By Contributing Editor John Gogick

Three- and four-star generals, ambassadors, and the chief of naval operations have all spoken in East Hartford, Conn., in the past five years — thanks to a MOAA chapter and its partnership with another nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

The Global Security Forum is a co-production of the 45-member Charter Oak (Conn.) Chapter of MOAA and the World Affairs Council of Connecticut.

The 2022 program, “Age of Instability,” featured speakers included Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations; Adm. Dennis Blair, USN (Ret), former director of national intelligence; and Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, USA (Ret).

The 2023 event, set for Sept. 21-22, will bring together “generals, experts, policymakers, and foreign leaders” to discuss critical issues, according to the event’s website.

The forum grew out of a Cold War initiative started by Col. Bob Hill, USA (Ret), past president of the chapter. He organized national defense seminars aimed at Connecticut-based Reserve units in the 1960s and 1970s. The seminars fizzled out in the 1990s but were rekindled in the past decade.

“There seemed to be a reinterest in foreign policy and military affairs, so we decided to resurrect it,” Hill said. “After one at the University of Hartford, the World Affairs Council said they’d like to take an interest in it.”

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Chapter President Col. Ronald Ferri, USA (Ret), credits Hill with the program’s success. 

“Bob is the one who really pioneered it,” Ferri said. “We decided to rejuvenate it several years ago. We thought it would go over well. It started off slowly, but when the World Affairs Council got in, it really started to go forward.”

MOAA has worked closely with Megan Torrey, President of the World Affairs Council, since 2018. 

Both Hill and Ferri cite the council’s resources, connections to subject-matter experts, and ability to draw top speakers as the driver of the forum’s success.

Charter Oak Chapter members sit on the planning committee for the forum, offering input on the topic and suggesting speakers.

“We want to make sure that it’s basically nonpolitical and the military point of view is given,” Hill said.

Chapter members get a discount to attend the forum, which is free to active duty servicemembers. The 2022 event had 250 attendees, either in-person or virtually, including members of all the military service academies.

“Our objective was to educate on military affairs and foreign policy, and this is being accomplished now,” Hill said.