[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/faulkner-university-president-mitch-henry-announces-2026-benefit-dinner-speakers\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/faulkner-university-president-mitch-henry-announces-2026-benefit-dinner-speakers\/","headline":"Faulkner University President Mitch Henry Announces 2026 Benefit Dinner Speakers","name":"Faulkner University President Mitch Henry Announces 2026 Benefit Dinner Speakers","description":"Faulkner University President Mitch Henry announced the speakers for the 2026 Annual Benefit Dinner will feature two internationally recognized leaders in national security and global affairs: former CIA Director and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Chief of the United Kingdom\u2019s Secret…","datePublished":"2026-05-07","dateModified":"2026-05-07","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/#Person","name":"Rebecca Burylo","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/author\/rburylo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/37a0c97fbd1eda89e38697defcaf0573?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Faulkner University","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Official-Horizontal-480x128.png","width":480,"height":128}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Faulkner-Campus-Screens.png","url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Faulkner-Campus-Screens.png","height":1080,"width":1920},"url":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/faulkner-university-president-mitch-henry-announces-2026-benefit-dinner-speakers\/","about":["Community","Donor","Highlights","News"],"wordCount":432,"articleBody":"Faulkner University President Mitch Henry announced the speakers for the 2026 Annual Benefit Dinner will feature two internationally recognized leaders in national security and global affairs: former CIA Director and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Chief of the United Kingdom\u2019s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, Sir Richard Moore.The Benefit Dinner is set for\u00a0Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Renaissance Convention Center in downtown Montgomery. Purchase tickets here- https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/2026-benefit-dinner\/. The evening will center on a timely discussion addressing the intersection of national security, technological disruption and global economic resilience. As geopolitical instability, cyber warfare and rapid advances in artificial intelligence continue to reshape the global landscape, businesses and governments are confronting a new era of both vulnerability and opportunity.Pompeo and Moore will examine how artificial intelligence is transforming espionage, cyber threats, critical infrastructure protection and strategic competition among the world\u2019s major powers. They will also explore the implications for corporate America, including data security, supply chain risk, misinformation and intellectual property protection, as well as the broader responsibility of business leaders to safeguard their organizations, employees and stakeholders.The conversation is expected to provide a rare look at how evolving global security challenges will shape the future of governments, international stability and the resilience of American business.Pompeo served as the 70th U.S. secretary of state and director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He previously represented Kansas\u2019 4th Congressional District for four terms. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he finished first in his class, Pompeo served as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army before earning a law degree from Harvard Law School. He later led manufacturing businesses in Kansas before entering public service.Moore served as chief of MI6 from 2020 to 2025, concluding a 40-year career in intelligence, diplomacy and national security. During his tenure, he refocused the agency on human intelligence while advancing modernization efforts and strengthening partnerships with global intelligence and technology leaders. He currently serves as senior strategist to Sixth Street, senior advisor to Teneo and holds advisory roles with several international organizations.Faulkner University\u2019s Annual Benefit Dinner is a longstanding tradition and a prominent event for Montgomery and the River Region. Each year, the university hosts nationally recognized speakers, including U.S. presidents, heads of state, policymakers, athletes, astronauts and journalists.Proceeds from the event support student scholarships, helping expand educational opportunities and invest in future leaders.Tickets for the event are available by calling 334-386-7257 or by visiting www.Faulkner.edu."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Faulkner University President Mitch Henry Announces 2026 Benefit Dinner Speakers","item":"https:\/\/www.faulkner.edu\/news\/faulkner-university-president-mitch-henry-announces-2026-benefit-dinner-speakers\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]