Association Postpones West Coast Symposium to 2026

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum

After detailed deliberation, the Civil Affairs Association decided to postpone the on-site Symposium to have taken place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum 13-16 November 2025 to the same location and similar timeframe in 2026. The Association will confirm the 2026 Symposium time and location in early December, pending the Association Board meeting and other deliberations.

“The continued government shutdown has impacted the operation of the Reagan Library and travel of currently serving U.S. military personnel. This, coupled with a new Department of War policy on attendance at non-military events without prior high-level approval, has left us with no alternative but to postpone most of the Symposium until November 2026,” Association president Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hugh Van Roosen explained to registrants.

Symposium Goes Virtual

To maintain its operations tempo in support of the extended CA Corps force and professional development, the Association will host a fee-free virtual event on Saturday, 15 November in the 9:00-12:45 Pacific Standard timeframe. This abbreviated 2025 Symposium will feature two of the timelier workshops.

The first workshop looks at the question of: “With the dissolution of USAID, how can civil affairs lead Department of War efforts to maintain strategic access, placement, and relationships to counter our adversaries? The second covers “how civil affairs contributes to lethality – observations from an emerging state.”

The presentation of the five papers selected for publication in Vol. 12 of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers will close out the shortened Symposium. Authors will still be competing for cash prizes of up to $2,500 per paper based on the audience vote on their presentations. So, please tune in and cast your ballot!

The Association Board will hold its annual meeting online starting at 9:00 Pacific Standard Time on 16 November. A separate link for that meeting will be going to Board members.

For those who already registered for the event, the Association will provide refunds, minus a small unavoidable transaction charge from the banking vendor. For those who purchased tickets for the Gala dinner on 15 November as part of your attendance, the organizers of that event will reach out to you separately to coordinate for refunds or adjustments.

Please register for the virtual Symposium and find the revised agenda on the Association's Events page.