Students in the Global Studies program welcomed Rear Admiral Terence E. McKnight as their guest speaker for an after-school discussion. Admiral McKnight shared his experiences commanding a multinational anti-piracy task force off the coast of Somalia beginning in 2007. He provided insights into the causes and costs of piracy, and the different approaches the U.S. Navy has undertaken to deter and prevent this international crime.
The students asked questions about his personal experiences with pirates and also working with naval crews from around the world. Many had seen the recent motion picture, Captain Phillips, and he was able to draw parallels to the film, helping the students visualize conditions and situations in the Gulf of Aden.
Admiral McKnight is the author of Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 off Somalia. At the end of the discussion, he signed a copy of the book to add to the Bishop O’Connell library.
Read more about Admiral McKnight at admiralandthepirates.com.