CIR hosts coffee conversation on civil-military relations

On Thursday, October 16, CIR hosted Fall 2025 Institute of Politics Pritzker Fellow and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Alex Wagner and former Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning to talk with a small group of CIR students about civil-military relations. The two experts and long-time civil servants covered topics like civilian oversight of the armed forces, the inner workings of senate appointments, and career strategies for students who are interested in various types of civil service.

This “coffee conversation” is the first in a planned series in collaboration with the UChicago Institute of Politics. CIR coffee conversations give CIR students unique access to engage with IOP fellows and special guests in small group settings where they discuss international affairs, global policy, and related career tracks. This series supplements students’ classroom education by providing opportunities to interact with those who make and implement policies, and who have a unique perspective on the most relevant global events.