Embry-Riddle Speaker Series Kicks Off Sept. 12 with Author David McCullough

Each 90-minute Speaker Series event is free, open to the public and will be held in the Willie Miller Instructional Center auditorium on Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd. All events begin at 7 p.m. with seating available beginning at 6 p.m. Overflow viewing rooms will be available with open seating. Click here for a map of the campus.

Monday, Sept. 12
Author David McCullough and the Story-Behind-the-Story About the Wright Brothers

David McCullough will talk about his No.1 New York Times bestseller – The Wright Brothers – the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, who taught the world how to fly.

McCullough is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award. McCullough's two Pulitzer Prize-winning books, Truman and John Adams, have been adapted by HBO into a TV film and a miniseries, respectively. 

Among his other books are The Great Bridge, about the Brooklyn Bridge, and The Johnstown Flood.

McCullough narrated the film Seabiscuit as well as numerous documentaries, including The Civil War by Ken Burns, and hosted American Experience on PBS for 12 years.

Wednesday, Sept. 28
From Left to Right in Decision 2016 with Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson

With less than two months to go before the presidential election, Marc Bernier talks with Paul Begala from CNN and Tucker Carlson from Fox News.

Begala is a Democratic strategist who serves as a political contributor for CNN, appearing frequently on CNN's The Situation Room as well as other programs on all CNN networks. Carlson is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Caller website, and a host of the Fox & Friends weekend show.

Monday, Oct. 10 
Cyber Security: What’s Next for You? With Gary Kessler, Remzi Seker and Glenn Dardick

From identity theft and fraud to corporate hacking attacks, cybersecurity has never been more important for businesses, organizations, governments and individuals. Hacking experts warn there are many more security risks ahead as cyber criminals become more sophisticated. While traditional cybercrime such as Internet password fraud continues to be widespread, larger scale espionage attacks and hacking the Internet of Things will also be risks. Marc Bernier will go in depth with three cybersecurity experts from Embry-Riddle on how your computer, your bank and even your automobile could be at risk.

Dr. Gary Kessler is a Professor of Cybersecurity and Chair of the Security Studies & International Affairs Dept. at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus.

Dr. Glenn Dardick is an Associate Professor in the Security Studies & International Affairs Dept. and the Master’s Program Coordinator for Cybersecurity Management at Embry-Riddle.

Dr. Remzi Seker is a Professor of Computer Science and the Director of the Cybersecurity & Assured Systems Engineering Center at Embry-Riddle. Seker, Kessler and Dardick collaborated to have Embry-Riddle designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Monday, Oct. 24
America’s Foreign Policy Challenges with Luis Fleischman of Florida Atlantic University

Dr. Luis Fleischman is an Adjunct Professor of Sociology and Political Science at Florida Atlantic University’s Honors College and the FAU Lifelong Learning Society. He has worked for more than two decades for the Jewish Federations of Palm Beach County in Florida and Central New Jersey as executive director for community and political relations. In that capacity, Fleischman has focused on issues related to the Middle East and national security, serving as a liaison between these organizations and members of Congress, foreign consuls, the media and the local community.

Monday, Oct. 31
The Mars Experience

The Red Planet will take center stage with music and discussion, featuring the Embry-Riddle Pep Band; Dr. Jason Aufdenberg, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy at Embry-Riddle; and the Rev. David Keck, Embry-Riddle chaplain.

Wednesday, Nov. 9
From Left to Right in Decision 2016 with Ellen Ratner and John LeBoutillier

Fox News analyst Ellen Ratner on the left and former congressional representative, now Fox political analyst John LeBoutillier on the right will discuss this political season’s epic presidential race and congressional elections on the night after the national vote.

Ratner is the White House correspondent and bureau chief for the Talk Media News service as well as Washington bureau chief and political editor of Talkers Magazine. LeBoutillier is a nationally recognized political commentator and regular guest on the Marc Bernier radio program. In 1980, he was elected to represent New York’s Sixth District, becoming the youngest member of the 97th Congress.

Monday, Nov. 21 
Florida and Daytona Beach History with Dr. James Clark of the University of Central Florida and Mark Lane of the Daytona Beach News-Journal

The Sarasota Herald Tribune has said of Dr. James Clark that he “knows a lot of oddball stories about how Florida turned out the way it did because of scheming, stupidity or happenstance.” Clark is the former editor of Orlando Magazine. He now teaches history at the University of Central Florida and is the author of several books, including A Concise History of Florida; The Pineapple Anthology of Florida Writers (Volumes 1 & 2); Presidents in Florida: How the Presidents Have Shaped Florida and How Florida Has Influenced the Presidents; and Red Pepper and Gorgeous George. 

Mark Lane has been telling stories of the Daytona Beach area in columns, commentary and news stories in the Daytona Beach News-Journal since 1980. He is the author of two books, Legendary Locals of Daytona Beach and Sandspurs: Notes from a Coastal Columnist. Lane has received numerous honors for his work, including three National Society of Newspaper Columnists awards, seven citations from the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, five Sunshine State Awards, four Florida Press Club awards and the FEA Media Excellence Award.

Marc Bernier is the moderator of Embry-Riddle's long-running Speakers Series. Marc is also in his 25th year as host of The Marc Bernier Show Monday through Friday 3 to 6 p.m. on 1150AM WNDB in Daytona Beach. His wide-ranging discussions touch on politics, business and economic development, law, social and family issues, and sports. In radio and television for 41 years, Marc has amassed almost 25,000 interviews, broadcast more than 80 times from Washington, D.C., and appeared on C-SPAN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN.

All Speakers Series events can be heard on a tape-delayed basis on WNDB on The Marc Bernier Show on select weekday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m. and subsequent BookMarc radio presentations on Saturdays at 9 a.m. Videos of all Speaker Series programs can be seen on Embry-Riddle’s YouTube channel a few days after the event.

The media are invited to photograph/videotape all Speaker Series events. For more information, call Marc Bernier at (386) 226-7285.

MEDIA CONTACT: James Roddey, Communications and Media Relations Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Office: (386) 226-6198; james.roddey@erau.edu