The Demands of Smart Power

ACIR President Bob Kennedy will speak at the President's Annual Breakfast on "The Demands of Smart Power." Seating is limited to 20 attendees.

Smart Power has been defined as the use of both hard power (often military force) and soft power (non-military) to achieve objectives in the international arena. Often missing from such formulations is an explicit delineation of the elements of "Smart Power." In a brief talk before discussions commence, Bob Kennedy will identify what he considers to be the key elements  of "Smart Power" that hold promise of effective foreign policy.

A former senior government official, Bob is a professor emeritus at Georgia Tech's the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. Prior positions include: director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Germany; Deputy Commandant, NATO Defense College, Italy; Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of National Security Studies and Senior Researcher, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College; Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; an enlisted man in the U.S. Army; and command pilot on active duty with the U.S. Air Force.

Bob holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Georgetown University and a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy and was a Fulbright Scholar in Peru. He is recipient of the Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Doctorate Honoris Cause from the Bulgarian National Defense College; has been elected a permanent member of the Academy of Security, Defense, and Law Enforcement, Russian Federation with the title of Professor, and was awarded the title of Commander by the President of Romania.

Bob has lectured and published widely and has served as a consultant in the fields of international security and defense affairs. His most recent books are Of Knowledge and Power: the Complexities of National Intelligence and The Road to War: Congress’ Historic Abdication of Responsibility.