2024-2025 Program
November 4, 2024
General Stephen N. Whiting
Commander, U.S. Space Command, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
As the Commander of U.S. Space Command, General Whiting is responsible for defending U.S. and Allied interest in the space domain while providing space-enabled combat effects to joint warfighters around the globe. He exercises combatant command authority over Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airman and Guardians operating ground and space-based systems around the world.
Read more about General Whiting
Dinner Menu for November 4:
Soup Course:
Butternut Squash (Milk, Vegetarian), Cranberry Coulis, Toasted Pumpkin Seed.
Main Course:
Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib, Sweet Potato Cake, Charred Brussel Sprouts, Smoked Bacon, Apple Chutney & Cider Scented Beef Jus (Milk, Egg).
Salmon Option:
Basil Parmesan Crusted Verlasso Salmon With Herb & Parmesan Spaghetti, Squash, Green Bean Bundle & Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce.
Vegetarian & Vegan Option:
Roasted Cauliflower Steak (Vegetarian, Tree Nuts). Garden Herb Chimichurri, Toasted Almond Quinoa, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Grilled Scallions Roasted Garlic, Grilled Lemon.
Dessert:
Mixed Berry Upside Down Cake (Milk, Egg, Wheat). Vanilla Pound Cake, Brown Sugar Glaze, Fresh Blackberries, Colorado Honey Syrup.
January 9, 2025
“Artificial intelligence, disinformation, deepfakes and the complex legal terrain, a new era of business risk”
Shawn Murray
President and CAO at Murray Security Services and was previously assigned to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency as a Senior Cybersecurity Professional.
Read more about Shawn Murray
February 26, 2025
Lance Izumi, J.D.
Senior Director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute. He has written and produced books, studies, and films on a wide variety of education topics. Most recently, he is the author of the 2023 book The Great Parent Revolt: How Parents and Grassroots Leaders Are Fighting Critical Race Theory in America’s Schools and the 2022 book The Homeschool Boom: Pandemic, Policies and Possibilities.
Read more about Lance Izumi
March 20, 2025
Jeff Crank, 
Colorado’s 5th Congressional District Representative
Elected in 2024, Congressman Jeff Crank proudly represents Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jeff, a native Coloradan, was born and raised in southern Colorado. His mother was a teacher’s aide at Goodnight Elementary School in Pueblo. Jeff’s father was a World War II Navy veteran who fought in the Pacific Theater and was at the Battle of Okinawa, and later was a manager for the Pershing II missile program at the Pueblo Army Depot.
After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Political Science, Jeff worked in Washington, D.C. for Representative Joel Hefley from 1991 to 1998, where he focused on military issues and served as the Administrative Director. During this time, Jeff helped author several pieces of legislation, including the Military Family Housing Privatization Act, which privatized hundreds of thousands of housing units at over fifty military installations, providing better quality housing for our military and their families.
Jeff then moved back home to Colorado to serve as the Vice President for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, later becoming the Senior Vice President. He later worked as Chief Operating Officer at Americans for Prosperity and as the president of his own real estate investment company. Jeff also has a background in broadcasting, having hosted both the The Jeff Crank Show in Colorado and the award-winning American Potential Podcast.
Jeff met his wife, Lisa, while they were both attending Colorado State University. They have been together for over three decades and have two children, Joel and Jessica.
In his spare time, Jeff enjoys pheasant and big game hunting throughout the western United States, often alongside his favorite hunting partners – his children.
