Past Events

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, the Strauss Center and Clements Center will welcome Col. Liam Collins, director of the Modern War Institute at West Point, to discuss the U.S.-Russian hybrid war in Ukraine, U.S. policy and ways to counter Russian aggression.  Col. Collins has conducted multiple visits to Ukraine as the executive officer for Gen. (ret.) John Abizaid in his role as the senior defense adviser to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, the Strauss Center presents Ben Rohrbaugh, a partner at consulting firm BorderWorks. Rohrbaugh was the Border Security Director in the White House National Security Council in 2014 when flows of unaccompanied Central American minors first began to overwhelm processing facilities on the southwest border.

This special Admitted Students Weekend session of the Dean's Distinguished Leaders Series features Austin Smythe (MPAff ‘80), who served as policy director to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) from 2015 to 2019, and before that worked for Ryan over 11 years in a variety of capacities, including as policy director for the House Ways and Means Committee and as staff director for the House Budget Committee (2007–15).

Aldo Flores-Quiroga is former deputy secretary of energy for hydrocarbons at Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (2016–18), where he led a team of more than 180 government officials to implement the historic opening of Mexico's hydrocarbons sector. He launched an oil exploration strategy and production auctions, helped liberalize Mexico’s markets for refined products and natural gas, helped create strategic inventories for gasoline, diesel and natural gas, and negotiated Mexico's role in the unprecedented OPEC-Non OPEC pact to stabilize oil markets.

The LBJ Washington Center and the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service invite you to Meet the New LBJ Faculty. Ji Ma, Assistant Professor in Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies, LBJ School of Public Affairs, will discuss his latest research: "Political elites in a networked society: How Chinese civil society is integrated with the authoritarian regime."

On Monday, March 11, 2019, the Strauss Center is delighted to welcome Steve Coll, staff writer at The New Yorker and author, who will talk about "The Longest War: American Failures in Afghanistan and the Prospects for Peace." Coll, author of Ghost Wars and, most recently, Directorate S: The CIA and America's Secret Wars in Pakistan and Afghanistan, discusses why the United States has failed to achieve its goals in Afghanistan; why Pakistan nurtured the Taliban's revival; and whether the current peace talks have offer any prospects for success.This talk is part of the Brumley Speaker Series.

As governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, Martin O’Malley legalized marriage equality, abolished the death penalty, expanded access to college and invested in the state’s public schools. O’Malley demonstrated results-driven leadership with StateStat and BayStat, a version of the CityStat management system he implemented as Baltimore’s mayor (1999–2007). Stephen Goldsmith is the Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government and the Director of the Innovations in Government Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He directs Data-Smart City Solutions, the Project on Municipal Innovation, the Civic Analytics Network and Operational Excellence in Government. 

The LBJ Foundation honors Fergus M. Bordewich with the 30th D.B. Hardeman Prize for the best book on the United States Congress. Join us on March 5 for the prize ceremony, discussion, and reception.

In celebration of Black History Month the LBJ Washington Center presents a discussion with Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX) moderated by Dr. Victoria deFrancesco Soto, LBJ School of Public Affairs Director of Civic Engagement and MSNBC Contributor

On Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, the Strauss Center and Clements Center welcome Tom Ricks, a military historian and author, to give a lecture: "Was George Washington a Strategic Genius?"