Help shape the future of the next generation of national security leaders
As you decide upon your end-of-year charitable contributions, please consider donating to the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security (LENS). Doing so will help support our upcoming 30th Annual National Security Law Conference, learning experiences for our Duke Law students, and the LENS Scholar Program.
At its core, LENS is focused on preparing the next generation of national security leaders, but also aims to advance for all a greater understanding of the role of law and ethics in an increasingly complex global security environment.
Please take a look at some of our recent activities highlighted in posts (here) and (here).
I especially need your help with respect to the upcoming 2025 conference. Research shows that in-person experiences are valuable and useful. As I am sure you appreciate, it is becoming increasingly expensive to host a conference, especially one that is in-person, so I really need your help. This conference is a special one given its long heritage and expert speakers.
The 30th Annual National Security Law Conference, 28 Feb-1 Mar 2025
The 30th conference is shaping up to be a truly spectacular one. Here is a small sampling of our confirmed speakers:
Gen. Frank McKenzie, USMC (ret), Executive Director of the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute (former Commander, USCENTCOM; author, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century (2024).
Prof. Harold Hongju Koh, Sterling Professor of International Law, Yale University, 22nd Legal Advisor to the State Department; author, The National Security Constitution in the 21st Century (2024).
Dr. Brianna Rosen, Senior Fellow, Just Security; Strategy and Policy Fellow at the University of Oxford, and Research Affiliate of the Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory Lab at the Australian National University.
Lt Gen John N.T. “Jack” Shanahan, USAF (Ret.) former Director of the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.
Ms. Erin Wirtanen, Central Intelligence Agency, Office of General Counsel
Prof Christopher J. Borgen, Co-Director of the Center for International and Comparative Law at St. John’s University School of Law, a “core expert” for the just-published “Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Operations.”
Mr. Dean Cheng, Senior Advisor to the China Program at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
As I say, this is just a few of the experts who will be sharing their experience and expertise.
LENS Scholar Program
A unique feature of our conference is the LENS Scholar Program where we facilitate the attendance of students from other institutions, At our February conference we had nearly 60 students from 25 schools.
LENS Scholars 2024
This is how a Scholar described the experience:
“I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional conference experience. The caliber of the speakers and the meticulous planning by your team were truly impressive. The whole experience seemed extremely well curated – from the diversity of topics covered to the flow of events and opportunity for engagement. I felt each speaker was able to engage and challenge the audience without leaving anyone behind. This inclusive approach was especially valuable to me as a junior scholar…
We felt privileged to participate in such a distinguished gathering. The conference not only paved the way for invaluable connections for me in the national security field but sparked several writing ideas that I’m excited to put pen to paper on this week. I’m very grateful for all you’ve done for the community of junior scholars in the national security field. Thank you for putting this event together and for making the LENS Scholars a central part of its success.”
Duke Law student volunteers, 2024 LENS conference
Due to rising costs, it appears we’ll be able to host fewer students this year in the Scholars program, but given that this is our 30th LENS Conference, I’m still aiming to bring in 30 LENS Scholars from 30 schools to join our Duke law students to benefit from the up-to-the-minute information (and networking!) that makes this conference such a unique experience.
The LENS conference is one of the largest in the country and typically has over 250 registrants. It draws not just students but also lawyers, concerned citizens, professors from many disciplines, government employees, and military members – and, hopefully, you!
Donating
You can help support the Scholars program as well as the 30th LENS Conference by donating $30, $300, $3,000 or whatever amount works best for you – any amount helps! Your involvement matters!
The easiest way to donate is online through Duke’s secure giving website: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/law?designation=3991358.
You can also mail a check to the Duke Law Alumni & Development Office, 210 Science Drive, Box 90389, Durham, NC 27701. Please write “LENS Center” on the memo line. If you would like to learn about additional ways you can make an impact on our students and support the LENS Center, please contact Halley House at halley.house@law.duke.edu
I hope you consider helping LENS build the next generation of national security leaders, as well as helping to advance for all a greater understanding of the role of law and ethics in an increasingly complex global security environment.
In today’s world LENS’ mission has become more important than ever. Can you help us advance it? And, please join us at the 30th Annual LENS Conference!
Thanks!!
