The Towson University Journal of International Affairs is honored to host Major General Janeen Birckhead in the 12th presentation of the Eric A. Belgrad Speaker Series on Monday, April 15th from 6:00-8:00pm in LA 4310. The topic of General Birckhead’s lecture is:

 “Power and Promise of International Partnership“

Major General Birckhead will discuss U.S international partnerships and their implications on U.S foreign policy from the perspective of her own military and professional experience. Some potential thematic topics include Bosnia Herzegovina and Estonia and their partnerships with the Maryland National Guard, Joint Security Operations in Afghanistan, Armed conflicts in the Middle East, Israel and Palestine, Ukraine, and rising tensions in Serbia and Kosovo. Additionally, Major General Birckhead may address civil-military relations within her career, conflicts between public perception and government decision making, and the contingency of military strategy upon Congressional action.

Major General Janeen Birckhead’s Biography 

On April 7th, 2023, became the 31st Adjutant General of Maryland. She served in many prestigious positions prior to her appointment, including as the Commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Maryland National Guard, a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, and as a Special Agent in Charge for the Defense Security Service. She graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s in political science through the Reserve Officers Training Corps with military distinction, and went on to earn her master’s in management from the University of Maryland. Additionally, she was deployed as the Deputy, Current Operations, Security Partnering, and International Security Assistance Force to Kabul, Afghanistan. Some of Major General Birkhead’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the National Defense Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

INFORMATION ABOUT PARKING

The best place to park for this event is the Towsontown Garage, which is located on University Avenue just off Towsontown Boulevard. If you are coming from Bosley Avenue or West Burke Avenue, the garage will be on your left. If you are coming from North Charles Street, the garage will be on your right. Once you enter the garage through the commuter entrance to the left, you will need to purchase a visitor permit at the paystation as soon as you enter on the right. The paystation is used as follows:

Push any button on the paystation to begin. Paystation accepts cash in the amount of $10, $5, $1, quarters and nickels (dimes and pennies are not accepted) and no change/refund is given. Debit/Credits cards are also accepted. Place the ticket from the paystation, face up on the dash of the vehicle. There are free 5 minute spaces to use in order to retrieve the permit from the paystation.

The visitor parking rate is $3 an hour, but after 3:30 PM, visitors also have the option to pay $5 to park for the rest of the day. Once you have a visitor permit, you must park in the designated visitor spots on the ramp leading up to floor 2 of the garage. They will be designated with these signs:

 

After you have parked, walk up the ramp and take the main walkway into the College of Liberal Arts. You should be seeing this entrance:

Once you have entered the building, take a left turn and walk to the elevators across from Room 2310. Take them to the 4th floor, and you will end up right outside Room 4310.