Buena Vista University will be welcoming Leon E. Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA, as the 22nd William W. Siebens American Heritage Lecture laureate on Friday, Oct. 7. Student panelists will meet with Panetta from 2:30 to 3 p.m. and his evening lecture will begin at 5:45 p.m. in the Dows Grand Ballroom. According to the Buena Vista Tack, Panetta will be discussing global politics and world affairs from his unique perspective on U.S. intelligence, defense and cyber security tactics with invited regional leaders from the business, law, politics, education and religion fields. The Heritage Lecture Series was founded in 1989 to bring experts to BVU to discuss current issues facing Americans. Panetta is the first former U.S. Secretary of Defense to speak in the series and is best remembered for the removal of troops from Iraq and the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy during his tenure. Panetta was also Director of the CIA during the capture of Osama bin Laden. He is now acting chairman of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy in Seaside, Calif.
