Admiral Emphasizes Strategies for Ending Narcotics Trafficking

The chapter's October luncheon was held in conjunction with SOUTH 2008, the first annual conference and exposition focused on the critical issues surrounding drugs and the Americas, held in Miami. Booz Allen Hamilton sponsored the luncheon, which featured a keynote speech by Adm. James G. Stavridis, USN, commander, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Adm. Stavridis summarized the panel discussions from the SOUTH 2008 conference, which focused on the challenges and the global impact of drugs and the Americas. He discussed the need to attack the drug problem on multiple fronts and for the U.S. to engage with its partner nations, interagencies and the private sector. Adm. Stavridis outlined how technology helps in this effort, noting in the end, the old-fashioned way works best: "We have to think our way through this problem," he said. "This is a high-speed, brain-on-brain warfare in the 21st century with people who are lethal." Col. Mark Churchwell, USA, director, command, control, communications, computer systems and information, Headquarters SOUTHCOM, and chapter president, thanked Adm. Stavridis. He announced that the chapter had made a contribution in Adm. Stavridis' name to Fisher House, an organization that provides support to members of the military and their families. Additionally, the chapter presented a $2,500 check to Mylo Cheng, one of its 2008 scholarship winners. Cheng is a graduate of Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach, Florida, and currently is enrolled in a dual degree program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and the Wharton Business School. Cheng is one of only 33 students accepted in to the program, which received more than 5,000 applications.

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