Hosted by the LeMieux Center, moderated by former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, brings global leaders to campus for thoughtful dialogue on public policy and world affairs.
West Palm Beach, Fla. – Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) will launch its 2026 LeMieux Speaker Series with an evening featuring former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served from 2018 to 2021 and previously served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2018 and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who served from 2013 to 2017, as well as U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate from 2021-2024. The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the DeSantis Chapel on PBA’s West Palm Beach campus.
Hosted by PBA’s LeMieux Center for Public Policy and moderated by former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, who served from 2009 to 2011, the event is free and open to the public with advance registration.
“This speaker series exemplifies Palm Beach Atlantic University’s dedication to preparing students for lives of leadership, service and informed civic engagement,” said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of PBA. “By welcoming leaders with extensive experience in diplomacy, governance and national security and by engaging them in meaningful conversation led by Senator LeMieux, the LeMieux Center strengthens our academic mission and serves as a valuable forum for the broader community.”
This program marks PBA’s first LeMieux Speaker Series event of 2026 and continues the university’s commitment to fostering reasoned, thoughtful and civil discourse on pressing public policy issues confronting Florida, the United States and the world.
“Bringing Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Kerry together reflects our commitment to meaningful discussion that challenges perspectives and prepares the next generation for informed civic leadership,” said former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux.
Pompeo served as the nation’s 70th U.S. Secretary of State from 2018 to 2021, director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2017 to 2018, and a four-term congressman representing Kansas’ 4th District. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated first in his class, and Harvard Law School, Pompeo served as a U.S. Army cavalry officer, leading troops that patrolled the Iron Curtain, before entering the private sector, where he led two manufacturing businesses in South Central Kansas. During his tenure as secretary of state, the United States became a major energy exporter and played a central role in advancing peace in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords. Since leaving government, Pompeo has remained active on the global stage advancing American interests and currently serves as a partner in Niobrara Investment Partners, a private equity firm he co-founded, is of counsel at Torridon Law, and chairs the Helms School of Government at Liberty University.
Kerry served as the 68th U.S. Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017 and later as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate from 2021 to 2024, the first principal-level position on the National Security Council dedicated entirely to the climate crisis. As Secretary of State, his diplomatic efforts were pivotal in nuclear nonproliferation initiatives, peace-making efforts, coalition-building to combat radical extremism and advancing global environmental cooperation. Kerry was elected to five terms in the U.S. Senate, served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004. A decorated U.S. Navy combat veteran, he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V and three Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 and received a knighthood from King Charles III in 2025.
The LeMieux Center for Public Policy at PBA provides a space for civil dialogue and intellectual engagement, connecting students and community members with respected policy experts and global thought leaders from a broad range of disciplines.
More information and registration details are available at https://www.pba.edu/event/lemieux-center-speaker-secretary-mike-pompeo-and-secretary-john-kerry/.
About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has two campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida—19-acres downtown and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The University is dedicated to equipping students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly. For more information about future events, please visit pba.edu.
