At some point in their academic careers, all students wonder if what they learn in the classroom has any practical application to life. Monday, students had the opportunity to see that knowledge applied to real-life situations in international affairs.
Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr., commanding general for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, delivered a lecture on “Army Special Operations Forces and Global Engagement.” More than 100 individuals, ranging from attending VIPs to A&M students and cadets to residents of Bryan-College Station, congregated to hear Mulholland speak.
“I came [to the lecture] as part of my military science class,” said Thomas Herrford, sophomore mechanical engineer and a member of the Corps Navy and Marine ROTC. “It was a great opportunity to hear a high-profile military leader speak.”
The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service presented the program as part of the William and Dianne Moss-Scowcroft Lecture Series, an annual series of lectures on international affairs.
“The purpose [of the lecture series] is to broaden an individual’s knowledge base,” said Peggy Holweiss, assistant director of the Scowcroft Institute.
The institute invites high-profile individuals who are experts in the field of international affairs to speak to students and other attendees. Through the lecture series, which is open to the public, the institute tries to provide students the opportunity to see how their classroom experiences apply to real-world situations.
“Our goal is educating people; whether for a formal career or out of personal curiosity,” Holweiss said.
In his remarks, Mulholland discussed the Army Special Operations Force’s role in international affairs. He began by talking about how the Army Special Operations Force provides strategic options to United States Ambassadors and the Gulf Cooperation Council, specifically in the face of conventional and irregular or complex threats.
Then Mulholland transitioned to briefly outlining what kind of support the the Army Special Operations Force provides. The Army Special Operations Force strives, according to Mulholland, to create “strategic ‘bridging’ forces” that are complemented by U.S. forces to “develop indigenous security options” and to assist “friends, partners and allies to defend their sovereignty.” They also implement resources to help defeat threats to U.S. national interests.
At the conclusion of his lecture, Mulholland stressed the fact that the U.S. military strives to work with others. From combined interagency efforts to cooperative operations with partner nations, they never work alone.
“The lecture helped me see how what we learn applies to the world situation, not just to day-to-day life in the Corps,” said Geoffry Nauert, sophomore civil engineer and another member of the Navy and Marine ROTC. “I also learned how much people and communication skills benefit leaders.”
After a brief post-lecture question and answer session, the evening’s program ended. Mulholland was not available for comment.
“His [Mulholland’s] presence — the professional way he connected with his audience — made us feel as if he was speaking directly to us,” Herrford said. “It was an honor to have him to come to campus.”