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International Relations student participates in premier national defense forum in California

Rebekah Pryor, vice president of Liberty University’s Alexander Hamilton Society chapter, participated in the Reagan National Defense Forum, held Dec. 7 at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

She tuned into conversations about modern foreign policy and gained knowledge that will equip her for her future career at the foremost national defense event in the United States.

As the country’s premier gathering of defense professionals, the forum welcomes congress members, Department of Defense officials, and other industry professionals to discuss the pertinent issues and insights to the field of national security. Throughout the day, guests were invited to attend up to 16 different panel discussions featuring top voices on the related topics.

Pryor, a junior pursuing a double major in foreign policy and strategic intelligence within Liberty’s international relations program, was one of 15 students allowed to take part in the forum, thanks to a partnership between the Alexander Hamilton Society and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which allows chapter officers to apply.

The application process for each student consisted of an interview and an essay discussing what he or she saw as the most pressing national security concern to the United States, which Pryor stated as being maritime security sector reform.

“I’ve known for a very long time that I want to go to law school, specifically for international and trade law and how that pertains to the United States’ interests,” Pryor said. “My end goal is to be an attorney for an agency or somewhere in the government as general counsel.”

Liberty’s chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society (AHS), of which Pryor is the vice president, is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization that invites speakers who have had successful careers in Washington, D.C., to appear in panels or debates regarding issues pertinent to the country’s interests and policies. Students are also given the opportunity to network afterward to build up relationships for their futures after graduation.

Following her flight to Simi Valley, Pryor and the other AHS students were given a three-hour private briefing from Eric Sayers, an adjunct senior fellow for the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She was also able to meet several congressmen and deputy assistant secretaries from the Department of Defense that night.

“This was a perfect opportunity to connect with these people from Washington (D.C.) and talk about national security with professionals in that area,” Pryor said.

One of the many panels from Saturday that stood out for Pryor featured former U.S. Secretaries of Defense General James Mattis and Hon. Leon Panetta, which allowed her and other members to meet with the speakers personally afterward.

“I got to hear them speak about their expertise and insight from their years of service to the U.S., their perspectives on the fundamental principles that make America exceptional in our defense, and how we’ve been able to protect our freedoms,” Pryor said. “It really gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for the principles of the U.S. defense system, how it plays a critical role in the creation and implementation of strategies going forward.”

Another highlight for Pryor was a panel in which Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos explained the mission behind his new company, Blue Origin, and shared his support for the U.S. military.

While on the property, guests were encouraged to visit the Reagan Library and the museum within it. Ronald Reagan’s Air Force One plane, which has been preserved in the condition it was in when the late president used it, was available for attendees to walk through.

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