Association to Host 2025 Civil Affairs Symposium at the Ronald Reagan Library
- John McElligott
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
In coordination with its partners and sponsors, the Civil Affairs Association is hosting the 2025 Civil Affairs Symposium at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, just north of Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, 14-15 November.
This year’s theme on “Redefining Civil Affairs” looks at how civil affairs must once again redefine itself to meet changing foreign policy and national security objectives, doctrine, and force development priorities, this time in a rapidly changing, volatile, and dynamic strategic environment. This is further explained in the 2025-26 Civil Affairs Issue Papers on the same theme in the call for papers.
From the workshops, speakers, and Civil Affairs Issue Papers, the Symposium enables the extended CA Corps to convene, network, formulate, and discuss force development ways ahead among civil affairs practitioners and partners as well as institutional and policy leaders. It also provides a chance to recognize outstanding Corps members, enjoy camaraderie, and build esprit de corps.
Friday the 14th will feature four workshops: 1) a proponent-led discussion of the organizational future of civil affairs; 2) the organizational future of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne); 3) civil affairs conduct of defense support to stabilization and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in a post-U.S. Agency for International Development world; and, 4) how civil affairs contributes to lethality – observations from current operations.
The day ends with a no-host social and the (members only) 78th Civil Affairs Association Board meeting.
The plenary session on Saturday the 15th starts with presentation and discussion of the workshop findings and recommendations by the workshop facilitators.
Confirmed speakers that day include Major General Jason C. Slider, 37th Commanding General of the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School, U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence, Major General Andrée G. Carter, Commanding General, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), and USACAPOC(A) Command Sergeant Major George H. Conklin.
The Symposium ends that afternoon with the presentation of the five papers selected for publication in Vol. 12 of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers. Authors will be competing for cash prizes of up to $2,500 per
paper based on the audience vote on their presentations.
Later that evening, the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade will host its annual Dining Out at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
Click here to pay for registration for the Symposium. For lodging and local travel recommendations, go to the Lodging and Local Information page on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum website. Military and AARP discounts are available.
The Association will not live-cast the Symposium. Instead, it will post it in segments on the Eunomia Journal YouTube channel after the event.
The Association will post a full agenda in early October.
"This is not a Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation event. Views and opinions expressed by the Civil Affairs Association are not necessarily shared by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation."