First published 28 Jun 2015
The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF). DEF is an independent, not-for-profit group of emerging defence leaders that strives to solve national security problems from the bottom up (“entrepreneur” in this context is broadly defined). The genesis of DEF was an article by DEF founder Ben Kohlmann in the Small Wars Journal, “The Military Needs More Disruptive Thinkers”. His thesis was that the disruptive thinkers the military desperately needs are often young, usually with insufficient influence, and sometimes not in the military at all. The answer was to connect these innovators through an independent network.
The first DEF Conference was held in 2013 and has spawned a series of similar events. A second DEF Conference was held in 2014, and a third is scheduled for 2015. DEF[x] are a series of smaller conferences, held around the US. DEF Agoras are evening events similar to Nate Finney’s famed “scotch, cigars and strategy” sessions in which a speaker shares his thoughts and a discussion ensues.
DEF Agora Oxford. The first DEF event in the UK took place in Pembroke College, Oxford this month. The format was a DEF Agora, the small evening discussion. Retired brigadier Richard Iron (bio) shared the lessons of Iraq while James de Waal of Chatham House (bio) added the implications for civil-military relations in the UK. The discussion was joined by members of the army, navy and air force of both the US and UK, and was accompanied by wine, beer and — of course — pizza.
The next event. Plans are now underway for a DEF[x] in London in the autumn. For information please contact @durnure or durnure at gmail.com.
