CEO Summit’s National Security panel tackles key issues facing America’s safety
During the School of Business’ CEO Summit Oct. 6, attendees heard from military and political leaders during the Globalism, Threats, & National Defense panel.
Former Congressman and Dean of the School of Business David Brat presented the globalism panel with others from in the political world.
Dr. Kiron Skinner is taube professor of international relations and politics at Pepperdine University and was the first to speak and address the Russia-Ukraine conflict. She said the war has global consequents on energy, environment and security.
Skinner said that Russia’s oppression of its people is reminiscent of the Cold War during the Reagan era, and a large group of Russian military defectors are resisting.
“(That) shows that Russians do not want to fight this war,” Skinner said. “The map of Europe is being re-written as this war continues.”
She said how the actions of Russia has organized the Western world to come together in ways that would not have been possible when the war first broke out.
Gen. Keith Kellogg spent four years as the national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
“You judge presidents by what they do, the decisions they make, the determinations they make,” Kellogg said.
He said the governing philosophy of the Trump administration was “America First,” and that there are no easy decisions that come across the desk of the president of the United States.
Roosevelt Ditlevson served as the chief of staff to the assistant secretary of defense under the Trump administration and was an explosive ordnance disposal officer in the U.S. Navy.
He said while there is an instability across the globe currently, there are also opportunities for America to work with other countries.
“People we might not normally think of want US technology,” Ditlevson said. “They want US investment.”
Matt Bevin served as the 62nd governor of Kentucky and as a captain in the U.S. Army and has founded several companies. He compared the way business and government worlds operate to the way opposing players would compete during a game of chess. He also challenged attendees to be informed citizens.
“Iron sharpens iron. It’s as simple as that. It’s biblical,” Bevin said.
Robert Dees, who served for 31 years in the U.S. Army and is ranked as a brigadier general, is the president of Board at National Center for Healthy Veterans, the foundation that built Valor Farm in Altavista, Virginia.
Dees spoke about the importance of veterans’ health and wellness. From issues that range from obesity to mental issues, he said veterans face a wide variety of life-changing illnesses. He noted there are 22 veterans a day that take their lives. Valor Farm exists to return healthy veterans to society.
He compared Russia-Ukraine war to a tornado. He said what started as turf war impacted the world on a massive scale. Like a tornado, it hits hard, in a limited area, and the damage can be seen in the aftermath. He said national security begins with the nuclear family.
“I think national security starts in the home,” Dees said. “It starts with fathers. It starts with mothers. It starts with intact families.”
“All of us must persevere … As we move toward the person of Jesus, we may be becoming weaker … We need to move towards strength, and that comes from the person of Jesus,” Dees said.
Elizabeth Stiner is a News writer for the Liberty Champion. Follow her on Twitter @StinerElizabeth