U.S. Naval War College Arctic Scholars Group Meets to Write Manual on Security

Lt. Col. Michael Zimmerman, Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, Gaelle Rivard Piche, Strategic Analyst with the Royal Canadian Navy, and associate professor Walter Berbrick, founding director of the Arctic Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College.
Lt. Col. Michael Zimmerman, Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, Gaelle Rivard Piche, Strategic Analyst with the Royal Canadian Navy, and associate professor Walter Berbrick, founding director of the Arctic Studies Group at the U.S. Naval War College (USNWC) – all of whom are co-authors of the Newport Manual on Arctic Security, discuss claims to the arctic region during the Newport Arctic Scholars Initiative (NASI) workshop at the USNWC Library, July 17 2019. NASI helps USNWC students, the Navy, and the nation better understand, prepare for, and adapt to future operational and strategic challenges as well as opportunities in the Arctic region. The Newport Manual is the product of a yearlong collaborative multidisciplinary research project involving scholars and practitioners from the Arctic region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler D. John)

NEWPORT, R.I. — A group of authors from the Newport Arctic Scholars Initiative gathered at U.S. Naval War College from July 15-19 to complete the draft version of the Newport Manual on Arctic Security.

The Manual sets forth principles for maintaining the Arctic as a peaceful and prosperous region. Its content was developed over several conferences attended by officials from seven Arctic nations.

“The Newport Manual is the product of a yearlong collaborative, multidisciplinary research project involving scholars and practitioners from the Arctic region,” said associate professor Walter Berbrick, director of the Arctic Studies Group and co-lead scholar of the Newport Arctic Scholars Initiative.

Berbrick was joined by Gaelle Rivard Piche, strategic analyst with the Royal Canadian Navy, and Lt. Col. Michael Zimmerman, staff judge advocate of Marine Forces Europe and Africa.

“NASI aims to build mutual understanding among Arctic states about the future of peace and security in the region,” Piche said.

“It‘s a privilege to be part of such an initiative to better understand the opportunities and challenges the Arctic will face in the coming decades and how states can work together to ensure the region remains peaceful and stable.”

The draft Manual is expected to be available this fall.

“The Arctic is changing rapidly, both physically and in strategic relevance,” Zimmerman said.

“Understanding the challenges that divide nations and the opportunities for consensus is vital to ensure that the region remains one where cooperation is the norm instead of conflict,” he said. “That’s what this book is all about.”

The group of co-authors met with Kevin Eubanks, associate professor of writing and electives in the Naval War College’s Writing Center. Eubanks shared his experiences with publishing and led the group in activities to help with writing the Manual.  

“The Writing Center’s mission is to cultivate a culture of writing and research at the NWC, and that requires outreach and collaboration across the college,” Eubanks said.

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U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs
July 22, 2019

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