Connections 2010-2018 Wargaming Conferences
Connections 2010 is being held in Dayton this year, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab.
http://connections-wargaming.com/
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Since 1993 Connections has worked to advance the art, science and application of wargaming by bringing together all elements of the field (military, commercial and academic) so they can exchange info on achievements, best practices and needs.
The theme of Connections 2010 is enhancing wargaming ability to anticipate the future of warfare. We explore that theme through; two keynotes, four panels, three working groups, demos and a play test. See agenda. Still, many believe the most valuable element of Connections is the chance to meet leaders from across the branches of wargaming. This year Connections will also part of Big Week.
Yep, Spring Break in Dayton! :D
Connections 2013 Conference on Professional Wargaming, July 22-25, Dayton OH
The Connections 2013 conference will be held 22-25 July in Dayton Ohio, at the Tech^Edge Centre for Innovation near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Connections is the only national event dedicated specifically to professional military wargaming. Organized and chaired since its beginning in 1993 by (now retired) Air Force COL Matt Caffrey, the annual Connections conference has worked to advance the art, science and application of serious wargaming by bringing together all elements of the field (military, commercial and academic) so participants can exchange information on achievements, best practices and needs.
The theme for 2013 is: "Enhancing Wargaming Support to Budget Decisions."
Given the current and future uncertainty over US Department of Defense budgets, this is a timely theme indeed.
Another valuable element of Connections is the chance to meet leaders from across the spectrum of wargaming. Past attendees and speakers have included Larry Bond, James F. Dunnigan, David Isby, Joe Miranda, Al Nofi, Peter Perla, John Prados and many more.
Keynote speakers for this year are:
- COL Chris Froehlich, Chief Strategic Planning Division, Air Force Material Command
- Dr. Peter Perla, author of The Art of Wargaming, Lead, Wargaming, Centre for Naval Analysis
- Dr. Thomas Allen, Deputy Director for Studies and Analysis, Joint Staff
Connections is open to all contributors to the field of professional wargaming: military, government, defense contractor, academic, and recreational. It is an unclassified event. Many of the attendees are recreational wargamers in their spare time, but the emphasis of the conference is on discussion of activity and issues in professional wargaming, from the military, commercial and academic perspectives.
Because of sequestration across most of the US Federal Government, there will be expanded opportunities for people to participate virtually in the conference via VTC, phone or Web. Information on how to participate virtually will be available shortly from the website.
On the other hand, one of the most exciting elements of Connections 2013 will NOT lend itself to virtual participation. Luftwaffe Colonel Uwe L. Heilmann will be bringing a NATO team to conduct a "game lab". He and his team will conduct a manual NATO wargame that was designed for leadership development. Participants will them discuss how the wargame could be modified to enhance its ability to provide budget insights, some or all the modifications will be implemented, then the wargame will be played again. These game labs are a recent feature of Connections conferences and have proven very popular.
See the conference website and agenda at http://connections-wargaming.com/
Contact Matt Caffrey at matthewbcaffreyjr@gmail.com
<mailto:matthewbcaffreyjr@gmail.com> for further information.
Thanks for your interest,
Brian Train
Connections 2014 professional wargaming conference(s)
The Connections 2014 interdisciplinary wargaming conference will be held be held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia on 4-7 August 2014:
The theme for the 2014 conference will be "understanding international wargames cultures."
In addition, there will be a Connections UK conference on 2-4 September 2014 at King's College London:
More details on Connections 2014
More details on the CONNECTIONS conference on professional wargaming, which will be held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, August 4-7, 2014.
What it is
Connections is the only national event dedicated specifically to professional wargaming. Since 1993, the annual Connections conference has worked to advance the art, science and application of wargaming by bringing together all elements of the field (military, commercial and academic) so participants can exchange information on achievements, best practices and needs.
The theme for 2014 is “Understanding National Wargame Cultures”: a rare occasion to hear about the history and progress of professional wargaming in countries outside the United States.
Who is coming
THE Professor Thomas Schelling will be the lead keynote speaker! Thomas Schelling’s most influential works that touch on negotiation behaviours and game theory as applied to the military are The Strategy of Conflict (1960) and Arms and Influence (1966). His 2005 Nobel Prize in economics was for his work in understanding conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis. If you have spent any time studying negotiation or game theory, you will have heard of Schelling – don’t miss this chance to hear him speak!
Other featured speakers include: Dr. Peter Perla, author of The Art of Wargaming, speaking on analytical wargaming; Dr. Joe Saur and Chris Weuve on wargame design, its basics and its pitfalls; and Matt Caffrey's comprehensive briefing on the history of military wargaming.
Can I come too?
Connections is open to all contributors to the field of wargaming: military, government, defense contractor, academic, and recreational. While not open to those who purely enjoy wargames, Connections does define “contributor” broadly. Connections welcomes everyone from the most senior wargame director to the newly assigned lieutenant, from the wargame publisher to the play tester. This is an unclassified event, so you do not require a security clearance.
Parts of the conference will also be made available virtually.
How do I sign up?
Details on registration (and if you can't make it in person, how to participate virtually) are still coming. If you needed something else to help make up your mind, there will be ZERO registration fee for the conference. While there will be options to buy lunch, if you bring your own lunch and live within driving distance of Quantico this conference can literally be free!
Contacts
Consult the Connections website for agendas, content of former conferences, and registration instructions: http://connections-wargaming.com/
If you have any questions, please contact me (brian.train@gmail.com) or Matt Caffrey at MatthewBCaffreyJr@gmail.com .
Hope to see you there!
Brian Train
Connections UK 2014 wargaming conference reports
Connections wargaming conferences
There are several Connections interdisciplinary wargaming conferences being held in various parts of the world this year:
Connections US
9-12 August 2016
Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL
https://connections-wargaming.com
Connections UK
6-8 September 2016
King's College London
http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk
Connections Netherlands
12 September 2016
Venue Fort Altena
http://saganetconnections.nl/Engels.html
Connections Oz
5-6 December 2016
University of Melbourne
https://connectionsoz.wordpress.com
AARs of previous Connections conferences can be found at PAXsims:
https://paxsims.wordpress.com/?s=connections