Global Tennessee

Join TNWAC President Patrick Ryan and guest co-host Colleen Ryan for a review, commentary and analysis of the top five topics in global events this week. Today's Topics: 1 – Covid News – World Health Assembly; 2 – China – Belt and Road Trip; 3 – Global Energy – Cheap Oil and the Outlook; 4 – Afghanistan – Peace and Covid; and 5 – International Criminal Court in America’s Crosshairs

Video of this program: https://youtu.be/T0KGHcw3MCk

Your Hosts

LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN (Ret), President, Tennessee World Affairs Council

Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

Colleen Elizabeth Ryan

Colleen Ryan is a JD candidate at Belmont University School of Law. Raised in Middle Tennessee, she attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she received a BA in Global Studies and Sociology Honors in the Haslam Scholars Program. A participant in the Baker Scholars Program of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Public Policy Center, Colleen wrote an honors thesis on prison reform policy in Uganda’s post-conflict transition, and she was the 2017 Outstanding Graduate in the global studies program. During college, she studied abroad in Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Costa Rica, interned with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and served in numerous campus-wide roles promoting research and study abroad to fellow students.

In 2018, Colleen earned an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York on a Fulbright postgraduate grant, during which time she took coursework in conflict transformation and humanitarian response, conducted fieldwork on peacebuilding and social change in Kosovo, and served as a cultural ambassador for the United States in northern England. At York, she completed her dissertation on Chinese engagement in peacebuilding processes in the Global South in preparation for spending a year as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. There, she completed an MA in Global Affairs, worked in research and programming at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, and wrote her capstone paper on the evolution of Chinese foreign policy regarding humanitarian intervention.

In addition to study, research and work abroad, Colleen has had the opportunity for extensive leisure travel across North America, Europe, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Committed to the belief that every person should be globally engaged, she has volunteered with the Tennessee World Affairs Council since its inception in 2007 and enjoys contributing to TNWAC’s work making educational programming and resources about global affairs available to all Tennesseans.

Amb Dick Bowers and Pat Ryan host a weekly review of current global events with commentary and assessments on hot topics in the news. This week we welcome Dr. Marieta Velikova as a guest host.

May 12, 2020 - This week's topics:

1 – Covid News – almost all Covid, all the time

2 – Russia and Election Interference – Part 1 – Background and Context

3 – Russia and Election Interference – Part 2 – Current Developments

4 – China-US Relations – Election year, global pandemic – what could go wrong

5 – Middle Powers and Diplomacy – Australia has had enough China and America

Ambassador, U.S. Foreign Service (Retired) @United States Department of State

Charles Richard (Dick) Bowers served as the US Ambassador to Bolivia from 1991 through 1994. During that time, the American Embassy in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, was the largest and most complex U.S. embassy in South America. Ambassador Bowers grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, attended the University of California, Berkeley. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1967. From 1961 to 1964 he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist in West Berlin at the height of the Cold War. As a career member of the U.S. diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bowers served in the U.S. Embassies in Panama, Poland, Singapore, Germany and Bolivia. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1995. Amb Bowers has been a Board Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council since 2012.

LCDR Patrick Ryan, President Tennessee World Affairs Council

Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

This week former Mayor Dean will talk with Doug Kreulen, the head of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) which overseas Nashville International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune airport. They will talk about Doug’s background including his career in the US Air Force; the BNA Vision project; the damage at Tune airport from the Super Tuesday tornado; the impact of Covid-19 on BNA and the airline industry; BNA as a global gateway; and how MMNA sees Nashville as a global city.

Douglas E. Kreulen

President and CEO

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

Doug Kreulen joined the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority in 2012 and was named president & Chief Executive Officer in December 2017. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw Operations, Facilities Maintenance, Public Safety and Development and Engineering departments for both Nashville International and John C. Tune airports.

Before joining MNAA, Kreulen served four years as director of Operations for Huntsville International Airport, during which time the airport received the highly regarded FAA Southern Region Airport Mark of Distinction Award and FAA Air Carrier Airport Safety Award.

Prior to beginning his career in the commercial aviation sector, Kreulen served in the United States Air Force for 27 years, earning the rank of Colonel. During his service, he held prominent command and staff leadership positions including:

Chief of Staff for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.;

Vice Commander of the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base in Japan, with responsibility for 11,000 civilian and military personnel involved with operations, support, maintenance and medical;

Commander of the 314th Operations Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, with responsibilities for 2,000 military personnel and a fleet of 50 C-130s;

Chief of the Readiness Division for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C., charged with evaluating the armed services ability to carry out the National Military Strategy; and

Commander of the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Kreulen is a decorated veteran, earning the Bronze Star (Kosovo), Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal (National Military Strategy and Service on Joint Staff Crisis Action Team following events of 11 September 2001); Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal (Bosnia-Herzegovina).

