The Future of Democracy: A U.S. and International Perspective
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Join us for a conversation between two friends and colleagues who have served the United States domestically and abroad.
Democracy has always been and continues to be challenged both in the United States and around the world. As former Secretary of Homeland Security, General Counsel of the Department of Defense and a distinguished Attorney, Secretary Johnson has been deeply involved in the challenges to democracy in the United States. Globally, democratic values and principles are always at risk. As U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Under Secretary of the Army and Professor of Politics Science, Dr. Westphal has been engaged in addressing these risks.
This event is taking place both in-person and via live stream. Registration is required.
IMPORTANT COVID PROTOCOLS:
Our priority is to ensure the safety of our patrons, artists, staff and the entire Adelphi community against COVID-19. We know that there is a great desire to come together and share the experience of live performance. The science of masks, vaccines, and tests will help make this happen.
Effective immediately, all audience members age 12 and over will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Anyone under 12 or who is not fully vaccinated must show proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours of the performance. All guests regardless of age or vaccination status will be required to wear masks at all times while inside the Adelphi PAC.
In addition, capacity will be limited to 50% for many of our events.
These policies will remain in place at least through December 31, 2021 and are subject to change at any time. Feel free to contact the box office with any questions.
About the Speakers
Secretary Jeh Johnson ’14 (Hon.)
Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Jeh Johnson is a partner in the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP and the former Secretary of Homeland Security (2013-2017) and former General Counsel of the Department of Defense (2009-2012). Earlier in his career, Johnson was General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force (1998-2001), and an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York (1989-1991).
In private life, in addition to practicing law Johnson is on the board of directors of Lockheed Martin, U.S. Steel, the Council on Foreign Relations, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Center for a New American Security, and is a trustee of Columbia University. Johnson is also a commentator on national and homeland security matters on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, CNBC, NPR, Bloomberg TV and other news networks.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson was the head of the third largest cabinet department of the U.S. government, consisting of 230,000 personnel and 22 components, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Services, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and FEMA. Johnson’s responsibilities as Secretary included counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, protection of our national leaders, the detection of chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland, and response to natural disasters. In three years as Secretary of DHS, Johnson is credited with management reform of the Department, which brought about a more centralized approach to decision-making in the areas of budgets, acquisition and overall policy. Johnson also raised employee morale across the Department, reflected in the September 2016 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.
As General Counsel of the Department of Defense, Johnson is credited with being the legal architect for the U.S. military’s counterterrorism efforts in the Obama Administration. In 2010, Johnson co-authored the report that paved the way for the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by Congress later that year. According to published reports, Johnson provided the legal approval for U.S. special forces to enter Pakistan for the bin Laden operation in 2011. In his book Duty, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote that Johnson “proved to be the finest lawyer I ever worked with in government – a straightforward, plain-speaking man of great integrity, with common sense to burn and a good sense of humor.”
Johnson is the 2018 recipient of the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award, presented at the Reagan Presidential Library, for “contribut[ing] greatly to the defense of our nation,” and “guiding us through turbulent times with courage and wisdom.” Johnson has debated at both the Cambridge and Oxford Unions in England, and in November 2019 was conferred honorary life membership in the Cambridge Union.
Johnson is a graduate of Morehouse College (1979) and Columbia Law School (1982) and the recipient of 11 honorary degrees.
Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal, ’70, PhD
Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal is the Chang Sun Term Professor at the Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies at The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.
He is also a Senior Fellow at the Center for Leadership and Change Management at Wharton, Fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration and Non-Resident Fellow at the International Studies Center of the Catholic University of Chile.
Ambassador Westphal has had a long and distinguished career in government and academia.
Dr. Westphal was the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March 2014 to January 2017.
Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Westphal was the Under Secretary of the Army and its Chief Management Officer from 2009 to 2014. He also held the positions of Assistant Secretary of the Army (Head of the Army Corps of Engineers) from 1998 to 2000 and Acting Secretary of the Army in 2001.
Dr. Westphal began his career in 1975 as a professor of political science at Oklahoma State University and later served as a Department Head. In 2002 he became the Chancellor of the University of Maine System and Professor of Political Science. He also served as Director of the Tishman Environmental Center and Provost at the New School University in New York and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
In government, he worked in both the House and Senate for more than twelve years. In Congress he worked on Committee staff, as staff director of a large bicameral and bipartisan caucus and on Members personal staff.
He has held positions in the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Obama, working in the Department of the Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense and the Department of State.
Dr. Westphal has served on numerous Presidential Commissions and Task Forces, Non-Profit and Public Boards and Advisory Panels.
Ambassador Westphal received a B.A. from Adelphi University (1970), an M.A. from Oklahoma State University (1973), and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1980).