For the first time, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), in collaboration with the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) and the University of Nebraska College of Law, hosted the Advanced Operational Law Conference here, Sept. 7-9, to explore the legal perspective on USSTRATCOM’s mission areas.

In his welcoming remarks, Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander, discussed the importance of legal support to the success of USSTRATCOM’s nine missions and highlighted the command’s continuing collaboration with other Department of Defense (DoD) organizations and academic institutions. In particular, he credited the Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance and NSRI – one of 13 University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC) in the nation – for stimulating new thinking to develop future generations of deterrence practitioners.

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Before participating in the economic targeting panel, Beth Van Schaack, the Leah Kaplan visiting professor in human rights at the Stanford Law School (2014-15) and a visiting scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, said these multi-disciplinary gatherings are crucially important because “many academics are unaware of the constraints and challenges facing their colleagues in the field.

“Likewise, people in the field don’t have the luxury of sitting and thinking quietly about these issues to try and develop larger frameworks in which to situate their day-to-day challenges,” she added. “When we come together in [forums] like this, we can share these perspectives and inform each other’s work to a more effective outcome.”

Van Schaack’s participation continues Haney’s engagements with Stanford University, and others, to promote military-to-university cooperation and innovation, and provide a better understanding of USSTRATCOM’s global missions.

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