Today kicks off the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and the Heritage Foundation analysts and professionals will be featured in at least 12 panels throughout the weekend.

Heritage President-elect Jim DeMint will be the featured speaker at tonight’s Presidential dinner, where the Courage Under Fire, William A. Rusher Journalism, and John M. Ashbrook Awards will be presented.

Heritage experts will speak on topics ranging from Benghazi to energy issues to internet freedom. CPAC attendees can stop by the Heritage booth in the exhibit hall and check the schedule below for a full list of panels Heritage is scheduled for.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

1:45 PM

“Benghazi and Its Aftermath: U.S. Middle East and Southwest Asia Policy” (Potomac Ballroom)

  • The Honorable Roger Noriega, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
  • Joel Pollak, Editor-in-Chief, Breitbart.com
  • John Solomon, Editor, Washington Guardian

Moderator: The Honorable Ernest Istook, Distinguished Fellow, The Heritage Foundation

5:00 PM

“Stop THIS: Threats, Harassment, Intimidation, Slander & Bullying from the Obama Administration” (National Harbor 2-3)

  • Brian Brown, President, National Organization for Marriage
  • Ben Shapiro, Editor-at-Large, Breitbart News Network, Syndicated Columnist & Author
  • Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow/Manager, Civil Justice Reform Initiative, the Heritage Foundation

Moderator: Cleta Mitchell, Partner, Foley & Lardner, LLP/Chairman, American Conservative Union Foundation

5:00 PM

“The United Nations vs. The United States: The End Run Around the American Way of Life” (National Harbor 4-5)

  • Dr. Michael Farris, Chancellor, Patrick Henry College
  • John Fonte, Director, Center for American Common Culture, Hudson Institute
  • Steven Groves, Bernard & Barbara Lomas Senior Research Fellow, The Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation

Moderator: Tom Kilgannon, President, Freedom Alliance

7:30 PM

Presidential Dinner sponsored by Newsmax (Potomac Ballroom)

Presentation of Courage Under Fire, William A. Rusher Journalism, and John M. Ashbrook Awards

Featured Speaker: The Honorable Jim DeMint, President-Elect, The Heritage Foundation

Emcee: Dana Loesch, Host, “The Dana Show”

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013

10:30 AM

“Individuals, Liberty and the Environment: Seizing the Environmental Issue” (Chesapeake B-C)

  • Diane Katz, Research Fellow, Regulatory Policy, The Heritage Foundation
  • Jack Spencer, Senior Research Fellow, Nuclear Energy, The Heritage Foundation
  • Dr. David Kreutzer, Research Fellow, Every Economics & Climate Change, The Heritage Foundation

Kathleen Hartnett White, Director, Center for National Resources, Texas Policy Foundation

Moderator: Becky Norton Dunlop, Vice President, External Relations, The Heritage Foundation

1:00 PM

Panel: “How to Get a Job in Politics” (Chesapeake A-C)

Receive job advice from young professionals, from campaigns to the Hill.

  • Matt Adkins, Jobs Bank Manager, The Heritage Foundation
  • Amos Sneed, Principal, Story Partners/Co-Founder, FamousDC
  • Laura Chambers, Communications Director, Office of The Honorable Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Representative (SC-5)

Moderator: Suhail Khan, Board Member, American Conservative Union

2:00 PM

“The Memification of Media” (Chesapeake A-C)

  • Ericka Andersen, Senior Digital Communications Associate, The Heritage Foundation
  • Benny Johnson, Buzzfeed
  • Lyndsey Fifield, Social Media & Outreach Manager, CRAFT

Moderator: Charlie Speiring, Washington Examiner

* Presented by Red Alert Politics and Washington Examiner.

4:00 PM

“In the Beginning: First Principles” (National Harbor 2-3)

  • The Honorable Kenneth Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State
  • The Honorable Ed Meese III, Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy & Chairman, Center for Legal & Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation/former Attorney General of the United States
  • M. Stan Evans, Past Chairman, American Conservative Union
  • Bruce Fein, Principal, The Lichfield Group

Moderator: Dr. Matt Spalding, Vice President, American Studies & Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center, The Heritage Foundation (INVITED)

4:00 PM

“Internet Freedom & Intellectual Property Protection: What is the Conservative View and Why?” (National Harbor 4-5)

  • Tripp Baird, Director Senate Relations, Heritage Action for America
  • Markham Erickson, General Counsel, The Internet Association
  • Phil Kerpen, President, American Commitment
  • Seton Motley, President, Less Government

Moderator: Larry Hart, Director, Government Affairs, American Conservative Union

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

10:45AM

“In The Tank: The Smartest Guys in the Room” (Potomac Ballroom)

  • John Allison, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cato Institute
  • Arthur Brooks, President, American Enterprise Institute
  • Dr. Edwin Feulner, President, The Heritage Foundation

Moderator: Lawson Bader, President & General Counsel, Competitive Enterprise Institute

2:45 PM

CPAC 2013 All Star Panel (Potomac Ballroom)

  • Robert Costa, Washington Editor, National Review
  • Ralph Hallow, Chief Political Writer, Washington Times
  • Larry O’Connor, Editor-at-Large, Breitbart News Network/Co-Host, “Mornings on the Mall,” WMAL 105.9 FM
  • Rusty Humphries, Host, “The Rusty Humphries Show”

Moderator: Genevieve Wood, Vice President, Marketing, The Heritage Foundation

3:35

World Premiere of “America” Film Trailer (Potomac Ballroom)

  • Dinesh D’Souza, Best Selling Author & Director
  • Jerry Molen, Co-Producer
  • John Sullivan, Co-Producer

Moderator: Genevieve Wood, Vice President, Marketing, The Heritage Foundation