Adm. Thad Allen (ret.), M.P.A. ’86, former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, will share his experiences as national incident commander of the BP oil spill for the first time on a college campus Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. in GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium. He will address students from the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, which is hosting his appearance.
Following his remarks on “Unprecedented Events. Unprecedented Leadership Challenges,” Adm. Allen will participate in a panel discussion with Ron Carlee, executive in residence of the International City/County Management Association. Lisa Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has been invited to attend.
”As a lifelong public servant, I value the importance of giving back to our nation,” says Adm. Allen. “I look forward to participating in a discussion regarding the challenges our nation faces in confronting new and complex events and the many risks and responsibilities involved.”
GW President Steven Knapp will also present Adm. Allen with the university’s Colin Powell Public Service Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions by members of the GW community to public service. The award is in the spirit of its namesake former Secretary of State and Ret. Gen. Colin Powell, MBA ’71, DPS ’90. Adm. Allen also received GW’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2006.
In his 39 years in the Coast Guard, Adm. Allen served in leadership roles during some of the country’s most challenging times. He was chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard after 9/11 and was the government’s point person during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the BP oil spill last April. Adm. Allen continued as national incident commander after he retired from the Coast Guard in May.
Trachtenberg School Director Kathryn Newcomer says her former student is a well-respected leader who inspires those around him.
“Thad has devoted his life to public service and taken on extremely challenging responsibilities even when the potential risks have been high,” says Dr. Newcomer. “He put his country’s well-being ahead of his personal ambition, and that truly characterizes a public servant.”
The former admiral will also be on board in spring 2011 to teach a course in “Leadership in Complex Organizations” in The Trachtenberg School.
“This is yet another example of how the George Washington University brings the headlines to the classroom and gives our students a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from leading practitioners in the field,” says Dr. Newcomer.