HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y. — Middle East security expert Christopher Harmer will be the keynote speaker at the Curtiss Fall Flying Festival Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Glenn Curtiss Museum.
Harmer has a comprehensive understanding of the situation in the Middle East, including the systems of enemy and friendly forces, the population demographics, physical terrain, politics, and history of the area, according to museum officials. He will provide an insider perspective on the complex situation in the Middle East as a whole, as well as the challenges to U.S. objectives in key areas of engagement. He is planning an interactive presentation and welcomes audience questions.
The event begins with cocktails and appetizers at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m., with dessert and the keynote presentation scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person.
Limited free seating is available for those who wish to attend the presentation only at 7:30, but you must reserve a seat in advance. For dinner or presentation-only reservations, call Lynn or Jean at the Glenn Curtiss Museum at 607-569-2150.
Harmer is a Senior Naval Analyst with the Middle East Security Project at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to promote an informed understanding of war and military affairs through comprehensive, independent and accessible open-source research and analysis.
Prior to joining ISW, Harmer served for 20 years as a career officer in the U.S. Navy. He logged approximately 3,500 hours as a Naval Aviator, primarily in the SH-60F/HH-60H helicopter. He also served as the Deputy Director of Future Operations at the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain from February 2008 to May 2009. He has lived in and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East.
Harmer graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in History. He received his Master of Arts in International Relations from Troy University and has also studied at the U.S. Naval War College and the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum celebrates the life and accomplishments of Glenn Curtiss, who is remembered as the father of naval aviation. The museum is home to a collection relating to early aviation, bicycle and motorcycle transportation and local history.