2:30 – 3:30 – Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence
Panel led by Professor Melissa Graves (The Citadel) with Quartermaster.us and The Intelligence Futures & Judgment Lab
3:45 – 5:00 – What’s next for U.S. Latin America relations?
Panel led by Honorable Stephanie Dorsey, James Coker (State Dept Advisor to SOUTHCOM), and Brian Fonseca (Florida International University)
5:00 – Networking Reception & Happy Hour
Friday, October 31
8:30 – 8:45 Citadel Leadership Closeout
8:45 – 9:30 Industry Keynote
COL Ty Gilbert, USAF (RET) (former Chief NATO Intelligence Fusion Center)
9:45 – 10:45 – The Importance of Relations in Latin America
Panel led by John Nelson (The Citadel)
Panelists:
– Western Hemisphere Institute
– Rene Howell (Former CIA Chief of Station in Latin America)
– Frank Emerson (Former CIA Chief of Intelligence Center in South America)
– Mike Cinnamon (Former CIA Officer Latin America)
1100 – 1145 – China’s Strategy in Latin America
Professor Michael Sun (The Citadel)