Special to the News-Herald

Hampton Roads is home to one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the country. Many of those service members, serving on active duty and the reserves, or who have retired from the services live in Suffolk and Smithfield.

Even with this significant concentration, there is often little opportunity for interested citizens, regardless of background or occupation, to listen to issues that are challenging the national civilian and military leadership.

Some debate has made it to national media programs, from NBC’s &uot;Face The Nation&uot; to National Public Radio’s &uot;The Connection&uot;, but these are only short focused discussions, rather than a detailed look at a specific national security subject.

Thanks to the United States Naval Institute, and its 9th annual Warfare Exposition, scheduled for Sept. 29-30 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, local citizens will have a free opportunity to hear from those who set policy, to the commanders who execute it.

The questions that an average citizen can ponder regarding our military and its current deployment, capabilities and future are endless. For example, with troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world, is the United States military ready to respond with ready forces to the right place at the right time to win the next war?

President Bush and Senator Kerry have certainly made this an issue in the Presidential Campaign.

Both have focused on the war on terrorism and what is the right course of action in the war in Iraq. The Naval Institute Warfare Expo will bring together leading military experts debate to address the issue:

&uot;How do we win the next war?&uot; featured speakers include ADM Edmund P. Giambastiani, USN, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Invited speakers include The Honorable Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy, and ADM William J. Fallon, USN, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

In addition, panelists will address questions including, &uot;How Do We Make the Fleet Response Plan Work?&uot;

&uot;How Do We Deliver the Right People?&uot; &uot;What Are the Lessons Learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom?&uot; &uot;How Do We Fight Better as a Joint Force?&uot; and &uot;How Do We Best Deliver Fires for the Close Battle?&uot;

Highlights of the schedule include:

*Wednesday, Sept. 29-Focus on the Fleet Response Plan

*7:30 a.m., Registration Begins

*9-10 a.m., Warfare Keynote Speech: Admiral William J. Fallon, USN, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

*10 a.m. Exhibits Open

*10:30-11:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: How Do We Make the Fleet Response Plan Work?

AuditoriumModerator: Vice Admiral Henry Giffin III, USN (Ret.), former Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic Fleet; Rear Admiral Michael C. Tracy, USN, Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group; and Rear Admiral Harold D. Starling, USN, Commander, Carrier Group Eight Rear Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., USN, Director, Warfare Programs and Readiness, N8, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

*1-2 p.m. Keynote Address: The Honorable Gordon England, Secretary of the Navy.

*2:30-3:45 p.m., Panel Discussion: How Do We Deliver the Right People?

AuditoriumModerator: Jack Leahy, author, Ask the Chief: Backbone of the Navy; Master Chief Petty Officer Terry D. Scott, USN, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy ; Rear Admiral Jake Shuford, USN, Prospective President, Naval War College; former head of Sea Warrior; Rear Admiral James K. Moran, USN, Commander, Naval Personnel Development Command/Special Assistant to CNO for Task Force Excel ; and Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

*Thursday, Sept. 30-Focus on Jointness

*7:30-8:30 a.m.Breakfast Roundtable Discussion: What Are the Lessons Learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom? Moderator: Major General Robert Scales, USA (Ret.), author, The Iraq War; Brigadier General Robert W. Cone, USA, Joint Forces Command; Brigadier General Robert E. Schmidle, USMC, Director, Expeditionary Force Development Center; and Rear Admiral John M. Kelly, USN, Commander, Navy Warfare Development Command.

*9-9:45 a.m., Joint Keynote Address: Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, USN, AuditoriumCommander, U.S. Joint Forces Command

*10:30-11:45 a.m., Panel Discussion: How Do We Fight Better as a Joint Force? Major General James Dubik, USA, Director for Joint Experimentation, U.S. Joint Forces Command

*2-3:30 p.m., Panel Discussion: How Do We Best Deliver Fires for the Close Battle?

To register to attend the Exposition go to the Naval Institute’s website at http://www.usni.org/seminars/warfare/warfare.htm and register.

Admission is free.