Join us on Thursday, May 14th for a rare and essential evening with one of America’s foremost authorities on national security, military strategy, and global conflict.
We are living through a moment unlike any in recent memory. Wars are being fought on multiple fronts. Alliances are being tested. The role of the American military and of America itself on the world stage is being redefined in real time. The questions have never felt more urgent: What is driving these conflicts? What are the stakes for the United States? And what does the future of global security and relations look like?
There may be no one better equipped to guide us through these questions than our special guest speaker, Dr. Cynthia A. Watson.
OUR EVENT SPEAKER
Dr. Watson spent nearly thirty years at the National War College, the nation’s premier institution for senior military and civilian leaders, where she served as Professor of Strategy, Chair of the Department of Security Studies, Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs, and ultimately Interim Provost of the National Defense University. She was also awarded the distinguished title of Professor Emerita in recognition of her extraordinary service to professional military education.
Her credentials are remarkable: Graduate of the London School of Economics and the University of Notre Dame, a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the National Committee on US-China Relations, and the Society for Military History. Her book US National Security was named a Book of the Year by CHOICE magazine. Her landmark work Combatant Commands: Origins, Structure, and Engagements remains the definitive text on how America deploys its military power across the globe.
Simply put, Dr. Watson has spent a career training the people who make the decisions that shape our world. Now she brings that perspective directly to you.
In an era of grinding conflict in Ukraine, ongoing instability in the Middle East, the Iranian war, escalating tensions across the Indo-Pacific, and a rapidly shifting US foreign policy posture, this is precisely the kind of evening that reminds us why our organization, the FPLC exists – to bring the sharpest minds in global affairs into candid, direct conversation with our community.
We anticipate a thought-provoking program for all engaged citizens who want to understand not just what is happening in the world – but why, and what comes next.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
Seats are Limited – Registration and Reservations are Required!
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Guided and moderated by our Board Member and South American Affairs specialist, Mr. Joe Dehner, our guest speakers, Professors Walt Vanderbush and Juan Carlos Albarrán of Miami University, guided our audience through the complex interplay of political, economic, and social dynamics shaping Central and South America, drawing on decades of work in international studies, study-abroad leadership, and exchange programs across Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and beyond.
True to FPLC’s mission, the atmosphere throughout the evening was both intellectually rigorous and warmly conversational, with participants frequently drawing connections between the issues raised and their own professional and civic experiences. Many attendees remarked on how the speakers’ long-standing engagement with Latin American communities, inside and outside the classroom, brought a human dimension to policy debates that too often remain abstract.
Walt Vanderbush brings deep expertise in US-Latin American relations, Latin American political economy, and immigration policy, all grounded in decades of research, teaching, and international experience. Walt is an Associate Professor and Assistant Chair in the Department of Global and Intercultural Studies at Miami University. He has guided students on study abroad experiences in Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia and is co-author of the acclaimed textbook “International Studies: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Global Issues.” His work enriches our understanding of international policy and intercultural dynamics, making him a compelling voice for our community.
Juan Carlos Albarrán complements this perspective with his lifelong commitment to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino/a studies, leading student exchanges, international programs, and interdisciplinary exploration of regional issues from sustainable tourism to migration and diaspora dynamics. Originally from Havana, Cuba, Juan Carlos has developed study abroad opportunities and led workshops across Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, and Cuba, and has guided students through Miami University’s Luxembourg campus programs. As Director of the Study of United States Institutions (SUSI) Exchange Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department, he brings global perspectives and social entrepreneurship into the classroom. A passionate advocate for global diversity, inclusion, and the humanities, Professor Albarrán continues to inspire students to engage with timely issues through deep cultural connections.
A pioneer of empirical marketing, predictive decision-making, and digital-era engagement long before they became industry vernacular, Mr. Steven J. Manning has shaped how major global brands think, act, and grow- driving tens of billions of dollars in revenue flows across consumer, digital, and advisory domains.