The 2009 Smith-Mundt Symposium brought together public diplomacy and strategic communication practitioners from the State Department, the Defense Department, the Agency for International Development, and other governmental and non-governmental groups, including academia, media, and Congress for a first of its kind discussion. The goal of having a frank and open discussion on the foundation and structure America's global engagement was achieved.

The event was sponsored by Armstrong Strategic Insights Group and presented in association with the Center on Communication Leadership. The event was promoted at and the subject matter continues to be discussed at MountainRunner.us.

Transcripts and audio of the event are available at the links below. Biographies of the discussants can be found here.

• Morning Keynote by now-former Under Secretary of State Jim Glassman preceded by opening comments by Matt Armstrong
  • Transcript is here (65kb PDF). Glassman's comments begin at the bottom of page 5.
  • Audio can be downloaded here (54 minutes mp3, 13mb). Glassman's comments at the 13:45 mark
• Panel 1: History of Smith-Mundt (see this page for discussants)
  • Transcript is here (106kb PDF)
• Panel 2: America's Bifurcated Engagement
  • Transcript is here (120kb PDF)
• Lunch Keynote: former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mike Doran
  • Transcript is here (72kb PDF).
  • Audio can be downloaded here (63min, 15mb)
• Panel 3: Rebuilding the Arsenal of Persuasion
  • Transcript is here (104kb PDF)
• Panel 4: The View from the Hill and Closing Comments
  • Transcript is here (140kb PDF)
  • Audio to be posted
• January 6 Media Roundtable with Matt Armstrong, RADM Greg Smith, David Firestein, and George Clack
  • Transcript is here (83k PDF)

The post-symposium report is available here (387kb PDF).

Follow-up events are in development and will include deeper discussions on non-US approaches to global engagement, exchanges, the media, and of course views from Congress. These events are scheduled for April 20 and 21 in Washington, DC. Suggestions are welcome as either comments on this post or by email. Registration will open mid-February.

Questions and comments? Email Matt Armstrong at blog@mountainrunner.us.