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WACC
Ambassadors
Circle
Series
Ryan
C.
Crocker,
Former
U.S.
Ambassador
to
Iraq,
Pakistan,
Syria,
Kuwait
&
Lebanon
Recipient
of
the
Presidential
Medal
of
Freedom
Dean
and
Executive
Professor,
George
Bush
School
of
Government
and
Public
Service,
Texas
A&M
University
The
Middle
East:
Beyond
Egypt
and
Tunisia
–
What’s
Next?
Date:
Thursday, March 10th, 2011
Location:
Westin
Charlotte
(601
S.
College
St.)
Time:
VIP
Reception
(for
sponsors):
11:30
a.m.
–
12:00
p.m.
General
Networking
&
Registration:
11:30
a.m.
–
12:00
p.m.
Lunch
&
Presentation:
12:00
–
1:30
p.m.
Cost:
$50 (WACC members); $65 (non-members)
*Lunch
included.
If
you
have
certain
dietary
considerations,
please
let
us
know.
RSVP
Information:
Complete
the
online
reservation
process
below
or
call
704-687-7762
for
payment
by
credit
card.
If
sending
a
check,
please
make
it
payable
to
the
"World
Affairs
Council
of
Charlotte"
and
mail
it to
the
following
address:
World
Affairs
Council
of
Charlotte
UNC
Charlotte
-
227
CHHS
9201
University
City
Blvd
Charlotte,
NC
28223
Corporate
Sponsorship
Benefits
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BIOGRAPHY OF SPEAKER:
Ryan Crocker is Dean and Executive Professor at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where he also holds the Edward and Howard Kruse Endowed Chair. He retired from the Foreign Service in April 2009 after a career of over 37 years. He served as an Ambassador five times: Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993). He was a member of the faculty at the National War College 2003-2004. From May to August 2003, he was in Baghdad as the first Director of Governance for the Coalition Provisional Authority. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs from August 2001 to May 2003. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1971, he has had assignments in Iran, Qatar, Iraq, and Egypt, as well as Washington. He was assigned to the American Embassy in Beirut during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and the bombings of the embassy and the Marine barracks in 1983.
Born in Spokane, Washington, he grew up in an Air Force family, attending schools in Morocco, Canada and Turkey, as well as the U.S. He received a B.A. in English in 1971 and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2001 from Whitman College (Washington). He is a member of the College's Board of Overseers.
Crocker received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, in 2009. He received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2007 and 1994 and the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Civilian Service in 2008 and 1997. He also holds the Secretary of State's Award for Distinguished Service, the Distinguished Honor Award and Award for Valor as well as the American Foreign Service Association Rivkin Award for creative dissent. In January 2002, he was sent to Afghanistan to reopen the American Embassy in Kabul. He subsequently received the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for "exceptional courage and leadership" in Afghanistan. In September 2004, President Bush conferred on him the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the Foreign Service. In May 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the establishment of the Ryan C. Crocker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Expeditionary Diplomacy.
He is married to Christine Barnes Crocker, also a member of the Foreign Service prior to her retirement in 2002. They met in Baghdad in 1979. She holds the State Department's Award for Heroism.
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