Ashbrook Center to Host Colloquium on "U.S. Civil-Military Relations"

9/21/11 ASHLAND, OH -- The Ashbrook Center at Ashland University will host a colloquium on "U.S. Civil-Military Relations" presented by Mackubin T. Owens, professor of National Security Affairs, U.S. Naval War College on Friday, Sept. 30.

There is no charge to attend this event, which will be held in the Ashbrook Center at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Lisa Ormiston at 419-289-5429 or lormiston@ashbrook.org<mailto:lormiston@ashbrook.org>.

Civil-military relations describe the interactions among the people of a state, the institutions of that state, and the military of the state. From the time of the Revolution to the present, U.S. civil-military relations essentially have constituted a bargain among the people, the civil government and the military establishment-concerning the allocation of prerogatives and responsibilities between the government and the military in answer to five questions: Who controls the military instrument? What is the appropriate level of military influence on society? What is the role of the military? What pattern of civil-military relations best ensures military success? Who serves? The purpose of this talk is to address the ongoing renegotiation of the American civil-military bargain and to ascertain its consequences for military success and civilian control.

In addition to serving as professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., Owens also is senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in Philadelphia and editor of its quarterly journal, Orbis. His book, "U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating the Civil-Military Bargain" was published in January of 2011. Before joining the faculty of the Naval War College, Dr. Owens served as National Security Adviser to Senator Bob Kasten (R-WI) and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Nuclear Weapons Programs of the Department of Energy. He is a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, serving as an infantry platoon commander in 1968-1969. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1994. Dr. Owens earned his Ph.D. from the University of Dallas, his M.A. in economics from Oklahoma University and his B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

The Ashbrook Center, located on the campus of Ashland University, seeks to restore and strengthen the capacities of the American people for constitutional self-government through educational programs for students, teachers and citizens. Ashland University is a mid-sized, private institution conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.