Senior officials from U.S. Central Command in Tampa visit FGCU

Florida Gulf Coast University will host Coalition Chairman Air Commodore Richard Newlands from New Zealand, Brigadier Gen. Lothar Schmidt of Germany and Brigadier Gen. Zahid Mirza from Pakistan to discuss U.S., NATO and Coalition policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The event takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in the Student Union ballroom.

The presenters are currently serving as senior national representatives of their respective nations’ armed forces, who are members of the international Coalition located at the U.S. Central Command in Tampa. CENTCOM is the headquarters responsible for U.S. military operations in the Arabian Gulf and Central Asia, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“This presentation comes at a time when the U.S. government is considering recommendations to substantially increase deployments of U.S. troops to Afghanistan,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Richard W. Coughlin. “Of particular interest will be the multinational perspective that this panel will be able to offer on the current political and military situation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

FGCU students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to attend this event. No tickets or RSVPs are necessary. 