Panetta Lectures Feature National Leaders and Policy Thinkers

“This is our country at its best – thinking out loud, comparing ideas, caring about our nation and the world.”

Lecture attendee
Topsy N. Smalley

“[The lecture series] enriches all of our lives and sets the stage for generations to come to be engaged in public policy locally and beyond.”

Lecture attendee
Janet Perlmutter Lesniak

Each year the Panetta Institute hosts a highly acclaimed lecture series, bringing national leaders, policy experts and journalists to the Monterey Peninsula. They speak before an evening theater audience in a forum that is also broadcast live. During that afternoon the speakers meet with students from the Central Coast area high schools, colleges and military installations.

To see a timeline of past speakers, click here.

Below are the dates and speakers for the 2012 series. If you would like information about tickets for the series call the Panetta Institute at 831-582-4200.

The theme for the Panetta Institute 2012 Lecture Series is “Revolutions of the 21st Century: Changing Our Way of Life”

Speakers and dates for the series are as follows:*

Monday, March 19, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Discussing foreign policy will be Dennis Ross, Ziegler distinguished fellow, The Washington Institute, former special assistant to President Obama on Iran, and former National Security Council senior director and Fran Townsend, national security issues contributor for CNN, consultant on global strategic engagement and former assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, and former CNN Washington bureau chief will moderate.
Monday, April 9, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Discussing the economy will be Robert Reich, professor, author, advisor to presidents and former Secretary of Labor and Alan Simpson, co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and former U.S. Senator. Ron Insana, CNBC senior analyst and financial industry expert will moderate.
Monday, May 7, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Discussing the presidency will be Michael Beschloss, award-winning historian and best-selling author and Douglas Brinkley, American historian and history commentator at CBS News. Judy Woodruff, co-anchor and senior correspondent of PBS NewsHour, will moderate.
Monday, May 28, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Discussing the Internet will be Vinton Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google. A second speaker is to be announced. Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University, and former CNN Washington bureau chief will moderate.