February 17, 2010                                                     

AMHERST, Mass.—Amherst College will host a panel discussion among three alumni in the military or intelligence titled “From Campus to Country: Why We Serve” on Friday, Feb. 26, at 4:30 p.m. in Cole Assembly Room of the college’s Converse Hall.The free and public conversation—which will involve a SEAL, a lieutenant commander of a Navy destroyer and a Central Intelligence Agency analyst—is part of Amherst’s ongoing effort to promote meaningful discussion of the complex issues associated with the nation’s military, as well as honor those who serve.

A member of the college’s Class of 2002, the Navy SEAL has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and serves under Naval Special Warfare Command as a SEAL operator. Lieutenant Commander Ennis Parker ’99 holds the position of combat systems officer in the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer U.S.S. Decatur. The final participating panelist, a member of the Class of 2004, works for the CIA, most recently in the Office of Iraq Analysis.

The event is sponsored by Amherst’s President’s Office. It will be moderated by college president Anthony W. Marx.

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