Panelists: Malia Du Mont and Michael Hauser
Date: January 13, 2026
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm
Location: Woodstock Library, 10 Dixon Ave, Woodstock

What does it mean when a U.S. National Security Strategy breaks sharply with tradition? This talk will
provide a primer on what an NSS is, how it is crafted, and why it matters and demonstrate into why the
current strategy stands out. Departing from decades of precedent, the new NSS shifts strategic attention
toward the Western Hemisphere, deemphasizes Europe, and places economics at the center of national
security through concepts like economic statecraft and the integration of defense and diplomacy into
U.S. economic policy. The discussion will explore how and why these changes matter, with particular
attention to their implications for U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific. Attendees are encouraged to read
the new NSS in advance to enrich the conversation.

About the Speakers
Malia Du Mont — Former Director of Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, currently
serving as Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategy and Policy at Bard College
Michael Hauser — Former Executive, Political-Military Bureau and Foreign Area Officer, U.S.
Department of State and US Army Infantry Lieutenant Colonel and Military Attaché.
Moderated by Ambassador Donna Welton.

Presented by the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley in partnership with Woodstock Library