Inaugural W&L Policy Forum Explores Key Political and Economic Issues More than 100 participants gathered to discuss cybersecurity, trade policies and the future of U.S. policy.
Washington and Lee University hosted its inaugural Policy Forum Oct. 10-11 in Washington, D.C., gathering more than 100 alumni, current students and guests to explore key issues at the intersection of politics, policy and the private sector. The theme of the event was “National Security and the Economy.”
The forum began with a welcome reception on Oct. 10, featuring remarks from Tony DeMartino ’89, a founding partner at Pallas Advisors, who shared insights from his extensive experience in innovative technology and the national security sector.
The following morning, participants enjoyed a networking breakfast, followed by a series of panels designed to engage attendees on pressing topics. The first panel focused on cybersecurity, featuring Allison Jetton ’06L, David Shugart ’87, Jenny Stone ’99 and moderator Will Mackie ’81. This session sparked important discussions about the current landscape of cybersecurity and its implications for society.
Next was the trade and the economy panel, which included insights from Dave Bohigian ’92, Charles Capito ’07L and John Schindler ’94, moderated by professor of economics Katie Shester. Attendees gained valuable perspective on the complexities of trade policies and their impact on economic growth.
Col. Tom Greenwood ’77, a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, delivered a keynote address. His primary role focuses on strategy, defense policy and joint warfare. His considerable experience includes conducting peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance operations in regions such as the Philippines, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, as well as counterinsurgency operations in Iraq.
Lunch featured table topics that encouraged discussions on various themes, including the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the U.S. military, emerging technology and infrastructure. These discussions fostered collaboration and idea-sharing among participants.
The forum closed with the Looking Ahead to 2025 panel, which focused on the evolving political landscape and upcoming policy issues. Moderated by associate professor of politics Brian Alexander, speakers included Scott Arceneaux ’92, Jennifer Frost ’99 and Joy Lee ’12L.
Programming was a result of a collaborative effort between Lorri Olan, senior associate director of Career and Professional Development, Alexander and the alumni steering committee members: Jake Barr ’16, Lucas Flood ’21, Rachel Gallagher ’18, Naphtali Rivkin ’15 and Alexandra Seymour ’17.
For more information about the W&L Policy Forum, please contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@wlu.edu.
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