Auburn University panel to feature U.S. Rep. Martha Roby and Gen. Lloyd Austin in discussion on Middle East, ISIS

Published: November 04, 2015

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Auburn University will host a forum on developments in the Middle East with U.S. Rep. Martha Roby and Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, as panelists on Friday, Nov. 13, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The "Forum on World Affairs: a Discussion on the U.S. Role in the Middle East" will cover topics such as the balance of diplomacy and military force in that region; military restructuring and budget constraints; the roles of U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM; the ISIS threat; and the U.S. response to Russian actions in Syria.

Roby is serving her third term representing Alabama's 2nd District and is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations. Austin has served as commander of U.S. Central Command since March 2013. CENTCOM's area of responsibility covers 20 countries in the Middle East. Austin is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a master's degree in education from Auburn.

Retired Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess will serve as moderator. He is Auburn University's senior counsel for national security programs, cyber programs and military affairs.

The event will be shown live through Auburn University's account on the Periscope app and the public is invited to submit questions for possible inclusion in the panel discussion through Twitter at #AUWorldAffairs by noon Nov. 10.

The event is sponsored in conjunction with Auburn's College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Political Science.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.