MORS-Talk

Dr. Anne Robinson is Chief Strategy Officer at Kinaxis, Inc. Tasked to accelerate strategy development to help Kinaxis add further value for its customers, Robinson works closely with customers, external stakeholders and the rest of the senior executive team on the strategic roadmap, emerging technologies, thought leadership and new industry opportunities. She also supports and enhances the company's continued leadership in its core market segments.

Robinson had spent seven years at Verizon, with her last role being Executive Director, Global Supply Chain Strategy, Analytics and Systems. In this role, she was responsible for the strategic vision of Verizon's global end-to-end supply chain, driving excellence through world-class data-analytics, process innovation and employee empowerment. Her work at Verizon markedly improved supply chain execution, working capital optimization and shareholder value.

Rear Adm. Sinclair Harris is a native of Washington D.C. He is a 1981 graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Economics. His early sea assignments include tours aboard USS Long Beach (CGN 9), USS Vincennes (CG 49), USS Jarrett (FFG 33), USS Coronado (AGF 11), and as commissioning executive officer in USS Benfold (DDG 65).

He commanded USS Comstock (LSD 45) during Operation Enduring Freedom and Amphibious Squadron 4/Iwo Jima Strike Group during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief - Hurricanes Katrina/Rita in 2005 and non-combative evacuation operation of Lebanon in 2006.

Ashore, Harris' assignments include tours in the Washington-area at the Institute for National Strategic Studies in the National Defense University; the Navy staff in the Assessment Division (OPNAV N81) Campaign Analysis, Modeling and Simulation branch; and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J-5) Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate as the Global Security Affairs Division chief for Security Assistance. He was a senior fellow in the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group (SSG XXVI). In May 2008, Harris returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as the deputy director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (OPNAV N85B). He was assigned as the commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 5 from 2009 to 2010 providing Foreign Disaster Relief during the Pakistan Floods of 2010. Harris then served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff as the director, Navy Irregular Warfare Office/Future Concepts from 2010 to 2012. Harris’ most previous assignment was as Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet.  He now serves as vice director for operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Harris earned a Master of Science in Operations Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1989 and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras, India's Defense Services Staff College in Tamilnadu, India.

Harris' decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards.

Jerry Hendrix was the Senior Fellow and the Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security.

A retired Captain in the United States Navy, his staff assignments include tours with the Chief of Naval Operation’s Executive Panel (N00K), where his efforts centered on Homeland Defense, Naval Aviation, and Navy Missile Defense, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (Force Development) where he served as Executive Secretary for the Irregular Warfare Quadrennial Defense Review cell, and the OSD Office of Net Assessment where he assisted the Director on topics related to forecasting future capabilities and alternative security environments. From 2011-2012 he served as the Director and Designated Federal Officer of the Secretary of the Navy’s Advisory Panel. In this position he assisted the Advisory Panel in their deliberations on the Department’s energy policy and its approach to the Asia Pacific region. He also contributed to the 2012 Department Posture Statement to the Congress. Following the fall, 2011 Navy Inspector General’s Report on the state of the Naval History and Heritage Command, he was verbally ordered by the Secretary to assume the position of Director of Naval History.

Hendrix previously served as the Navy Fellow to the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University where he focused on the use of naval power as an instrument of coercive diplomacy. He has been awarded a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from Purdue University, Masters Degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School (National Security Affairs) and Harvard University (History) and received his doctorate from King’s College, London (War Studies). His awards include two Legion of Merit awards, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He has twice been named the Samuel Eliot Morison Scholar by the Navy Historical Center in Washington, DC, and was also the Center’s 2005 Rear Admiral John D. Hays Fellow. He also held the Marine Corps’ General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Fellowship. He authored the book Theodore Roosevelt’s Naval Diplomacy and received a number of awards, including the United States Naval Institute’s Author of the Year and the Navy League’s Alfred T. Mahan Award for Literary Achievement.