Past Events

ILI Hosts
ILI Hosts "Combating Global Coronavirus: Assessment of Past Lessons & Future Outlook"
Date: Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Host: International Law Institute Opening Remarks: Prof. Don Wallace, Chairman at the International Law Institute Moderator: Prof. Yonah Alexander, Director of the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, Senior Fellow at th...
ILI Hosts “Combating Global Coronavirus: From Isolation to Int'l Cooperation” Conference
ILI Hosts “Combating Global Coronavirus: From Isolation to Int'l Cooperation” Conference
On March 26, 2020, the International Law Institute was proud to support and co-host with the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies [IUCTS] its conference on “Combating Global Coronavirus: From Isolation to International Cooperation” held as part of Special Ambassador’s Forum series. T...
IUCTS Feb 6 2020 Middle East Security Challenges: Past Lessons and Future Outlook
IUCTS Feb 6 2020 Middle East Security Challenges: Past Lessons and Future Outlook
Speaker: Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat Opening remarks: Professor Don Wallace Jr. International Law Institute and Inter University Center for Terrorism Studies
2019 Global Terrorism Index
2019 Global Terrorism Index
Featuring Col. Serge Stroobants, Director of Operations for Europe and MENA at the Institute for Economics and Peace (Brussels). December 16, 2019 (2:00-3:30 PM) Co-Sponsors: Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies Inter-University Center for Legal Studies, at the International Law Institut...
Application of Blockchains to DoD Microelectronics Supply Chain
Application of Blockchains to DoD Microelectronics Supply Chain
In this presentation Nikhil Shenoy will review Colvin Run's microelectronics blockchain product and review the application of blockchains to the DoD microelectronic supply chain. This talk will focus on the importance of the U.S. semiconductor industry and review problems and facing the current micr...
ICTS Event, Technology and Security, November 18, 2019
ICTS Event, Technology and Security, November 18, 2019
“Understanding how technology evolves is essential for the United States to continue to maintain global leadership, as well as to ensure economic prosperity and national security. Dr. Daniel Gerstein, a leading technology expert, discuss his new book “The Story of Technology: How We Got Here and...

RCSS121616On 16 December 2016 the Center for Adaptation and Innovation (CAI) hosted the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa (SPMAGTF – CR – AF) Rotation 16.1, as part of its Returning Commander Speaker Series. A rotational force of Marines and sailors, the SPMAGTF – CR – AF is capable of decisive action across a range of military operations, and was established in 2013 in response to the attack on American diplomats in Benghazi, Libya.  The SPMAGTF-CR-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa a broad range of military capabilities to respond to crises in its area – of – responsibility (AOR), which includes conducting noncombatant evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and support to U.S. embassies, amongst other missions, operations and activities.

Speaker and Commanding Officer, Colonel Martin “Marty” Wetterauer III, described their mission as conducting limited crisis response and contingency operations in conjunction with Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) activities in order to protect U.S. citizens and strengthen U.S. interest in the USAFRICOM area of operation. Temporarily positioned on Morón Air Base, Spain, the SPMAGTF – CR – AF conducted 26 Theater Security Cooperation Engagements in 10 African countries, over 120 training events throughout USAFRICOM and USEUCOM AORs, and conducted Cooperative Security Location validations in all three Gulf of Guinea locations.   

Throughout their deployment, the SPMAGTF-CR – AF worked alongside Special Operation Force (SOF) partners to provide real world mission support and training and planning integration, including high threat/ high risk diplomatic post surveys and crisis response working group meetings. According to Col Wetterauer, “they will be tightly integrated with SOF partners, at least until Libya becomes a stable environment and SOF are not the only one’s securing the environment.” This will be their primary task.

With the ability to quickly integrate and deploy, the MAGTF is often first to be called upon in times of crisis, even when there are other options available. Col Wetterauer indicated that due to other options available, CR – AF may not always be the most appropriate response, and who to call on is an ongoing education process with the State Department and African countries.

The MAGTF is working with half the Osprey’s they were last year in order to boost stateside readiness, going from 12 down to 6. Col Wetterauer assured that their mission only calls for 6, assuming 2 are down, 2 are conducting missions, and 2 are the back up to conduct logistics, maintenance and training. Col Wetterauer said that aviation readiness is their “number 1 concern.” This echoes the voice of the last RCSS speaker, Col Anthony M. Henderson, commander of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, who reinforced the primacy of Marine Aviation readiness saying that “we have to keep the flight hours going as much as possible, that saves lives.”

Read more about the SPMAGTF – CR – AF brief on DoD BuzzSeapower Magazine, and on Military.com here and here


CAI’s Returning Commander Speaker Series offers a forum for naval force concepts and capabilities to be discussed with commanders whom recently completed a deployment. CAI identifies and defines new and potentially disruptive defense capabilities. Specifically, the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies established CAI to assist senior defense leaders grappling with the most demanding issues and problems posed by a complex and uncertain security environment.