Ulrich Reineke Joins U-Idaho as Visiting Distinguished Practitioner of International Affairs
Tuesday, January 18 2011
Reineke is a German naval captain and part of NATO Joint Command
Written by Donna Emert
MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho Martin School of International Studies will host Ulrich Reineke, the 2011 Visiting Distinguished Practitioner of International Affairs, on the University of Idaho campus beginning Monday, Jan. 24.
A German Naval Captain and experienced practitioner of international diplomacy, Reineke currently is the head of the Knowledge Support Section with the NATO Joint Command in Naples, Italy, following stints with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, Germany’s Joint Capabilities program and at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Reineke will offer a public lecture titled, “NATO in the 21st Century,” from 4-5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 24, in the University Auditorium, 851 Campus Dr. in Moscow. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The event is free and open to the public.
“Ulrich Reineke’s knack for intergovernmental and interagency work has resulted in a series of international assignments, where his ability to work with and through people from a variety of national and ideological backgrounds has been paramount,” said Bill Smith, director of the Martin Institute and the Martin School of International Studies. “NATO remains our most important international alliance, and Capt. Reineke’s lecture will provide us with a glimpse of where this cornerstone of common defense is headed.”
Reineke will speak about NATO’s functioning structure of military personnel, taking into account all branches and all member countries. He will illustrate how this international organization works together, both in battle and in diplomatic settings.
Established in 2010, the Visiting Distinguished Practitioner of International Affairs program in the Martin School of International Studies provides opportunities for the University of Idaho community to interact with people who have served their country and the global community at the highest diplomatic levels.
In addition to his public presentation on Monday, Reineke is scheduled to meet with students on campus through Thursday, Jan. 27. He will talk with the University of Idaho International Affairs Club, International Studies majors, students of international politics and international law, student co-editors of the Journal of the Martin School of International Studies, German-speaking students, freshman International Studies seminar classes, and selected Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC cadets.
The VDPIA program also strives to provide ROTC students with unique contexts and applications for their training, illustrating the many career possibilities open to them. In 2010, former U.S. Middle East Ambassador Ryan Crocker served as the inaugural VDPIA, discussing Department of State/ Department of Defense cooperation. With Reineke’s visit, the Martin School hopes to provide insights into the structure and functions of NATO.
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About the University of Idaho
Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s land-grant institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year. The University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to be classified by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation as high research activity. The student population of 12,000 includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars, who select from more than 130 degree options in the colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences; Art and Architecture; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering; Law; Letters, Arts and Social Sciences; Natural Resources; and Science. The university also is charged with the statewide mission for medical education through the WWAMI program. The university combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities and focuses on helping students to succeed and become leaders. It is home to the Vandals, and competes in the Western Athletic Conference. For more information, visit www.uidaho.edu.