Jerry M. Hultin

Event information

Jerry M. Hultin

Chair and Co-founder, Global Futures Group, LLC;
Former Under Secretary of the Navy;
Former Dean of the Business School at Stevens Institute of Technology;
Former President of Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute

The Future from Three Perspectives: Cities, Work, and Nation-States

DATE: December 9, 2021 6:00 pm

Background

Mr. Hultin is the chair and co-founder of the Global Futures Group, a consulting, media, and financial advisory firm. As CEO his role has allowed him to meet with and advise leaders in almost all the major cities of the world. His work includes urban technology, economic growth, innovation, and geo- political strategy.

Early in his career Mr. Hultin served in the Navy as an officer from 1964–1969, seeing action in the Vietnam War. He spent the next 25 years in the private sector. He was one of the partners in the law firm of Warner & Hultin, before moving on to work at Jefferson Partners, a merchant banking and strategic management consulting firm. As a consultant, Hultin worked in a variety of areas, including technology, defense, health care, finance, and the environment. He was also appointed to be a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel.

Hultin was nominated as Under Secretary of the Navy in 1997. He commissioned a study conducted by the National Defense University on the impact of globalization on American armed forces that led to a two-volume published report, The Global Century: Globalization and National Security. He also led the Department of the Navy’s Revolution in Business Affairs, which sought to apply business techniques to the Navy and the Marine Corps.

Upon leaving the government in 2000, Hultin became dean of the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management at the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 2004, he authored a much-cited study, Securing the Port of New York and New Jersey: Network-centric Operations Applied to the Campaign against Terrorism.

Hultin became president of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University in July 2005. One of Hultin’s first steps as the new president was to embrace a focus on “i-squared-e” – invention, innovation and entrepreneurship – to encourage educated risk-taking among faculty and students.
He is an honorary fellow of the Foreign Policy Association, the founding chairman of the Technology Management Education Association, and an advisor to senior military and defense leaders.

Mr. Hultin is a graduate of Yale Law School and Ohio State University.

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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.