A Conversation with John Kirby: Marking the One-Year Anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Ahead of President Biden’s trip to Poland next week, John Kirby will mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a conversation with Georgetown students. Hear about U.S. and Allied priorities and strategy from a key White House official as the second year of this unprovoked war begins.
Space for this event is limited. You will receive an email confirmation if you are selected to attend.
Speaker Bio:
John F. Kirby currently serves as the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House. In this role, Kirby coordinates interagency efforts to explain U.S. policy and serves as a senior administration voice on related matters, including briefing regularly at the White House podium. Previously, he served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, where he advised Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on public communications and community engagement. He also served as the Department’s chief spokesperson.
Prior to joining the Biden administration, Kirby was an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a military and diplomatic analyst at CNN. Kirby previously served at the Department of State, as the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs from December 2015 to January 2017 and as the State Department’s spokesperson from May 2015 to January 2017.
Prior to the State Department, Kirby served as the Pentagon Press Secretary under Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, the first uniformed officer to hold the position of chief spokesman for the Department of Defense.
Kirby commissioned in the U.S. Navy in September 1986 after completing Officer Candidate School at Newport, R.I. He served in uniform for more than 28 years, before retiring in 2015 at the rank of Rear Admiral. His naval career included duty at sea and ashore, including deployments to the Middle East and Mediterranean. His last Navy posting was as Chief of Navy Information, where he served as the principal spokesman for the Department of the Navy.