Flint Hills Military History Symposium
Leadership and War
The Art and Science of Critical Decisions
November 7-9 2025
Kansas State University
Department of History
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
Images:
Symposium
2025 Program
FHMHS 2025: Meeting Challenges and Advancing Forward."
The Flint Hills Military History Symposium 2025 was a gathering of academics, military professionals and military history enthusiasts from around the world assembled in the Flint Hills of Kansas for a three-day Symposium, 7-9 November 2025. As a part of the Symposium attendees experienced engaging discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities that showcased the latest in military history research.
Even the Federal Government shutdown forcing last minute changes to venues and presenters could not derail the forward momentum of the Symposium. Day 1 activities pivoted from the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library in Abilene to the Kansas State University’s own Hale Library. the support we received from the Library, from the College of Arts and Sciences, from the Department of History, our caterer JP's and from our volunteers made it all possible.
Well over 120 attended the Symposium which included exclusive tours Hale Library’s state of the art research facilities and special collections. Over forty-nine (49) different presenters from twenty-six institutions of higher learning both in the US and abroad, a keynote address on military leadership by the 14th President of Kansas State University and 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard B. Myers, a publisher’s expo, and several team building social networking events including an Aggieville Pub Crawl and Wabash Cannon Bowl Pizza Reception.

The Symposium experience was enhanced by the presence of three editors from three separate publishers that specialize in military history. The Publishers Expo, included editors from University Press of Kansas (Joyce Harrison), University Press of Missouri (Andrew Davidson), and University Press of Nebraska (Taylor Gilreath). Their presence and knowledge enabled direct interaction between editors and Symposium attendees about future publication opportunities. These publishers very generously donated a significant number of books to attending graduate students and offered discounted books to Symposium attendees.
If you attended this year's symposium, thank you. You will receive a survey in your email shortly. We value your opinions, tell us how we can improve your experience. The overwhelming feedback we received this year was "Do this again next year!" And we will - see you in 2027!
Please visit our Facebook Page @flinthillsmilitary for more photos of the entire weekend
Flint Hills Military History Symposium
Located on the Kansas State University Campus - Hale Library and the K-State Student Union
Bridging the Gap Between Classroom and Battlefield
The Kansas State University History Department in partnership with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum is pleased to offer the Flint Hills Military History Symposium 2025 focusing on “Leadership & War - The Art and Science of Critical Decisions." We will explore the historical application of the four instruments of national power: Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic (DIME). This framework has been used for decades to understand how the United States can achieve strategic goals.
Local Hotel Information
& Reservations
Symposium
Program
Keynote Speaker
Nov 8
FEATURED SPEAKER
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Richard B. Myers, General, USAF
Retired
15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
President, Kansas State University (2016-2022)
Foundation Professor of Military History and Leadership, Kansas State University (Current)
Our Keynote Speaker, General Richard B. Myers, USAF (Retired) recently retired as president of Kansas State University. He assumed this role on an interim basis April 26, 2016, and was selected to the permanent position November 15, 2016. He retired from the university on February 11, 2022. As President, Myers cultivated collaborative relationships with a broad range of diverse individuals and groups to enhance the university’s substantial strengths in research, academics and outreach. The university has three physical campuses in Manhattan, Salina and Olathe, Kansas, as well as a Global Campus for distance education. ​
General Myers retired from the military as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 October, 2005 after serving more than 40 years in the US Air Force. As the nation's highest ranking military officer, he served as principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense, and the National Security Council. General Myers also served as Vice Chairman and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has commanded at every level, including Commander of US Space Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Pacific Air Forces, US Forces Japan, and two fighter wings. A fighter pilot with over 4,100 hours, General Myers logged 600 combat hours during the Vietnam conflict. General Myers is a native of Merriam, Kansas, and a 1965 graduate of Kansas State University, and received his commission through ROTC.
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Site Maps
The Venues
Hale Library
Kansas State University Campus
K-State Libraries support and advance the teaching, research and service mission of Kansas State University. In addition to four locations, the Libraries maintains a robust online environment to support teaching, learning and research. Our collections are comprised of more than three million volumes and includes our special collections and university archives and digitized materials. Our budget also supports online access to more than 200 databases and 90,000 electronic journals.
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Kansas State University Student Union
Kansas State University Campus
With an estimated 12,000 visitors per day, the Union has long been an integral part of the campus social scene. The Union Program Council organizes hundreds of social and educational events each year, including recently released movies.
The original Union opened in 1956 after students voted almost two decades earlier to pay $5 per semester to cover construction costs. Students again voted in 1995 to pay $11.4 million for a five-year project including building renovation and expansion. The project also involved construction of the adjacent Bosco Student Plaza, named in honor of Pat Bosco, vice president for student life/dean of students.
Local Hotels (Adjacent to Campus)
Dress Code, Parking & Dining
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Due to the continuing government shutdown, ALL events are now on the K-State Campus, a short walk from the hotels listed above
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Dress Code for the weekend is Business Casual.
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Parking is FREE ON SATURDAAY AND SUNDAY ONLY FOR THE K-STATE UNION PARKING GARAGE. More parking informaton can be found at https://union.k-state.edu/contact/parking
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If you wish to park on campus near Hale Library on Friday, we have a limited number of Visitor Parking All Day Passes that you can purchase for $6. Reach out to contactus@flinthillsmilitary.com if you would like to purchase a Visitor Parking Pass. Read about this here: https://www.k-state.edu/parking/parking/visitor.html
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Parking on side streets: For Friday, I recommend Bertrand or Thurston Street, you can cross Manhattan Avenue and it's pretty much a straight shot to Hale Library.
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Hungry? Check out these local favorites according to TripAdvisor
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FHMHS Reception November 8, 2025, 6pm-8pm
Wabash Cannon Bowl
Lower Level
K-State Student Union
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Our Partners
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
Platinum Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Publishers Expo
November 8, 2025
10:00am - 3:30pm
KState Student Union
Second Floor Lobby
