WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service will hold four hearings on April 24 and April 25, 2019, on selective service policy options at Gallaudet University. On day one, the first hearing will address the potential needs for a voluntary or compulsory mobilization. The second hearing will explore who will be needed to respond to national security emergencies and how we would find and integrate them into military organizations and structures.

During the second day of hearings, the Commission will explore arguments for and against expansion of selective service registration to all Americans. The first hearing of the day will address the case for continuing to restrict registration to men only and the challenges in achieving compliance with the current system. The second hearing will address the potential need to extend a future compulsory mobilization to include all Americans.

These hearings are timely as earlier this year a district court case decision in Texas stated that an all-male military draft is no longer valid. Recently, a federal district court in New Jersey, handling the second case involving women and the Selective Service System, issued an opinion denying the core parts of the government’s motion to dismiss. 

The Commission will hold 14 hearings between February and June 2019. Each hearing will provide an opportunity for the Commission to learn from policy experts on key topics within the Commission’s mandate. Members of the public will also have an opportunity to provide comments at each hearing following the conclusion of testimony. 

   

The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service is an 11-member bipartisan commission tasked for the first time in American history, with comprehensively and holistically reviewing the Selective Service System, along with military, national, and public service. The Commission hopes to ignite a national conversation about ideas of service as it develops recommendations for the Congress, the President, and the American public by March 2020. The Commission invites the public to share comments on its website and join the digital conversation on service on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 

  

WHO:  The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service 

  

WHAT:  

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.   Selective Service Hearing: Future Mobilization Needs of the Nation
 

Panelists:  

• The Honorable James Stewart, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense
• Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, Vice Director for Logistics, Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Ms. Loren DeJonge Schulman, Deputy Director of Studies and the Leon E. Panetta Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security
• Major General Peter Byrne, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Northern Command
• Ms. Elsa Kania, Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.    Selective Service Hearing: How to Meet Potential National Mobilization Needs  

 

Panelists:  

• The Honorable Donald Benton, Director of Selective Service, U.S. Selective Service System
• Major General John Evans, Representative of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
• Major General Linda Singh, Adjutant General of Maryland, Maryland National Guard
• Dr. Jacquelyn Schneider, Assistant Professor, U.S. Naval War College
• Dr. Bernie Rostker, Former Senior Fellow, RAND Corporation

Thursday, April 25, 2019 

WHO:  The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service 

  

WHAT:  

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.   Selective Service Hearing: Should Registration be Expanded to All Americans? – Arguments against expansion
 

Panelists:  

• Dr. Mark Coppenger, Professor of Christian Philosophy and Ethics, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
• Ms. Jude Eden, US Marine Corps Iraq veteran and freelance writer
• Mr. Edward Hasbrouck, Editor and publisher, Resisters.info
• Ms. Ashley McGuire, Author of Sex Scandal: The Drive to Abolish Male and Female
• Ms. Diane Randall, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation

 

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.    Selective Service Hearing: Should Registration be Expanded to All Americans? – Arguments for expansion

Panelists:  

• Lieutenant General Flora Darpino, U.S. Army, Retired, former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army
• Dr. Jason Dempsey, Senior Advisor at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies and Adjunct Senior Fellow of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program, Center for a New American Security
• Professor Jill Hasday, Distinguished McKnight University Professor & Centennial Professor in Law, University of Minnesota
• Major General Bengt Svensson, Defense Attaché, Embassy of Sweden
• Ms. Katey van Dam, U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran currently working in venture capital  

WHERE: Gallaudet University ​| Peikoff Alumni House​ | 800 Florida Avenue Northeast | Washington, D.C. 20002

  

RSVP with name, position (reporter, camera, photographer, etc.), media outlet, email, and phone to media@inspire2serve.gov.

  

Throw: 41 feet

  

SAT Truck/Live feed: For interest, please send request as soon as possible.  

  

Note: There will be public wi-fi available. Parking is available at a nearby parking garage. If you are driving, please request a parking pass. 

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