We will hear about the war from both a military and historical perspective, including Putin’s long game and the over-confidence of the Russian military. Meet Brendan Kearney, a San Francisco native and proud graduate of the University of San Francisco, where he earned his BA in Government. With 31 years of dedicated service as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, Brendan has commanded at the Company, Battalion, and Regimental levels. His impressive career culminated as Chief of Staff at Marine Forces Europe, with half of his service spent overseas, including a combat tour in the Persian Gulf during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. During his time in the Marine Corps, Brendan also earned an MS degree from the National War College in National Security Strategy. He was honored with a one-year fellowship in International Security from MIT’s Seminar XXI Program.

Transitioning to the high-tech industry, Brendan specialized in Humanitarian and Disaster Relief. He worked for Sonoma County, administering a Federal Anti-Terrorism Program for Napa, Sonoma, Solano, and Marin Counties. His final role was as the Director of the Living Memorial at the Marines’ Memorial in San Francisco, focusing on Military History and Veteran Programs. Brendan’s commitment to service extends to several civilian board positions, including the Wine Country Marines, the Marines’ Memorial Association, the Knights of St. John, and Devil Pups. Additionally, he consults as a Military-Political Affairs analyst with the local CBS Television and Radio affiliate in the Bay Area, and serves as an analyst for BBC Radio/TV, Turkish Radio & Television, MSNBC, and NBC News. Brendan’s career reflects his dedication to his country, his community, and the people he has served alongside.