2007-2008 Speaker Programs

Past Event Archive

2009 Speaker Programs

Speaker Programs are open to the public. They are held on Sunday evenings at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa located in Indian Wells, Calfornia,with a reception for the speaker beginning at 5:00 p.m.; dinner at 6:00 p.m. The speaker's presentation begins after dinner, followed by a short period of question & answers. Tickets for the Reception (no-host bar), Dinner, and Speaker Program are $50.00 for members; $60.00 for non-members. In selecting topics and speakers for presentation to its members, the officers of the World Affairs Council of the Desert have relied on the following criteria:

Topics must be timely national or international issues, which have significance to the foreign policy of the United States.

Speakers must be expert on their subjects and have an engaging presentation, which motivates audiences to ask questions, voice opinions and develop candid discussions.

Lt. General Michael Hamel

Lt. General Michael Hamel, former Commander of the
U. S. Space and Missile Systems Center

As a young officer, Hamel helped develop the early version of the Ground Positioning System that you use today. As Commander of the U.S. Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. General Hamel directed a “back to basics” approach to his management of research and development, as well as acquisition and sustainment of space, missile, command and control activities, along with operational satellite systems. Hamel has served in senior positions at U.S. Air Force Headquarters and Air Force Space Command. From 1996-1998, he was the military advisor to Vice President Al Gore. Among his many decorations and awards, Hamel has been given the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Upon retirement last year from the Air Force, Hamel became Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development of Orbital Sciences Corp.

April 18, 2010
The U. S. and the World: Beyond the Financial Crisis

Ambassador Robert Kimmitt

Ambassador Robert Kimmitt, recently retired U. S. Deputy Secretary
of the Treasury and former Ambassador to Germany

How soon will the world recover from the economic crisis, and what lies ahead? Ambassador Kimmitt brings a depth of knowledge in both global finance and in our international strategic aims derived from his extensive service at the highest levels of the U.S. government. In addition to his stint as ambassador to Germany, Kimmitt served under Kissinger as Executive Secretary and General Counsel to the National Security Council. He has also served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Further, he was a member of the National Defense Panel and also the CIA’s National Security Advisory Panel. His most recent government service was as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury during President George Bush’s second term.

May 2, 2010
India and Pakistan: Is Resolution Possible?

A Panel

Ambassador Terisita Schaffer

Ambassador Terisita Schaffer, Director, South Asia Program Center for Strategic and International Studies;

Ambassador Howard Schaffer, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University

Teresita Schaffer came to CSIS 11 years ago, after a 30-year career in the US Foreign Service. For most of her career, she focused on international economic issues and South Asia, becoming one of the State Department’s principal experts. From 1989-1992, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, at that time the senior South Asia position in the department. From 1992-1995, she was the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka; and from 1995-1997, she served as Director of the Foreign Service Institute.

Howard Schaffer was Ambassador to Bangladesh from 1984 to 1987. Prior to that, he served in Delhi from 1961 to 1967 and Islamabad from 1974 to 1977. He also served (with his wife) in Sri Lanka. While at the State Department, he was twice Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Near East and South Asia. Now at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, he teaches courses on diplomacy and on US relations with India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Ambassador Schaffer has just published a book, “The Limits of Influence: America’s Role in Kashmir."

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