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Dov S. Zakheim

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Dov S. Zakheim

Lesson Learned from Operation Epic Fury

DATE: August 12, 2026 6:00 pm

LOCATION: Zoom

Dov S. Zakheim is a Senior Fellow at CNA Corp. and a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Previously he was Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton. Dr. Zakheim served as Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and DoD Chief Financial Officer (2001-2004) and as DOD coordinator of civilian programs in Afghanistan (2002-2004). From 1985 to 1987, he was Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Planning and Resources. Dr. Zakheim has served on several Congressionally-mandated government commissions; currently he is a Commissioner on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. Dr. Zakheim has also served on the Defense Business Board, which he helped create, chaired the National Intelligence Council’s International Business Practices Advisory Panel, and was a member of the CNO Executive Panel and an advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations. He has served on several corporate boards and is Vice Chairman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Dr. Zakheim is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Chatham House and is a Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Military Sciences.

He appears frequently in the media and is a regular contributor to The Hill and The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune whose advisory council he chairs. He is also a member of the editorial board of Orbis and of the Naval War College Press advisory board.

Dr. Zakheim earned his B.A. from Columbia and his doctorate from Oxford.

Join BCFA for Join the presentation to uncover invaluable lessons learned from Epic Fury, a major initiative that tested operational limits and resilience. This session dives straight into what worked, what failed, and the critical takeaways your team can apply to future challenges. You will gain direct insight into strategic bottlenecks, resource management under pressure, and how teams adapted when things didn’t go according to plan.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.