September 25, in the Grant Ballroom of the Thayer Hotel, President Atifete Jahjaga of the Republic of Kososvo provided opening remarks for the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations’ 2014 Fall Conference. She spoke of the importance of democracy and the many changes that Kosovo has gone through with the support from the United States and the UN. CDT Arron Churchill, who attended the American University in Kosovo securities program this past summer, presented a token of appreciation to President Atifete Jahjaga on behalf of USMA.
There were also groups discussing the civil-military operations in Kosovo. The first was a focus group on the Strategic Aspects of Kosovo Mission. This group consisted of Jock Covey, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for UN Mission to Kosovo; Leonard R. Hawley, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of State; Michael Edward Hess, Former Assistant Administrator, USAID; Akan Ismaili, Ambassador Republic of Kosovo; and CDT Kirwin, who offered his impressions on the Kosovo Mission.
The second was a Focus Group on the Tactical Aspects of Kosovo Mission. This group consisted of James A. Schear, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations; Teresa Crawford, Director of Partners for Democratic Change; BG Xhavit Gashi Kosovar, Defense Attaché to the United States; and COL(R) Thomas M. Gross, Former Chief of Staff, MNB East, KFOR. This group of experts emphasized the civilian organizations working in Kosovo that are still integrating their activities to support the peace process.