Evening Speaker Series: Hazel O’Leary

The Department of Energy's Role in National Security

Hazel Reid O’Leary, Former Secretary of Energy and President of Fisk University

Hazel O’Leary is a former Secretary of Energy, business leader, and university president with a lengthy and distinguished career in government, academia, and the private sector.  While Energy Secretary, she provided visibility into past nuclear fuel production and nuclear testing as well as radiation experiments using human subjects.  She also stimulated the nuclear weapons complex’s efforts to ensure weapon safety and reliability using state of the art technology vs. live weapon testing.  This allowed the U.S. to enter into a mutual test ban agreement with the former Soviet Union while ensuring the readiness of and providing confidence in the U.S. weapon inventory.

As a corporate leader Hazel O’Leary gained international respect for her understanding of competitive markets, international trade, and the siting of strategic projects using risk management tools.  She has managed teams developing large scale private sector energy projects from conception through regulatory approval and construction, helped shape national decisions on nuclear waste management issues in the private sector, and encouraged the development of a national long-term storage facility for civilian nuclear waste.

As an educator and President of Fisk University, her Alma Mater, she successfully negotiated a $30 million funding deal in her first year that helped save the University from imminent closure and continue as a highly ranked liberal arts institution noted for its STEM research and education programs.  As a result, Fisk University graduates more African American PhD students in physics than any other historically black university.

The 2018 WACHH Winter-Spring Evening Speaker Series features four respected experts who will focus on Evolving Threats to US Security. The series is open to the public and WACHH members. It is held January through April 2018, at the Country Club of Hilton Head. The 4-part series subscription fee of $80.00 includes hors d’oeuvres, coffee, soft drinks, and a cash bar. Single event subscriptions are available for $25 per person per event. Welcoming reception begins at 5:15 p.m. with presentation and discussion from 6:00-7:15. Sign up will begin in November.

You may subscribe to all four events for $80 or make reservations for single sessions at $25 each event.