Good evening. I am Lauren Rosenberg with smithsonian associates. I would like to welcome you to this program. To our members, its your support that makes events like this possible. If you are joining for the first time, and equally warm welcome and invitation to explore the wide range of programs we offer. Now is the perfect time to talk off your cell phone or anything that may make noise. This past march marked the 50th anniversary of the u. S. Navy fighter weapon program. We welcome the programs founder, dan pederson. He formed he served in combat during the vietnam war with a flying crew on the uss hancock and three on the uss enterprise. He retired as a captain, having accumulated 6000 flight hours and 1000 flight carrier landings with 39 different types of aircraft. For those of you who know his story from the 1986 movie top gun, Jerry Bruckheimer is producing a sequel in 2020. His book is available for purchase and signing. Here to keep the conversation going is larry burke, cura
Smithsonian associates. Now is the perfect time to turn off your cell phone or anything else that might make noise during the program. Thank you for doing that. This past march marked the 50th anniversary of the u. S. Navy Fighter Weapons program. We are thrilled to welcome the programs founder, dan pedersen. He entered the u. S. Navy in 1953 and went on to become the senior officer in the group of nine men who formed the navys legendary Top Gun Program at miramar in march 1969. He served in combat during the vietnam war with the flying crews on uss hancock and three on uss enterprise. He retired as a captain having accumulated 6,100 flight hours and 105 carrier landings while flying 39 types of aircraft. For those of how know pedersens story from the 1986 movie top gun youll be happy to know that jerry brook heimer is producing top gun maverick a sequel scheduled to be released in 2020. Pedersens book top gun is available for purchase and signing following this conversation. And here
Subject, human rights in iran. I want to first recognize some really amazing people we have here today. I believe they have over 50 members of the diplomatic corps ambassadors in washington. Thank you very much for coming. Im very glad to see we also have so many people from the iranian diaspora as well this event is really for you. Well begin todays program with the marks and secretary mike pompeo followed by a session with three cohosts of todays event and International Religious freedom Sam Brownback Deputy Director for the Iran Action Group might spell and assistant secretary for democracy human rights and labor robert estero. During the listening session we have this morning we heard from members of the iranian diaspora but how we can continue to stand with the iranian people by sharing stories, supporting their voices in championing their rights. Today we will share what we heard from them and we will dig deeper into the issue. We will also have an opportunity to hear from three
Department of state. Thank you for coming to focus on the subject of human rights and iran. I want to recognize some amazing attendees we have over 50 members of the diplomatic corps, thank you very much for coming but we also have so many people from the iranian diaspora as well we will begin todays program with secretary mike pompeo with three cohosts for religious freedom Deputy Director mike bell. During the listening sessions we heard the members of how we can continue to share your story and support your voices and we will dive deeper into the issue and also have an opportunity to hear from survivors who have firsthand experience of the Iranian Regimes oppression. Assistant secretary for human rights and labor previously chaired and served a six term as commissioner on civil rights. With a 15 year interface dialogue. My friend, bob. [applause] good morning, everybody. On behalf of the department of state on human rights and labor , i would like to thank you all this morning for y
Good morning, everyone. Oh, isnt that nice . Thanks. Good morning back. I morgan. Thank you for everyone coming to this event to focus on a very serious subject, human rights in iran. I was the first to recognize some amazing attendees we have here today. Have over 50 matter members of the core. Thank you for coming. Im very glad to see we also have many, as well and this is for you, as well. Remarks from mike pompeo, followed by a discussion of the days events. Group director for the rn mike bell, and assistant secretary for democracy, human rights, rubber distro. Lesson, we heard about how we can continue to stand with the iranian people by sharing their stories, supporting their voices, and champing ning their rights. Championing their rights. We will have an opportunity to hear from three survivors who have firsthand experience of the regimes open russian. I would like to welcome robert distro. He previously served a sixth six year term on the u. S. Commission of civil rights. He h