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The Naval Surface Warfare Command's Carderock Division has awarded QinetiQ North America

The U.S.

The Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore has awarded

In an extremely provocative speech, Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett, author of The Pentagon's New Map, opened Wednesday's Joint Warfighting Conference by sharing his vision of the effect of globalization on nations and coalitions. He applauded the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command as a solid step toward moving globalization in a positive direction.

War doesn't mean it what it used to, and as we struggle to find the right words to describe "our new normal," terms like "asymmetrical," "hybrid" and "irregular" warfare only paint part of the picture, according to Adm. Eric T. Olson, USN, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command. "The threats we are facing are not new," he said. "But the specific nature of this threat is a new challenge."

Experts representing a wide variety of groups took on the topic of military, agency and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) cooperation in future security efforts, pointing out that national security involves not only warfare but also the creation of good relationships among nations. At the Wednesday morning Joint Warfighting Conference panel, participants agreed that the military services have taken on many responsibilities that are not part of their traditional mission. However, the steps that need to be taken to address this issue are many and complicated, they concurred.

Kicking off Wednesday's Joint Warfighting Conference's early afternoon panel on "The Human Dimension: How Do We Develop Our People?", moderator Vice Admiral Albert H. Konetzni, Jr., USN (Ret.), wondered aloud Lincoln would have done with a computer and a Blackberry before moving on to his view of how to develop people: that to engage fledgling leaders, they must feel empowered and have a sense of ownership, no matter their rank.

Members from each of the four services offered their insights into how to build a balanced joint force at Wednesday's final panel session at the Joint Warfighting Conference. They may be coming at it from different angles, but all agreed that the need for agility requires the definition of the problems and the adoption of new concepts, platforms and technologies.

Gen. James N. Mattis, USMC, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, and commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command, opened the Joint Warfighting Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia, stating that he comes to this event with a certain degree of urgency because the enemies also are gathering to discuss warfare. "We have to remember that we are at war right now," he stated. The U.S. and its allies are facing manifold threats, and nations must stay together in the fight.

Members of the Joint Warfighting Conference's first panel described with great fervor what they believe will be the influences on future conflicts. From demographics to religion, outspoken panelists, who at times disagreed with each other, listed a number of variables that are likely to affect how joint military commanders lead their troops.