November 27, 2012

Vicki Huddleston, Ambassador, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; US Ambassador to Madagascar and to Mali; Principal Officer of the US Interests Section in Havana and Chargé d’affairs ad interim in Ethiopia

The power vacuum created by Qadhafi’s fall goes beyond the tragic death of our Ambassador and his colleagues in Benghazi — the same city that the US led coalition saved from rape and pillage.   Religious extremism, terror and crime now thrive within Libya and beyond.   Having destroyed the country of Mali and established a homeland in West Africa from where, violent extremism will spread across the Sahara and North back into Algeria and Libya creating another Afghanistan if we fail to adopt a proactive counter terrorism strategy that will help Africa defeat Al Qaeda.

The Speakers

Vicki HuddlestonUS Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; US Ambassador to Madagascar and to Mali; Principal Officer of the US Interests Section in Havana and Chargé d’affairs ad interim in Ethiopia
Ambassador Vicki Huddleston was the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2009-11. She is a former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa; US Ambassador to Madagascar and to Mali; Principal Officer of the US Interests Section in Havana and Chargé d’affairs ad interim in Ethiopia. She was Deputy Chief of Mission in Haiti and Director and Deputy Director of Cuban Affairs at the US Department of State.

She was a Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and a Congressional Fellow on the staff of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). She began her overseas career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru. Her MA is from John’s Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and BA from the University of Colorado. She has received many awards from the US Department of State including the Presidential Meritorious Service Award. She has written opinion pieces for New York Times, The Miami Herald and the Washington Post and been a commentator for NBC-Universal. SFWAF program: November 27,2012.

Where

St. John’s College, Junior Commons Room. On November 27, 2012, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

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Parking

The Visitors Parking Lot is on your left as you enter campus. A few handicapped parking spaces are located at the Visitor’s Circle right in front of the fishpond area and below the Peterson Student Center. A few more are located behind the Peterson Center as follows. Just before the Visitor’s Circle, look for the fork in the road where you would normally drive to the left to get to the Visitors’ Parking Circle just below the Peterson Center. Instead, turn right and follow the drive up to the other parking area. There are two or three handicapped parking spaces on the left. Please note that this parking lot is not open to the public, but handicapped folks are allowed to park in the designated spaces.