U.S. Army Ranger to Share Real-Life Events from Black Hawk Down at Veterans Appreciation Day, April 16

Hosted by President P. Barry Butler and Dr. Audrey Butler, the ceremony is open to all veterans in our community and celebrates their service and sacrifice while in uniform. A complimentary lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the ceremony. Seating is limited. Contact Embry-Riddle’s Veterans Student Services for more information at 386-226-6350.

That evening at 7 p.m., McKnight will also share his experiences with moderator and SpeakER Series Director Marc Bernier at the Willie Miller Instructional Center, Lemerand Auditorium. McKnight will focus on the commitment and leadership required to be successful when executing operations in the most difficult and severe situations. Author of Streets of Mogadishu: Leadership at its Best, Political Correctness at its Worst!, McKnight will be available for a book signing following the discussion.

McKnight, who retired in January 2002 after 28 years as a highly decorated U.S. Army Ranger, was commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. The special forces team was on mission against a Somali militia that turned into the deadly Battle of Mogadishu.

McKnight’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Star, and the Pathfinder Badge. After retiring from service, McKnight, who has a master’s degree in Higher Education and Administration from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s in Management from Florida State University, returned to Florida, serving in two Homeland Security-related positions. He now focuses his efforts as a nationwide motivational speaker.

All SpeakER Series events begin at 7 p.m. with seating available starting at 6 p.m. Events can be heard on a tape delayed basis on WNDB on "The Marc Bernier Show", selected weekday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m. and subsequent BookMarc radio presentations, Saturdays at 9 a.m. Videos of all SpeakER Series programs also can be seen on Embry-Riddle’s YouTube channel a few days after the event.