An Accredited Airport Executive (AAE), Kreulen is a graduate of National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, Troy University with a Master of Science in Personnel Management and Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Technology.

--Moderator, Ambassador William Luers, US Foreign Service (Retired), Director, The Iran Project

--Dr. Gary Sick, Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University’s Middle East Institute and Adjunct Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs

--Ellie Geranmayeh, Senior Policy Fellow and Deputy Program Head, Middle East and North Africa Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations

--Host, LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN (Retired), President, Tennessee World Affairs Council

This special edition of the TNWAC Global Dialogue: International Speakers series presents a conversation about current developments in relations with Iran. Ambassador Bill Luers will moderate a conversation with Professor Gary Sick of Columbia University and Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Iran remains at the center of U.S. decision makers attention in the Middle East as Tehran grapples with the effects of Washington’s “Maximum Pressure” campaign and the catastrophic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile Tehran continues its “Maximum Resistance” response through maritime provocations, space vehicle (potential ICBM) launches and backing Iraqi militias that are in conflict with U.S. forces.

This Tennessee World Affairs Council Webinar is part of the “CxC Amplified: Ideas Summit – Putting the World Back Together Again” — a weeklong series of virtual events organized by the 90+ councils of the World Affairs Councils of America.

This episode of the "Global Dialogue: International Speakers Program" organized by the Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC.org) featured Jeremy Goldkorn and John Scannapieco with host Patrick Ryan (TNWAC President).

This superb discussion of the current tension in the Sino-American relationship focused on the consequences of the Covid-19 virus spread, the commercial ties and the national security issues that have shaped Beijing's and Washington's "lobbing of hand grenades" back and forth. Excellent background, context and analysis of the situation.

GOLDKORN

Jeremy Goldkorn is editor-in-chief of SupChina.com, and co-host of the Sinica Podcast. He moved to China in 1995 and became managing editor of Beijing’s first independent English-language entertainment magazine. In 2003, he founded the website and research firm, Danwei, which tracked Chinese media, markets, politics and business. It was acquired in 2013 by the Financial Times. While in China, Jeremy published and edited several magazines, books, and websites. He also lived in a workers dormitory, and produced a documentary film about African soccer players in Beijing.

SCANNAPIECO

John M. Scannapieco is a shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson and is a co-leader of the Firm’s Global Business Team. John provides strategic guidance and counsel to businesses and individuals regarding their existing global operations or to those contemplating global expansion. He also advises companies that are contemplating pursuing a China strategy, as well as those companies that are currently doing business in China or with China-based businesses. John assists U.S. manufacturing companies with their activities overseas and foreign companies desiring to expand operations to the United States. He is a board member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Council and a member of the board of the Japan American Society of Tennessee. He has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers in International Law. Around town, John, has been chair of the Community Resource Center – a key element of Nashville’s Super Tuesday tornado relief and the supply line to the front lines of poverty. John also serves on the board of Sister Cities of Nashville, and more. Last note, John is the Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom to the State of Tennessee.

Amb Dick Bowers and Pat Ryan host a weekly review of current global events with commentary and assessments on hot topics in the news. This week we welcome Dr. Marieta Velikova as a guest host.

May 5, 2020 - This week's topics:

1 – Covid Update

2 – Covid and Its Impact on the Economy

3 – China – Strategic Friction

4 – China – Economic Implications

5 – Iran – Maximum Pressure meets Maximum Resistance

Dr. Marieta Velikova, Associate Professor of Economics, Belmont University

Dr. Marieta V. Velikova received her undergraduate degree from the People's Friendship University of Russia. Her M.A. in Financial Economics and Ph.D. in Applied Economics were both earned at Mississippi State University, where she worked as a research assistant, academic tutor, and instructor of economics. She teaches graduate and undergraduate economics and international business courses in Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business Administration, where she has advised members of ENACTUS, and has been involved in the creation of the IB Society - an organization for students interested in international studies. Dr. Velikova has led numerous travel-study trips to Turkey, Japan, Guatemala, Cuba, London, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Her research interests include macroeconomics and monetary economics; energy and natural gas industry, however, her primary area of specialization at Belmont has been pedagogical research. [more at Belmont.edu]

