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As the nation marks 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania — and reflects during the United States’ 250th anniversary — Ģ������Ƶ’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will present a public panel featuring firsthand accounts from that day.

The discussion will take place Friday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. in the Larson Memorial Concert Hall of the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Twenty-five years later, Sept. 11 remains a defining moment in American history. That history was shaped by those who were there, from the first responders and military personnel responding to the journalists documenting the events as they unfolded. This panel offers a unique opportunity to hear those experiences directly and reflect on how those experiences continue to shape Americans today.

“In those terrible days of fall 2001, the nation made a commitment to never forget the people and events of 9/11,” College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dean David C. Earnest said. “SDSU’s remembrance this fall honors that commitment. We are pleased to bring the community together to reflect and remember.”

This panel features three individuals whose careers placed them at different points in the response to 9/11: a former FBI agent involved in counterterrorism and emergency response, an award-winning journalist who covered the attacks and their aftermath, and a senior Air National Guard officer who served in the military response following the attacks.

Meet the speakers

John Richards is a security professional and public safety leader with more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement, emergency management and national security. He spent 23 years as an FBI agent, specializing in counterterrorism, counterintelligence, critical incident response and special operations. Before joining the FBI, Richards served in the U.S. Air Force, where he worked in defense intelligence, and spent 12 years as a firefighter, rescue diver, hazmat operator and EMT. He currently serves as facility security officer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

JJ Sutherland spent more than a decade at NPR as an award-winning correspondent and producer. On Sept. 11, 2001, he produced NPR's continuing coverage of the attacks and their aftermath. He went on to cover the wars that followed as Baghdad bureau chief, Pentagon correspondent and a reporter in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Libya and Egypt. His work earned multiple Peabody, duPont-Columbia and Edward R. Murrow awards. Today, Sutherland is CEO of Scrum Inc. and advises senior leaders on organizational performance under pressure.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jeffrey R. Johnson is a leadership adviser, speaker, author and retired U.S. Air Force officer with more than four decades of military and private-sector leadership experience. During his Air Force career, he served in senior command positions, culminating in his promotion to brigadier general. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, Johnson served as chief of the Master Air Attack Planning Cell for Operation Enduring Freedom at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He currently serves as president of Black Diamond Group, advising organizations on leadership, culture, trust and strategic decision-making.

This event features firsthand eyewitness accounts of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. These accounts may include content that some attendees may find unsettling, including graphic or emotionally distressing descriptions of that day. The event may not be suitable for children. When considering attending, we encourage patrons to prioritize their well-being and that of their loved ones.
 
Reserve your seat today or by calling 605-688-6045.