On September 23, 2020, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) launched a multi-part discussion series on race in the military. The first discussion session focused on the lived experiences of people of color in the U.S. military; future sessions will cover topics including effective leadership in an increasingly diverse force and the importance of understanding intersectional experiences. Discussions will be moderated by Bishop Garrison and CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Dr. Jason Dempsey. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) provided keynote remarks at the opening of the inaugural session, and panelists included: Terrence Hayes, an Army veteran and current National Director, Communications & Public Affairs at Veterans of Foreign Wars; Melissa Bryant, a military and veteran advocate, former U.S. Army Captain and Department of Defense senior civil servant; James Anderson, USAF Captain and national security professional; and Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, Co-director of the Athena Leadership Project and Assistant Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the United States Air Force Academy.