Some national security heavy hitters are expected to speak this week at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, including former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Panetta, who is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, served as the leader of the Pentagon from July 2011 to February 2013 under President Obama, overlapping with part of Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state. He was the director of the Central Intelligence Agency during the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
Panetta is best remembered for enacting some of the most significant personnel reform in the military, including the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that allowed gay and lesbian troops to serve openly and the announcement before leaving office that women would be allowed to serve in all combat positions.
Retired Rear Adm. John Hutson, who formerly served as the Navy’s top lawyer, will also speak on Wednesday. He spent his career speaking out against abuse of prisoners at military facilities, including Abu Ghraib, and was supportive of Obama’s promise to close Guantanamo Bay. He also spoke in support of Obama during the 2008 Democratic convention.
Hutson had harsh words for Donald Trump this year after the GOP nominee questioned Sen. John McCain’s service and time as a prisoner of war.
“Personally, I hope no one will be called upon to serve under a President T… I can’t bring myself to type the words,” Hutson told the Daily Beast.
Retired Marine Gen. John Allen is expected to speak on Thursday, the same night as Clinton herself. Allen served as the top commander of American and international troops in Afghanistan from July 2011 to February 2013. After leaving the military, Allen was appointed as the first special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter the Islamic State.
Clinton is also highlighting her commitment to the families of fallen service members, including her work as a senator to increase the amount families receive after a troops’ death from $12,000 to $100,000. Jamie Dorff, whose husband Patrick was killed during a helicopter search-and-rescue mission in northern Iraq, will speak on Wednesday, according to the convention’s schedule.
Khizr Khan, whose son enlisted in the Army and was one of 14 American Muslims who have died in combat since 9/11, will also speak on Thursday.
Last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland kicked off with a day focused on national security to “make America safe again.” Some of the speakers included former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ask., and Pat Smith, the mother of an information officer killed during the Benghazi attack.
