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When

Thursday, February 8    
11:30 am

Where

The Fess Parker A Doubletree by Hilton Resort
633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103

Event Type

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Held in the Reagan Room.

General William J. Begert will present the “Reality of North Korea” and discuss the situation from the U.S. military perspective. He served as commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, United States Pacific Command, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, with the responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports 55,500 Air Force people serving principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

General Begert graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1968 and served as an instructor and evaluator pilot in C-141, O-2 and C-5 aircraft early in his career. During the Vietnam War, he was assigned as a forward air controller at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, where he flew more than 300 combat missions over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He has more than 875 combat hours. In earlier assignments, General Begert commanded a flying squadron and two Air Force wings. He was Chief of the Mobility Forces Division on the Air Staff. At Scott AFB, Illinois, he served as Chief of Staff as well as Director of Operations and Logistics for Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, and as Inspector General for Headquarters Air Mobility Command. General Begert was the first Commander of U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Warfare Center at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He also served as the Vice Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the air war over Serbia. Prior to becoming PACAF commander, the general was the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Begert retired on August 1, 2004. In 2005, Begert was named Vice President for Military International Programs & Business Development with Pratt & Whitney, Military Engines.

For details and reservation information, visit The Channel City Club.