The Army has announced the topics and invited lead speakers for the nine Contemporary Military Forums scheduled for the 2013 Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 21 – 23, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation’s capital.Reinforcing the theme of the Association’s 2013 Annual Meeting and Exposition – "America’s Army: Globally Responsive, Regionally Engaged" – the Contemporary Military Forums are an important part of AUSA’s role in promoting and enhancing professional development.The forums and lead speakers are:"Enhancing North American Security – Missions at Home," Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., commander, U.S. Northern Command, and commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (Invited)."Leader Development," Gen. Raymond Odierno, Army chief of staff (Invited)."Army Future," Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (Invited)."Ready and Resilient," Gen. John F. Campbell, Army vice chief of staff (Invited)."Modernization," Lt. Gen. James O. Barclay III, deputy chief of staff, G-8, (Invited)."Regionally Aligned Forces," Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, commander, U.S Army Forces Command (Invited)."Strategic Landpower: U.S. Army, Special Operations, USMC," Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (Invited)."Privatization Partnership," Hon. Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment (Invited)."Building the Army’s Cyber Forces – Regionally Aligned and Globally Responsive," Lead Speaker – To Be Determined.Recognized by the Army chief of staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno, as a key element in communicating "The Army Story" to the American public, AUSA’s Contemporary Military Forums, presented by the Association’s educational directorate – the Institute of Land Warfare – and supported by the Army, will again tackle a variety of topics that generate important information and messages to attendees, the media and those in the virtual arena.The Army, according to a spokesman, will also offer special presentations at an "Army Forum" located in close proximity to the Army exhibit in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.The Army Forum will feature 45-minute discussions focusing on topics addressing subject-matter areas of prime importance to the Army and the general public.Described by the Army as "a valuable platform for communicating Army strategic themes and messages, and a unique professional development opportunity for soldiers and civilians," the Association’s Annual Meeting will also feature military and civilian speakers to include: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (Invited); Secretary of the Army John H. McHugh (Invited); Gen. Raymond Odierno, Army chief of staff, (Invited); the former secretary of defense, Robert Gates, (Marshall Medal recipient); and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler.The AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition will take place Oct. 21 – 23 in the nation’s capital.Again this year, the meeting has a projected attendance of approximately 30,000 participants to include members of all ranks from the active Army, National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve; retirees and veterans; government and Army civilian employees, members of the defense industry, Military Academy and ROTC cadets, military personnel from allied countries, and military and civilian family members.For more Annual Meeting information, go to the AUSA website, www.ausa.org.