July 5 (Wednesday) 2023, 11:30 am to 1:15 pm
Luncheon Event at the Solomon Ortiz Convention Center

Ken Wisian, Ph.D., Major General USAF (retd.) will discuss the military strategy and the current situation in the Russian war in Ukraine in the aftermath of recent developments in Moscow that seem to challenge President Vladimir Putin’s power in the region. The recent mutiny attempted by the Russian mercenary group Wagner and the simmering dissent against Putin place Ukraine and Western allies—including the U.S.—in a perilous situation that may alter the current military and strategic equation.

Our speaker, Dr. Wisian, whose expertise ranges from strategic military planning to war strategy, and from geothermal energy to outer space research, will share his insights to these dangerous developments in the Russia war in Ukraine. He previously worked for the Center for Space Research before going to the University of Texas-Austin as Associate Director, Environmental Division of the Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geoscience. As a military officer, General Wisian participated or led military disaster response efforts for the Shuttle Columbia crash and multiple hurricanes. Dr. Wisian was a senior state executive responsible for disaster recovery, oil spill prevention and response, and coastal infrastructure and environmental protection for Texas. Dr. Wisian is a geophysicist whose research spans geothermal energy, modeling, instrumentation and data analysis as well as autonomy/drones, applied gravity, planetary geology/space exploration, SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) infrastructure resiliency and international relations.

Gen. Wisian holds an M.S. degree in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College, M.S. in Geology from Centenary College of Louisiana, M.S., and Ph.D. in Geophysics from Southern Methodist University.  He earned B.A. in Physics from the University of Texas-Austin and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. Militarily, General Wisian, a navigator/bombardier, flew bombers, transports and fighters, and commanded the Texas Air National Guard and the 14^th Reconnaissance Wing flying the MQ-1 Predator drone. He has more than 70 hours of medium and high-risk test flights as well as combat time in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. His combat medals include Bronze Star and Air Medal.

Please reserve your tickets by 5pm, Monday, July 3, 2023 . We need to give the headcount to the catering staff in advance! For ticket and membership information please visit our website:  www.worldaffairstexas.com.  There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door if you contact us on the email ID that appears below the day before the event. For more information, please contact: Dr. Anantha Babbili, WACST CEO & President, at 361.563.5177 or ananthasbabbili@yahoo.com.

THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF SOUTH TEXAS STRIVES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH TEXAS AND CORPUS CHRISTI BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE AMERICAN ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, TRADE, AND ECONOMICS. THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROMOTES CITIZEN DIPLOMACY AND HOSTS FOREIGN VISITORS SPONSORED BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TO FOSTER GOODWILL AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE.

COME JOIN US FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSATION AT THE LUNCHEON — COURTESY OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF SOUTH TEXAS!!!!