McCain Conference Information

                                                                     25th Annual McCain Conference
                                                                             16-17 April 2026
                                                 "The Military Profession in the Era of Great Power Conflict"
                                     Jack C. Taylor Conference Center (JCTCC), United States Naval Institute
                                                                  291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402


Thursday, 16 April

0730-0830 Breakfast – Grand Atrium, JCTCC (Registrants only)

The Lockheed Martin Auditorium (Note: no food drink in auditorium)

0830-0835 Introduction of US Naval Academy Superintendent
Dr. Joseph Thomas – Director, ¬¬Stockdale Center, U.S. Naval Academy

0835-0840 Welcoming remarks
LtGen Michael J. Borgschulte – 66th Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy

0840-0845 Introduction of keynote speaker
Dr. Joseph Thomas – Director, ¬¬Stockdale Center, U.S. Naval Academy

0845-0940 Keynote – great power conflict challenges
Gen Dan Caine – 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

0940-1000 Break

1000-1100 Keynote – the “LSCO lawyer” debate
LtGen (Ret.) Charles Pede – Professorial Lecturer in Law, George Washington University Law School

1100-1120 Break

1120-1220 Panel – supreme emergency & conscription
• Dr. Michael Walzer – Professor Emeritus, Institute for Advanced Study
• Kitt Wellman – Professor, Washington University

1220-1320 Lunch – Rooftop Terrace, JCTCC, 2nd floor (Registrants only)

The Lockheed Martin Auditorium (Note: no food drink in auditorium)

1320-1420 Panel – lawfare & nuclear deterrence
• Jill Goldenziel – Professor, National Defense University College of Information and Cyberspace
• Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs – Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

1420-1445 Break

1120-1221 Panel – AI & supersoldiers
• Dr. Jovana Davidovic – Professor, University of Iowa
• Dr. Peter Emanuel – Senior Research Scientist for Bioengineering, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center

1545-1600 Group photo – Outside, in front of the JCTCC

1600-1800 Reception – Beach Hall Terrace, JCTCC, 2nd floor (Registrants only)


Friday, 17 April

0800-0855 Breakfast – Grand Atrium, JCTCC (Registrants only)

The Lockheed Martin Auditorium (Note: no food drink in auditorium)

0855-0900 Welcoming remarks
Dr. Joseph Thomas – Director, Stockdale Center, U.S. Naval Academy

0900-1000 Panel – outer space & territorial rights
• Mr. Dale Stephens – Professor, Adelaide University Law School
• Dr. David Lefkowitz – Professor, University of Richmond

1000-1030 Break

1030-1130 Panel – proxy wars & ending war
• Dr. Tony Pfaff – Director, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute
• Dr. Yvonne Chiu – Associate Professor, U.S. Naval War College


1130-1230 Lunch – Rooftop Terrace, 2nd floor, JCTCC (Registrants only)

The Lockheed Martin Auditorium (Note: no food drink in auditorium)

1230-1330 Keynote – from counterinsurgencies to large scale combat operations
LtGen (Ret.) Gregg Olson – Chancellor, National Defense University College of International Security Affairs

1330-1350 Break

1350-1500 Panel – Chinese, Russian and Iranian warfare ethics
• CDR (Ret.) Marc Metcalf – Lecturer, University of Virginia East Asia Center
• Dr. Gary Espinas – Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy Political Science Department
• Mr. Steve Ward – Consultant, Shotwell LLC