National security expert presents on five major threats to United States

On Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), will present on the topic “Top Five Threats to America’s National Security.” She will speak at 7:00 p.m. at the Western Michigan University Grand Rapids East Beltline campus.

Just prior to joining the CFR, Murray held the Distinguished National Security Chair at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Murray’s talk is part of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s fall lecture series, titled “Dixie’s Picks” in honor of retiring executive director Dixie Anderson.

“Lori moderated the discussion with General David Petraeus when he visited the Council a few years ago. She did an impressive job and we’re delighted she is returning to share the results of her own work and study,” Anderson said. “National security is certainly a critical concern for all of us.”

Murray will address the five threats to the U.S. that Secretary of Defense James Mattis identified in a June, 2017 testimony to the House Armed Services Committee: North Korea; Russia; China; terrorist groups; and Iran.

She has worked in numerous other foreign relations posts, such as the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction and U.S. Intelligence Capabilities, as special advisor to the president on the Chemical Weapons Convention and as assistant director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency at the U.S. State Department.   

“Our World Affairs Council chapter is known to bring in knowledgeable and thought-provoking speakers,” Anderson noted, “and our speakers know they can look forward to spirited and civil exchange from our members and guests.”

Registration is available at the door, or one can register in advance at www.worldmichigan.org/fall-2017-programming. Corporate members and their employees and educational partners and their faculty, students and staff may attend free of chanrge.

The series ends on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 with the Honorable John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to Russia (retired) on a topic which confounds most Americans: “Russia 2018: Putin’s Last Act?” (Same start time and venue as Murray event.)