Contemporary military forums at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition will focus on the Army’s top priorities of people, modernization, readiness and alliances. 

The schedule taking shape for the Oct. 11–13 in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., includes two forums on the first day. The first forum is on readiness efforts in cooperation with allies and partners, featuring Gen. Michael Garrett, commanding general of Army Forces Command, Lt. Gen. James Rainey, the deputy Army chief of staff for operations, and Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

The day’s second forum looks at the Army’s People First initiatives. Speakers include Gen. Paul Funk, commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command, Mark Lewis, senior official performing the duties of the assistant Army secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, and Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, deputy Army chief of staff for personnel.

These two panels happen on opening day, which is also when Army Secretary Christine Wormuth is scheduled to speak. 

On Oct. 12, five forums are planned in addition to a keynote address from Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville. One forum is a Department of Homeland Security session looking at the need to improve national resilience programs. Speakers include John Tien, deputy secretary of homeland security, Lt. Gen. John Evans, commander of U.S. Army North, and Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard.

Two programs look at transformation topics, with one concentrated on the sustainment needs of multidomain operations and the other on Project Convergence, the Army effort to link sensors, shooters and communications for faster operations and response. Those panels will be led by Gen. Ed Daly, commander of Army Materiel Command, and Gen. Mike Murray, commander of Army Futures Command, respectively.

A forum led by West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams looks at the formation of cohesive Army teams, and the final forum of the day discusses transforming land power to meet global challenges. Speakers include Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific.

On Oct. 13, one forum looks at the COVID-19 mission and what lessons were learned by the Army for similar efforts in the future. Panelists include Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, retired Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, who was part of the national vaccine effort, and retired Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, former commander of the Army Corps of Engineers.

A second mission-related discussion looks at the impacts on the Army from climate change, featuring J.E. “Jack” Surash, senior official performing the duties of the assistant Army secretary for installations, energy and environment, and Lt. Gen. Laura Potter, deputy Army chief of staff for intelligence.

A third panel looks at the life-cycle costs of sustaining a modernized Army. Speakers include Murray and Daly. 

The 10 forums at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center are open to registered attendees of the AUSA Annual Meeting.

Registration and an updated program are available here.