Reflections from the State Department

Colonel  F. William Smullen

The World Affairs Council of Maine is eager to start a new year of fascinating and educational programming.The Council’s first program of the fall takes place on September 10th and will feature Colonel F. William Smullen III in a presentation entitled “Reflections from the State Department: Unprecedented Times-Unparalleled Importance.” Colonel Smullen will draw from his real life experiences both working on the ground as a United States soldier and later as the executive assistant to General Colin Powell. In his presentation, Colonel Smullen will identify regional hot spots and issue-oriented flashpoints around the globe. He will then address how each example forecasts a shift in the balance of global power, international prestige, and wealth. Our 44th President is faced by numerous, highly volatile international relationships that could quickly transform into global crisis. Colonel Smullen’s discussion will suggest a grand strategy for preventing global anarchy, by identifying vital interests, available resources, achievable objectives and established policies that can advance America’s ideals.

A professional soldier for 30 years, Colonel Smullen retired from the U.S. Army in 1993. His military career included a series of infantry and command and staff assignments at the platoon, company, battalion, brigade and division levels, as well as several public affairs positions including Media Relations Officer at West Point and Chief of Media Relations for the Department of the Army. Overseas Army tours took him to Korea, Panama and twice to Vietnam. His military citations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist’s Badge.

Bill Smullen was appointed as the Director of National Security Studies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in June of 2003. He is also Maxwell’s Senior Fellow in National Security and a member of the faculty of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as a Professor of Public Relations. Prior to his appointment at Syracuse University, he was the Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and of the U.S. Department of State beginning in January 2001. As principal advisor to the Secretary, he was responsible for monitoring and evaluating the formulation and implementation of departmental policies. He was also involved in the planning and development of concept strategy associated with foreign policy matters.

Among his career accomplishments, he has been elected to Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications Hall of Fame, the University of Maine ROTC Hall of Fame, and was chosen as the recipient of the University of Maine 2007 Alumni Career Award, which is the highest honor presented by the University of Maine Alumni Association. He received the 2007 Public Relations Society of America’s Lloyd B. Dennis Distinguished Leadership Award. In 2005, he was named to Strathmore’s “Who’s Who,” as one who has demonstrated leadership and achievement in his occupation and profession.