First Event in the Leon Panetta 2016 Lecture Series to Feature Mike Rogers, Wendy Sherman and General Ray Odierno
in a Discussion on War, Terrorism and Other Global Threats. Secretary Leon E. Panetta to Moderate
TICKETS AVAILABLE
The nineteenth annual Leon Panetta Lecture Series, An America in Renaissance or Decline? Challenges Facing a New President begins Monday evening, March 14, at the Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200. Secretary Leon Panetta will moderate this discussion.
The first forum will focus on War, Terrorism and Other Global Threats. Speaking with Secretary Panetta on the topic will be Mike Rogers, former United States representative (R-MI) and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Wendy Sherman, former Department of State under secretary for political affairs and lead negotiator of the Iran nuclear agreement; and General Ray Odierno, former United States Army chief of staff and commander of United States forces in Iraq.
“The next president will face a series of challenges to our security,” said Institute Chairman Leon E. Panetta. “What is the appropriate balance between diplomatic and military efforts? Will the Iran nuclear agreement help or hurt stability in the region? Will the defeat of ISIS require the United States to intensify its efforts in the war? What is needed for stability in Iraq and Afghanistan? How do we deal with a more aggressive Russia and more assertive China? What makes for a strong commander-in-chief? I’ll pose these questions and more to experts on intelligence, diplomacy and military strategy.”
Mike Rogers is a respected expert on national security with more than a decade of experience shaping critical cyber security, counter terrorism and intelligence policy. Before being elected to the United States Congress in 2000, Mr. Rogers was a commissioned officer in the United States Army. He then served as an FBI special agent before he was elected to the Michigan Senate in 1994. He was appointed chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in 2011 and was a member of the powerful Energy and Commerce Panel. Mr. Rogers led the Intelligence Committee at the time of the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, the debate surrounding the NSA leaks by Edward Snowden, the search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370, and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Today, Mr. Rogers uses his insider perspective gained from traveling the globe to host his syndicated radio program, Something to Think About with Mike Rogers, which airs on 150 stations throughout the United States. Mr. Rogers is a CNN national security commentator and also appears in major print outlets. Additionally, he hosts Declassified, an eight-part series on CNN that delves into true stories of America’s covert operations around the world. Mr. Rogers received his bachelor’s degree from Adrian College in Michigan.
Wendy Sherman is one of the State Department’s leading diplomats with three decades of experience in international affairs and politics. In 1993, Ambassador Sherman was named assistant secretary for legislative affairs for Secretary of State Warren Christopher. She went on to serve as counselor of the State Department, as well as special advisor to President Bill Clinton and policy coordinator on North Korea. Ambassador Sherman returned to government service in 2008, when she was appointed to serve on the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation and Terrorism. Named under secretary for political affairs in 2011, Ambassador Sherman became the State Department’s number three official. She was the lead negotiator and was instrumental in the successful construction of the historic Iran nuclear agreement. In recognition of her many diplomatic accomplishments, President Barack Obama awarded Ambassador Sherman with the National Security Medal. Ambassador Sherman has served as chair of the board of Oxfam America and on the Defense Policy Board for the Department of Defense. She is also a long-standing member of the Council on Foreign Relations and numerous national security groups. Today, Ambassador Sherman is a senior fellow at both Harvard’s Institute of Politics and the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Ambassador Sherman received a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland.
General Ray Odierno has commanded units at every echelon and spent more time in Iraq than any other United States Army general. After his first assignment with United States Army Europe, General Odierno was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed for both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the division under his command was responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein. From 2006 to 2008, General Odierno served as the operational commander of the surge of forces in Iraq and went on to lead the multi-national force. In 2010, he was named the Commander of United States Joint Forces Command. He culminated his military career as the 38th chief of staff of the Army, leading more than 1,000,000 servicemen and women. In addition to his service in the Middle East, General Odierno was assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he was the primary military advisor to Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. General Odierno holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from West Point and a masters’ degree in nuclear effects engineering from North Carolina State University. He is also a graduate of the Army War College and holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.
Viewers throughout central and northern California can view a live television broadcast on Comcast Cable and Comcast Hometown Network. Residents north through the San Francisco Bay Area and east through portions of Sacramento can watch on PBS-affiliated KQED digital cable stations. The California Channel also provides a statewide broadcast of the program. In addition, the lectures are available for viewing on the Panetta Institute YouTube channel, are aired live on public radio stations and are available for view via live web-streaming at www.panettainstitute.org/lecture_series/lecture_webcast.htm. All past lectures are archived on the Panetta Institute website.
For more information or to purchase tickets please call the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at 831-582-4200.
