Sen. Orrin Hatch, Former Homeland Security Sec. Tom Ridge Headline Oct. 10 Bush Foundation Lecture

Senate Finance Committee raking member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) makes closing remarks at the end of a committee hearing about the error-plagued launch of Healthcare.gov in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill November 6, 2013 in Washington, DC. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius faced tough questions from both Republicans and Democrats about people being kicked off their health insurance plans after President Barack Obama's earlier promise that if people liked their current coverage they could keep it under the Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Senate Finance Committee raking member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) makes closing remarks at the end of a committee hearing about the error-plagued launch of Healthcare.gov in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill November 6, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

By Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the George H. W. Bush Foundation Lecture Series by Wells Fargo will present “What’s Next for National Security?” The program will feature Tom Ridge, the first Department of Homeland Security Secretary and former governor of Pennsylvania; Sen. Orrin Hatch via video; and Mark Welsh, dean of the Bush School and former chief of staff of the Air Force. Comments will focus on broad concerns relating to national security.

The event at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at 5:30 p.m. will be co-hosted by the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy and the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs, both part of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Former Governor Tom Ridge speaks onstage during the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation 2016 Ridge Awards at Sheraton Times Square on May 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for FEHSF) — Former Governor Tom Ridge speaks onstage during the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation 2016 Ridge Awards at Sheraton Times Square on May 19, 2016 in New York City. (Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for FEHSF)

“Our nation stands at a pivotal point with regard to the future of national security,” Welsh said. “Governor Ridge will provide expert insight on border issues and the growing insecurity in our world.”

Ridge was the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is the current chairman of Ridge Global, a risk management and security consulting firm. Prior to serving as DHS Secretary, Ridge also served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania and six terms in the House of Representatives. He is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Dean Mark Welsh will join Hatch and Ridge for the “What’s Next for National Security?” discussion.

Sen. Hatch is the senior senator from Utah and the most senior Republican in the Senate. He serves as Senate president pro tempore and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and the Joint Committee on Taxation. His pre-recorded remarks will cover his opinion on key national security issues.

Mark Welsh is the dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service. He previously served as the chief of staff of the Air Force, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, associate director of Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency, and Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy.

Since seating is limited, registration is required at bush.tamu.edu/national security. Please contact the Mosbacher Institute at bushschoolmosbacher@tamu.edu or 979.845.1927 with any questions.

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Media contact: Cynthia Gause, 979-862-8832, cgause@tamu.edu.