The 2025 Language, Regional Expertise and Culture (LREC) Symposium committee invites proposals for individual or panel presentations at the 10th Annual Air University LREC Symposium, to be held in person November 05 – 07 at Air University on Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama.
This year’s theme, “LREC10: Celebrating Excellence – Inspiring Innovation,” commemorates a decade of LREC engagement while turning our focus toward bold ideas and forward-thinking collaboration. We invite you to be part of this milestone event by submitting a proposal for an individual or panel presentation.
The Symposium serves as a premier gathering for LREC professionals both within and outside the Air Force. The conference provides a platform for academic exchange by topic experts throughout the DoD and academia, on topics specific to cultural studies, regional expertise, and language education in the military. CSAF General David Allvin has noted that “America’s national security focus is crucial as we navigate this new global landscape with our allies and partners, especially as opportunities for distraction and confusion are increasingly exploited.” This call to action emphasizes the importance of cooperation and shared understandings and is in line with the U.S. national security strategy’s emphasis on the fundamental importance of building alliances and partnerships.
We are seeking submissions that explore language instruction and acquisition, sociolinguistics, and both culture-general and culture-specific topics. Proposals may also examine regional dynamics, global affairs, and the role of culturally informed practices in building strategic alliances and partnerships. We are especially interested in presentations that offer innovative insights, reflect on evolving challenges, or explore interdisciplinary approaches to LREC-related issues.
We also welcome proposals that address broader questions relevant to today’s global landscape. For example, how do American cultural frameworks influence our engagement with international partners? In what ways can we better integrate the histories and perspectives of both partners and adversaries into LREC education and research? And what does it look like to truly innovate in the LREC space to enhance readiness in the decade ahead?
Submissions from across academic disciplines are encouraged, including but not limited to the social sciences, political science, psychology, history, organizational studies, and cognitive science. International perspectives are especially welcome. Each presenter may submit up to two proposals.
Help us honor ten years of LREC excellence—and help us inspire the next ten.
Each presenter is limited to two submissions. Deadline for submissions is August 1st, 2025.
Submitting an individual presentation abstract:
Individuals will be allotted 25 minutes to present (20-minute presentation and 5 minutes of Q&A). The committee will assign individual presenters into panels (or blocks) of 3 that run for 75 minutes.
Submitting a Panel Abstract
Each panel will have a total of 75 minutes for panel presentations and Q&A.
Proposals may be accepted if they demonstrate that substantial critical thinking has been applied in the creation of an organized framework showcasing the results of original research or experience-based insights. Successful proposals will articulate an original idea, even if this idea is in an early draft form, that is grounded in evidence which renders the resulting argument more of a working contribution to knowledge than simply a well-formed opinion.
You can also download the optional AU LREC Symposium Power Point template for building your presentation
Submit a Proposal Download Slide Template