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Admiral Blair, former head of Pacific Command, to discuss relations with China

Adm. Dennis Blair, former head of the Pacific Command in charge of all American forces in the region (1999-2002), will share his experiences and speak to the larger question of "China--Ally or Adversary?" on Feb. 7 at UNC-Chapel Hill. His presentation as the Frey Foundation Distinguished Visiting Professor will be at 2 p.m. in room 104 of Peabody Hall. The lecture and discussion are open to the public.

Blair retired last summer as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Command. As senior U.S. military commander of the region, he directed Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force operations in an area that spans more than 100 million square miles. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a Rhodes Scholar, during the 1990s he assisted the Secretary of Defense in reviewing American defense policy, commanded an aircraft carrier battle group, and was staff director of the Joint Staff for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was directly or indirectly involved in most of the major decisions in U.S. defense policy and interventions overseas. In his years as the Pacific commander, he participated in decisions relating to U.S. relations with China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and other Asian and Pacific countries.

The Frey Foundation Distinguished Visiting Professorship was established in 1989 to bring to campus leaders from a variety of fields such as government, diplomacy, military service, and public policy. The Frey Foundation was established in 1974 by Edward J. and Frances Frey of Grand Rapids, Mich. Their son, David Gardner Frey, a Carolina alumnus, is vice chairman of the Frey Foundation and a longtime supporter of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Contact: Dee Reid, (919) 843-6339.