Decorated Naval veteran Admiral William Fallon will speak July 19 at Dartmouth as part of the “Leading Voices in U.S. Foreign Policy” lecture series. The talk, free and open to the public, will begin in the Hopkins Center’s Moore Theater at 4 p.m.
Admiral William Fallon has served in several leadership positions, including as head of U.S. Central Command, during his 40-year Naval career. (photo courtesy of William Fallon)
The Leading Voices series is in its third season. The first season, “Leading Voices in Politics and Policy,” brought national political figures and policymakers to campus last summer. “Leading Voices in Higher Education,” part of Dartmouth’s strategic planning process, has featured visits from prominent writers, figures, and thinkers in higher education.
Fallon is one of six speakers in the current series, which also features a global health leader, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, climate change diplomat, former Defense Department official, and a noted economist.
The series supplements a government class for sophomores, who spend the summer term at Dartmouth. The course, “America and the World: Contemporary Issues in U.S. Foreign Policy,” is taught by Benjamin Valentino, associate professor of government. Each week, a different faculty member will lead the class, giving an introductory lecture to prepare students for the address by the visiting presenter, who will speak to the class and the public later in the week.
“Admiral Fallon has led one of most distinguished careers in the U.S. military in recent years,” said Valentino. “This is a great opportunity for students to ask questions about key U.S. foreign policy issues like the war in Afghanistan, America’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil, or the possibility of a war with Iran.”
Fallon’s lecture, “Shifting Sands: U.S. Interests and Policy in the Middle East,” will reflect his four decades of experience leading U.S. and allied forces. Fallon has served as head of U.S. Central Command, directing all military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Horn of Africa, focusing on combat efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallon previously led the U.S. Pacific Command, directing political-military activities in the Asia-Pacific region. He also commanded the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and U.S. Fleet Forces Command, helping coordinate U.S. Naval forces worldwide.
Fallon began his career as a pilot in the Vietnam War. He led a carrier air wing during the Gulf War, and commanded a Navy battle group during NATO military operations in Bosnia. He was a Robert E. Wilhelm Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Center for International Studies and chairs the Center’s Advisory Board. He also serves on advisory boards at Occidental College and the University of California, San Diego.
