ODU Alum, Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, Is Speaker for Program on U.S. Global Engagement
February 20, 2013
Old Dominion University Distinguished Alumnus Lt. Gen. Harry "Pete" Osman, class of 1969, will be the keynote speaker for a program the university is hosting Thursday, Feb. 28, on U.S. global engagement and its impact on Virginia's future.
Osman, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps following 37 years of active service and is currently the president and CEO of Toys of Tots, will give a talk on "America's Role in the World." This event was originally scheduled for Oct. 28, 2012, but was postponed due to Hurricane Sandy.
Co-hosted by ODU, Veterans for Smart Power and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, the luncheon program will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Hampton/Newport News Room of Webb Center.
There is no charge to attend the event, but an RSVP is required to www.usglc.org, or by emailing Brendan Flynn at bflynn@usglc.org. The deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Veterans for Smart Power comprises veterans of all ages and ranks who share a commitment to elevating and strengthening the nation's nonmilitary tools of global engagement - alongside its military - in order to build a better, safer, more prosperous America and world.
Veterans of America's armed forces know firsthand that a strong military is essential to keep America safe. However, they also know that the military alone cannot defeat today's global threats. That's why they are promoting the support of a "smart power" national security strategy that invests in nonmilitary tools of development and diplomacy, too.
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a "smart power" approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.
Osman joined the Marine Corps in 1967 and was commissioned upon graduation from Old Dominion College in 1969. His USMC service included a stint as commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (August 2002 to July 2004). During this assignment, he led a small Joint Task Force into Northern Iraq to coordinate political and military activities in that region during the Iraq war.
Osman later served as the deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for Manpower and Reserve Affairs from July 2004 to August 2006. He retired on Oct. 1, 2006.
Retired Navy SEAL Rob DuBois will take part in a panel discussion following Osman's remarks at the luncheon. DuBois is the author of the book, "Powerful Peace: A Navy SEAL's Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime at War." During his 20-year Navy career, he served as a Soviet subject matter expert, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One member and terrorist operations specialist at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Since retiring from active duty in 2006, DuBois has served as a consultant, working in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of commanders struggling with complex threat situations. He has served on the Deputy Secretary of Defense's Senior Integration Group and directed operations for the Department of Defense "red team."