This year's Heavy Duty Dialogue '10 will kick things off on Jan. 18 with Dr. Thomas P.M. Barnett as its opening speaker

. Barnett is a strategic planner, New York Times-bestselling author and the senior managing director of Enterra Solutions. With the theme of "The Next Decade in the Commercial Vehicle Industry," this year's event will be held at The Mirage in Las Vegas, immediately preceding Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week '10.

"We are extremely pleased that Dr. Barnett, who first presented at HDD'08, will be presenting his views on the emerging global power dynamics at HD Dialogue '10," said Tim Kraus, president and chief operating officer of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), which is organizing the event. "His presentation is timely, with the abruptly changing political climates in the US and world."

Dr. Barnett is known within government circles as a forecaster of conflict and an expert on globalization, as well as within corporate circles as a management consultant and conference presenter. An award-winning professor, he has written for such publications as Esquire, Wired, Good, National Review, U.S. News & World Report, and the Washington Post. He has also been interviewed by several media outlets.

Dr. Barnett is best known as the author of "The Pentagon's New Map: War and Peace in the Twenty-First Century," "Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating," and "Great Powers: America and the World After Bush."

More info: www.hdma.org