LCDR Patrick Ryan, President Tennessee World Affairs Council

Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

This episode of former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean's conversations with community leaders featured Sean Henry, Nashville Predators President and CEO, with co-host Pat Ryan, TNWAC President. Karl asked Sean about his background and the experiences he has brought to the Predators organization. They talked about the situation for the Predators and Bridgestone arena as a result of the pandemic and shutdown of in-person events; prospects for returning to operations; and what the organization is doing during the pandemic. They talked about the "new normal" we can expect after the pandemic. Karl asked about the international dimension of the Predators and players' experiences and outlooks about Nashville especially all of the foreign-born athletes. Sean described the locker room "melting pot" of international backgrounds of the team and the attention accorded Nashville through media in a variety of global markets. They concluded by asking Sean about the prospects for NHL games in Europe and the 20/21 season plans for the Predators to play in Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

The pandemic crisis has created a “stay at home” reality for students, teleworkers and others. The “Global Engagement” video webinar will offer a week-day, weekly or bi-weekly opportunity to talk about current international events with co-hosts Ambassador Charles Bowers and TNWAC President LCDR Patrick Ryan (USN,Ret). They will run down the week’s current global events and invite your questions and comments during the live webinar. You can participate in future programs via interactive Webinars -- see TNWAC.org. You can support the TNWAC global affairs awareness programs like this one through membership, donation or sponsorship. Visit TNWAC.org for details.

This week in the world:

1 - Covid-19 – What’s going on around the world?

2 – North Korea – Leadership Questions

3 - Israel – pending annexation of parts of the West Bank

4 – China – Wolf Warriors – Aggressive foreign policy

5 – Covid and Art – how staying at home inspires creativity

Your Hosts

Ambassador Charles Bowers (U.S. Foreign Service (Retired))

Charles Richard (Dick) Bowers served as the US Ambassador to Bolivia from 1991 through 1994. During that time, the American Embassy in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, was the largest and most complex U.S. embassy in South America. Ambassador Bowers grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, attended the University of California, Berkeley. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1967. From 1961 to 1964 he served in the U.S. Army as a Russian linguist in West Berlin at the height of the Cold War. As a career member of the U.S. diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bowers served in the U.S. Embassies in Panama, Poland, Singapore, Germany and Bolivia. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1995. Amb Bowers has been a Board Member of the Tennessee World Affairs Council since 2012.

More info here.

LCDR Patrick Ryan, USN(Ret) (President,Tennessee World Affairs Council)

Patrick Ryan is a native of New York City. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and volunteered for submarine duty. He served aboard nuclear fast attack and ballistic missile boats during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1982 he was commissioned and served aboard a cruiser in the Western Pacific before becoming a Navy Intelligence Officer. Ryan served aboard the carrier Constellation in the Pacific, the Joint Staff Intelligence Directorate in the Pentagon, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Intelligence Directorate of U.S. Central Command. Ryan retired from the Navy in 1998 and worked as a consultant on Intelligence Community projects and as the VP/COO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. Ryan ran a newsletter publishing business on international affairs from 1999-2016. He founded the Tennessee World Affairs Council in 2007.

NASHVILLE, APRIL 21: The pandemic crisis has created a “stay at home” reality for students, teleworkers and others. The “Global Engagement” video webinar will offer a week-day, weekly or bi-weekly opportunity to talk about current international events with co-hosts Ambassador Charles Bowers and TNWAC President LCDR Patrick Ryan (USN,Ret). They will run down the week’s current global events and invite your questions and comments during the live webinar. You can participate in future programs via interactive Webinars -- see TNWAC.org. You can support the TNWAC global affairs awareness programs like this one through membership, donation or sponsorship. Visit TNWAC.org for details.

This week in the world:

1 - Covid-19 – What’s going on around the world? (China – US relations getting rockier)

2 – Earth Day/Climate Crisis – looming existential threat off the radar

3 – North Korea – Dear Leader get well card

4 – Immigration Ban

5 – Ramadan – start of the holy month

Subscribe to TNWAC newsletters at the web site (TNWAC.org) and check the site calendar to be kept up to date on “Global Engagement” program schedules.

NASHVILLE, APRIL 21: The Middle East is still there and the Covid-19 pandemic has not made any of the troubles there any better. Let's have a dialogue.

Join us for a tour d'horizon of this important region where Americans serve in harm's way with David DesRoches, retired US Army Colonel and Professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University.

We're pleased to present internationally recognized expert David Des Roches. He is a regular commentator on Voice of America, Sky News, Arabia, France 24, Al Jazeera, Turkish Radio-Television and Al Araby; he is an authority quoted in The New York Times and Washington Post. You won't find anyone more conversant in the Middle East region, a part of the world where American interests continue to be challenged, a part of the world where thousands of men and women in our armed forces are in harm's way every day. Our Zoom Webinar included a briefing by Colonel Des Roches and your questions.

Registration for our Webinar events is free but we ask you to consider making a donation to offset our unanticipated expenses to create video-based programming, and to become a member of the World Affairs Council. www.TNWAC.org. Thanks!