Learning From Air Operations in Libya Conference

This conference will bring international practitioners and analysts together to develop an integrated assessment of Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector.  The goal of the two-day event is to understand how the political guidance for “the use of all necessary measures “to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack” was translated into military plans, operations, and endstates and to analyze the key issues that arose during military operations. Participants will include senior military and political leaders, military officials involved at the operational and tactical level, and the U.S. and international evaluation and learning communities.

The Naval War College expresses its grateful appreciation for the support of the Mass Atrocity Response Operations (MARO) project at the Harvard Kennedy School in providing financial support to this conference.

Note: This conference will be conducted in a secure building and, as such, no personal electronic devices of any kind are allowed inside.  There are free lockers located at the entrance to the building for securing these devices.
 

Several “lessons learned” entities have evaluated discrete aspects of OOD/OUP.  To date, none have integrated lessons across the two operations or focused on the implications of the novel international mandate for military intervention. This conference will build on an April workshop (held at NDU) to clarify U.S. strategic guidance, particularly the meaning of the civilian protection mandate. The June conference will feature leaders at different levels of command discussing their interpretations of the mandate and include panels that explore the associated challenges of tailoring intelligence, crafting and interpreting ROE, targeting priorities, and metrics for success.