GW alumnus and former Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen – the government official who took the lead on the clean up of the BP oil spill this summer – will speak at GW later this month, the University announced Thursday.
Allen will speak in the Jack Morton Auditorium Sept. 24 about his experiences as the national incident commander for the BP oil spill. According to the University, this will be the first time Allen will speak about the oil spill on a college campus.
The University also announced that Allen will teach a course at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration in the spring semester.
”As a lifelong public servant, I value the importance of giving back to our nation,” Allen said in a news release. “I look forward to participating in a discussion regarding the challenges our nation faces in confronting new and complex events and the many risks and responsibilities involved.”
University President Steven Knapp will also present Allen with the University’s Colin Powell Public Service Award, which “recognizes outstanding contributions by members of the GW community to public service.”
Powell – also a GW alumnus – presented the first annual award last year to GW alumna and Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth.
Allen received his master’s of public administration from GW in 1986.
