Select a name from the alphabetical listing drop down menu to view a photo and biography of confirmed speakers for the 2009 URW Symposium.

URW 2009 Speakers
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  Bernd "Bear" McConnell
  NORAD/USNORTHCOM
 

Mr. Bernd (Bear) McConnell, a member of the career Senior Executive Service, leads the dual command Interagency Coordination Directorate for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command headquartered at Peterson AForce Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

As Interagency Coordination Director, Mr. McConnell coordinates DoD operational activities with multiple national, state, local, tribal, international, nongovernmental, and private sector agencies to ensure mutual understanding and unity of effort in pursuit of the Commands’ dual missions of Homeland Defense and support to civil authorities. Previously, Mr. McConnell was the Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance in the Agency for International Development. Prior to that assignment, he was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Bear McConnell served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 26 years, including overseas service in the United Kingdom, South East Asia, and South Africa. An instructor pilot, operations director, professor and several times a commander, he completed service as a Colonel. A career civil servant since 1993, Mr. McConnell has extensive interagency security policy and humanitarian experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Mr. McConnell is a Naval Academy graduate, and holds a Masters of Science from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the 39th State Department Senior Seminar and attended the Harvard Senior Leader Security Program. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Secretary of Defense Award for Meritorious Civilian Service, and the Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Civilian Service.