27
September 2018
Past Event
Oceans Ventured: A Discussion with Former Navy Secretary John Lehman

Oceans Ventured: A Discussion with Former Navy Secretary John Lehman

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
September 27, 2018
U.S. Destroyer Inspects Soviet Freighter. Off Coast of Cuba, November 12, 1962
Caption
U.S. Destroyer Inspects Soviet Freighter. Off Coast of Cuba, November 12, 1962
27
September 2018
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
John Lehman

Former Secretary of the Navy

Seth Cropsey

President, Yorktown Institute

In the midst of the Cold War, an aggressive demonstration of U.S. naval power played a significant role in convincing Soviet leaders that military force would not achieve their diplomatic or military objectives. As then-Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman was at the center of this maritime strategy that played a pivotal role in ending the Cold War.

In his recent book, Oceans Ventured: Winning the Cold War at Sea, Secretary Lehman shows how the robust use of American naval forces on the littoral flanks of the Soviet Union diverted attention from the European central front and allowed conventional forces to play an important role in strategic deterrence.

On September 27, Secretary Lehman joined Hudson Institute’s Seth Cropsey, senior fellow and director of the Center for American Seapower, to discuss his new book. The conversation considered the actions taken by the U.S. Navy under Lehman’s leadership and its application to today’s return of great power competition.

Secretary Lehman is the latest guest to participate in the Center’s Conversations on National Security and U.S. Naval Power, a speaker series that brings influential policymakers and opinion leaders to Hudson to foster constructive dialogue toward the shared goal of ensuring the U.S. Navy’s global preeminence.

Related Events
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Promoting Freedom in North Korea Makes America Safer and Stronger
Featured Speakers:
Representative Young Kim (R-CA)
Greg Scarlatoiu
Sean Chung
Rose Jang
Hannah Oh
Moderator:
Getty Images
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Promoting Freedom in North Korea Makes America Safer and Stronger

Join Hudson Institute for a discussion on the connection between human rights in North Korea and US national security.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Representative Young Kim (R-CA)
Greg Scarlatoiu
Sean Chung
Rose Jang
Hannah Oh
Moderator:
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The View from Bucharest with Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu
Featured Speakers:
H.E. Oana-Silvia Țoiu
Getty Images
09
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The View from Bucharest with Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Țoiu

With Peter Rough, Foreign Minister Țoiu will discuss Black Sea security, the war in Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid attacks, and Romania-US relations.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
H.E. Oana-Silvia Țoiu
10
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Deepening Russia-China Partnership
Featured Speakers:
John Lough
Sergey Aleksashenko
Moderator:
Getty Images
10
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Deepening Russia-China Partnership

Join Hudson Institute for a panel discussion on how the United States and its allies can combat the rise of this authoritarian alliance.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
John Lough
Sergey Aleksashenko
Moderator:
08
October 2025
Past Event
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell
A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
08
October 2025
Past Event
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell

Join Hudson’s Peter Rough for a discussion with Wess Mitchell on the future of great power diplomacy.

A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell