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General David H. Petraeus to Deliver 2017 Lt. Col. John H. Dale Distinguished Lecture

Wed, 09/06/2017 - 02:16pm | By: Megan Burkes

Gen. David H. Petraeus

The Dale Center for the Study of War & Society at The University of Southern Mississippi is pleased to announce that Gen. David H. Petraeus (U.S. Army, Retired) will deliver the 2017 Lt. Col. John H. Dale Distinguished Lecture in International Security and Global Policy on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, at 7 p.m.

The event will be held at the historic Saenger Theatre in downtown Hattiesburg and is open to the public. 

Petraeus will reflect on:

  • His strategy of the troop surge in Iraq 
  • His analysis of its ultimate accomplishments in light of the current situation in the Middle East
  • His thoughts on the region's future

The Lt. Col. John H. Dale Sr. Distinguished Lecture Series in International Security and Global Policy honors the late Lt. Col. John H. Dale, Sr., a career U.S. Army Officer who served in World War II and the Korean War and earned the Bronze Star. Lt. Col. Dale held a graduate degree from Southern Miss and later served as professor of military studies for the University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. 

The lecture series is made possible through a generous donation by Southern Miss alumna Dr. Beverly Dale, in honor of her late father. 

Previous speakers in the series include: 

  • Dr. Robert M. Gates, Former Secretary of Defense, CIA Director (2015)
  • Dr. Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State (2010)
  • Wyche Fowler, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2008)

Additional Information on General David H. Petraeus: 

In the decade that followed the September 11, 2001, attacks, Gen. Petraeus commanded U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the greater Middle East and Central Asia. After his retirement from the Army, Petraeus served as director of the CIA from 2011 to 2012.  

He is now a partner in a global investment firm and chairman of the firm's Global Institute. 

Petraeus remains engaged in U.S. foreign policy and international security issues as a visiting professor at several universities and a frequent media contributor on security topics. 

In several recent Washington Post op-eds, Petraeus argued for the importance of continued U.S. leadership in the Middle East, criticized anti-Muslim rhetoric and described five lessons that the U.S. should take from the past 15 years of involvement in the Middle East. 

Taking place less than a year into the Trump administration, Petraeus' lecture, especially his remarks on the future of Iraq and its neighbors, will provide a timely complement to the president's international security strategy. 

To learn more about the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society, visit: https://www.usm.edu/war-society