St. Joseph, Mo. — Tom Ridge, the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania and first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be the featured speaker at the 22nd R. Dan Boulware Convocation on Critical Issues at Missouri Western State University.

The event will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. The title of his talk is “ISIS: The Growing Threat of Global Terrorism.” The Convocation in the M.O. Looney Complex is free and open to the public.

In addition to the Convocation, Ridge will be the guest of honor at the annual Convocation Luncheon at noon Sept. 15 in the Fulkerson Center. The cost of the lunch is $40, and reservations are requested by Tuesday, Sept. 8. Contact Jenna Stevens at 816-271-5646 or [email protected].

Tom Ridge is the president and CEO of Ridge Global. As the company’s chief executive, Ridge leads a team of international experts that help businesses and governments address a range of needs throughout their organizations, including risk management, global trade security, emergency preparedness and response, strategic growth, infrastructure protection, technology integration, crisis management and other issues that encompass a diverse portfolio. He also serves as a partner at Ridge-Schmidt Cyber, a cybersecurity firm, founded with former White House Cybersecurity Advisor Howard A. Schmidt.

Following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The creation of the country’s 15th Cabinet Department marked the largest reorganization of government since the Truman administration and another call to service for the former soldier, congressman and governor of Pennsylvania.

During his tenure, Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide. Ridge served as Secretary of this historic and critical endeavor until February 1, 2005.

Before the events of September 11th, Ridge was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania. He served as the state’s 43rd governor from 1995 to 2001. Previously, Ridge was elected to Congress in 1982. He was one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and was overwhelmingly re-elected by Pennsylvania voters five times.