A brief history of the Jannetta Lecture Series at USAFA amid Rekdal cancellation
U.S. Air Force Academy, Rayna Grace
The Jannetta Lecture Series, endowed by Air Force Academy graduate David Jannetta, brings in “respected writers and artists who have contributed to our understanding of war,” according to the academy’s website.
Air Force Academy officials canceled the annual fall lecture because the speaker, Paisley Rekdal, disparaged President Donald Trump online, prompting a harsh critique Tuesday from the donor, Jannetta.
Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, author of "Things to Pack When You’re Bound for Baghdad," spoke at the lecture series in 2024.
Rekdal is a University of Utah professor.
Past lectures have included:
Sept. 16, 2024 — Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost, author of “Things to Pack When You’re Bound for Baghdad”
Sept. 13, 2023 — Luke Mogelson, author of “The Storm is Here: America on the Brink”
Sept. 7, 2022 — Poets Brian Turner and Dunya Mikhail
Air Force Academy cancels lecture after discovering speaker disparaged Trump
Sept. 8, 2021 — Elliott Ackerman, author of “Places and Names”
Sept. 10, 2019 — Dan O’Brien, author of “The Body of an American”
Sept. 19, 2018 — Suzan-Lori Parks, author of “Father Comes Home from the Wars” (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
Sept. 12, 2017 — Sara Novć, author of “Girl at War”
Sep. 13, 2016 — Alex Kershaw, author of “The Liberator”
Sept. 8, 2015 — Brian Turner, author of “My Life as a Foreign Country”
Sept. 9, 2014 — Roxana Robinson, author of “Sparta”
Sept. 10, 2013 — Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn’s “Long Halftime Walk”
Sept. 12, 2012 — Doug Stanton, author of “Horse Soldiers”
Sept. 13, 2011 — Mark Bowden, author of “Blackhawk Down”
Sept. 14, 2010 — Benjamin Busch, actor, writer, film maker and photographer
Oct. 13, 2009 — John Balaban, author of 12 books of poetry and prose
April 30, 2009 — Brian Turner, author of “Here Bullet”
April 3, 2008 — Tobias Wolff, author of “In Pharaoh’s Army”
Academy alumnus David Jannetta started funding the series in 2008 to bring in writers and artists that have contributed to the understanding of war and encourage critical thinking among cadets.
Jannetta said he was inspired to start the series after seeing Joseph Heller, the author of “Catch-22,” appear at the school while he was a cadet. “Catch-22” is a satire of modern warfare and bureaucracy set during World War II.
“It was striking to me … how much this institution must have confidence in itself to bring a book like this to the cadets and have them study it,” he said.
Click or tap here to read more about Jannetta, Rekdal and the situation at the academy.
Contact the writer at mary.shinn@gazettedev.gazette.com or 719-429-9264.
