UND LEADS: Broad Perspectives on National Security
Join us for our speaker series focusing on key topics of national security.
Each fall and spring semester, UND invites a prominent, national expert to speak at an event hosted by President Andrew Armacost. The fall event is held on the UND campus in Grand Forks, N.D., and the spring event in Washington, D.C. This series serves as a complement to the University’s National Security Initiative, which focuses on research and educating tomorrow’s workforce leaders in national security.
Spring 2026
John McNiff, Vice President and General Manager for Iridium
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
About John McNiff
John McNiff is the Vice President and General Manager at Iridium Communications Inc., where he leads the company’s support efforts for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA). He assumed the role on February 5, 2024.
Spring 2025
Lt. Gen. Spain
UND President Andrew Armacost with Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
2025 Defense Communities National Summit
Arlington, VA
About U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain
Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He leads the development and implementation of policy directly supporting global operations, force management, training and readiness for the Air Force and serves as the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Air Force Chief of Staff.
Lt. Gen. Spain entered the Air Force in 1994 through the ROTC program, graduating from Villanova University. He has spent the majority of his career in aviation and command assignments accumulating more than 2,150 flight hours, deploying and serving in joint positions extensively. Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Spain was the Director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
Fall 2024 - General Robinson
On Sept. 27, 2024, USAF Gen. Lori J. Robinson lead off the UND discussion series with UND President Andrew Armacost. Gen. Robinson is the the first woman to lead a U.S. combatant command and the former commander of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Gen. Lori J. Robinson
Gen. Robinson has had a historic career. After first being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 1981, she rose through the ranks of the Air Force to become a Brigadier General in July 2008. She ascended the ranks again ultimately attaining the rank of General in October 2014.
Gen. Robinson was among 13 women featured in a 2016 Time Magazine article about the world’s most influential women, and has been featured in multiple other publications.
Gen. Robinson is the former commander of USNORTHCOM, which made her the first woman in U.S. history to lead a combatant command. There are 11 combatant commands that the U.S. military administers. USNORTHCOM conducts all military matters in North America and assists non-military entities in times of need. While commander of USNORTHCOM, Gen. Robinson also simultaneously led the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Media
Media wishing to attend may contact:
David Dodds
Director of Communication
david.dodds@UND.edu
701.777.5529
Contact
For general event questions, please email UND.eventrsvp@UND.edu.