Norwich hosts 2025 Strategic Security Seminar on NATO Reserves

Norwich University’s John and Mary Frances Patton Peace and War Center (PAWC) proudly hosted the 2025 Strategic Security Seminar, bringing NATO officers, senior enlisted leaders, alumni, and scholars to The Hill for a high-level examination of NATO’s reserve forces in times of crisis and war. With the theme “NATO and its Reserves in Times of Crisis and War,” the seminar reflected Norwich’s enduring mission to educate leaders prepared to confront the most urgent challenges of their time.

The event was inspired by the 30th VdRBw-ROA Partnership Seminar, an annual initiative jointly organized by the Reserve Organization of America (RoA) and the Association of the German Armed Forces Reservists (VdRBw). For three decades, this program has provided a platform for American and German reserve organizations to assess defense challenges, strengthen NATO ties, and build lasting professional relationships.

As the oldest of the six senior military colleges in the United States, and recognized as the Birthplace of ROTC, Norwich was a fitting venue for such a milestone gathering. Hosting this year’s edition underscored the University’s proud traditions while demonstrating its expanding role as a center for global defense dialogue and strategic thought.

Community and Expansion

Norwich has long played a role in transatlantic defense cooperation, most notably through the German-American Partnership Seminars. Norwich last hosted the seminar in 2017 and sent delegations to Germany in 2023 and 2024. The 2025 edition on The Hill expanded that history, welcoming NATO officers and senior enlisted leaders for the first time. This broadened the seminar’s scope into a truly international forum of defense practitioners, policymakers, and educators.

Distinguished Alumni Presentations

A highlight of the seminar was the engagement of Norwich’s alumni network, which allowed graduates to share expertise and mentor current students. COL William “Bill” Lyons, U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.), Class of 1990, presented on NATO’s evolving posture in response to hybrid threats and prolonged crises. A U.S. Army veteran with 31 years of service, COL Lyons is a defense policy specialist focused on NATO readiness, transatlantic security policy, and military innovation. Currently serving as the vice president for distance education for Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, he has also published extensively on reserve force modernization and alliance interoperability. 

Equally impactful was the presentation of Annette Redmon, Class of 1983, a career intelligence and security professional whose work has spanned senior counterintelligence and homeland security policy roles. With a career that bridges intelligence analysis and defense strategy, Redmon has been a key contributor to U.S. and allied information-sharing initiatives. Her remarks centered on crisis reconstitution and the enduring challenges of multinational interoperability. 

Together, their contributions demonstrated how Norwich graduates continue to shape global security discussions while serving as mentors and role models for today’s students.

Distinguished Leaders in Attendance

The seminar also benefited from the presence of senior military leaders, whose participation elevated the dialogue and deepened the exchange of ideas. MG Peggy Wilmoth, U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.), national president-elect of the Reserve Organization of America, spoke on the importance of medical readiness and the integration of women in military leadership. As the first nurse and woman to serve as deputy surgeon general of the U.S. Army Reserve, her perspective brought both historic significance and forward-looking urgency to the discussions.

BG Mark Kalin, the assistant adjutant general of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, contributed his extensive experience in command and operational planning. His perspective highlighted the Guard’s vital role in NATOR partnerships, particularly through the State Partnership Program, which builds enduring ties between state units and allied nations. 

Their presence reinforced the seminar’s broader purpose: connecting NATO’s strategic vision with the operational realities of reserve leadership and ensuring that dialogue on transatlantic security reflects both policy and practice.

A Strategic Rationale

The Peace and War Center, founded to foster dialogue about the costs and consequences of conflict, proved uniquely suited to convene such a seminar at a critical time. With NATO facing hybrid threats, cyber vulnerabilities, and the challenge of reconstituting reserves in prolonged crises, the seminar provided a setting for candid and rigorous exchanges.

“Norwich has been known as an exceptional institution for over two hundred years,” said Director of the Peace and War Center Dr. Travis Morris. “We are also contributing to strategic conversations at the national and international levels. We were honored to host this seminar and all of our distinguished guests.”

Sessions explored crisis reconstitution, multinational interoperability, and the evolving role of reserves.

Leadership in Action

LtGen John J. Broadmeadow, USMC (Ret), Class of 1983 and the 25th President of Norwich University, played an active role throughout the seminar. He opened the event with remarks, met with participants, and underscored its importance to the University’s mission. His leadership highlighted Norwich’s commitment to advancing global security dialogue and strengthening alliances.

The seminar also reflected Norwich tradition and hospitality. Guests were welcomed into the President’s Box at a football game, experiencing the camaraderie of Norwich athletics and the Corps of Cadets. This cultural setting reinforced Norwich’s spirit while fostering personal connections among attendees.

The Hill as a Platform

Norwich’s historic campus provided an ideal venue. The Peace and War Center offered a secure and respected setting for small-group discussions, cultural activities, and community events designed to foster the relationship-building essential to international cooperation. The Hill served as more than a backdrop; it became a platform for global dialogue and engagement.

Recruitment Catalyst and Legacy

The seminar also served as a showcase for Norwich’s educational value. Prospective cadets and civilians saw classroom theories brought to life in direct exchanges between practitioners and policymakers. The event demonstrated how Norwich’s programs in international relations, strategic studies, cybersecurity, and defense policy are aligned with the urgent issues of today’s security environment.

By engaging directly with NATO officers and senior enlisted leaders, students gained access to mentorship and professional networks that may lead to internships, fellowships, and careers. The seminar reinforced Norwich’s role not only as a place of study but as a launch point for service and leadership on the world stage.

Building Momentum

The 2025 Strategic Security Seminar continued Norwich’s trajectory of deepening transatlantic engagement, building on the German-American Seminars of 2017, 2023, and 2024. Hosting NATO officers and senior enlisted leaders cemented Norwich’s reputation as a trusted partner and positioned the University for future recurring seminars of similar caliber.

An Investment in the Future

Ultimately, the seminar was more than a conference, it was an investment in Norwich University’s future. It advanced the mission, enriched student learning, and deepened the institution’s strategic footprint in global defense and academic communities. By convening leaders to discuss NATO reserves in times of crisis and war, Norwich reaffirmed the enduring relevance of its founding principles: to think and to act, to conceive and to execute, and to prepare citizens for the highest responsibilities of a free republic.

As the event concluded, Norwich once again affirmed its place on the world stage, an institution whose reach and impact extend far beyond The Hill, inspiring the next generation of leaders to carry forward the “I Will Try” spirit into an era of global challenge and change.