Joe Sestak (PA-7) to guest blog at CCN Thurs. 9/21/06 @ 7PM EDT/ 6PM CDT

We're very pleased to announce that Joe Sestak (Democratic candidate for PA-7) will be joining us at the Clark Community Network on Thursday, September 21 at 7:00 PM EDT/ 6:00PM CDT as a guest blogger.

Former 3 Star Admiral Joe Sestak will discuss his four key pillars of national security beginning at home in the health, education, economic and defense securities of our citizens. Sestak will discuss how these securities are being eroded by the policies of this Congress and Administration. He will discuss how he is running to reverse that erosion, and to help establish a new direction.

General Clark has said: "Today American families face many difficult challenges at home and abroad. We face continued threats to national security, and we must prepare for a changing global economy that demands that America train our people to compete for the highest paying jobs. Joe Sestak has the leadership and experience to battle the toughest issues both at home and abroad.

"As a former Navy Admiral, Joe knows first hand what it takes to keep this country safe. He has the vision and know-how to foster economic opportunities for Americans so we can better compete in the world economy."

"The elections in 2006 are not local, they are national. These are choices of war and peace and what this country stands for, and our basic liberties and freedoms under the Constitution of the United States of America. That’s what this election in 2006 is all about. We have an opportunity to turn things around now before it's too late. To change politics-as-usual, we have to vote for someone besides the usual politicians."

About Joe Sestak

Joe Sestak is a 31 year Navy vet, retiring in 2006 with the rank of Vice Admiral of the Navy. He served six sea tours with units of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during which he made seven deployments to Europe, the Persian Gulf and the western and South Pacific.

During his tenure as Battle Group Commander, he led an international coalition force of 30 U.S. and allied ships and 15,000 sailors, exercising command of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as senior diplomatic engagements throughout Southwest Asia, Europe and Africa.

Joe also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass between tours at sea.

Joe's career reflects his broad experience in strategic planning and leadership. It's the kind of leadership we need in Congress.

As a member of the Joint Staff in the Force Structure Resources and Assessment Directorate, he prepared politico-military-economic analyses of national security/military strategy and policy for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, formulating assessments of future security environment and security policy.
On the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch and Director of the Strategy and Policy Division, he was responsible for developing the maritime element of national military/security strategy, policy and arms control.
As Director of the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review, he developed the strategic vision which guided the development of a comprehensive set of analytical studies that outlined the value of the nations economic investment in strategic warfare requirements.
As the first Director of the Navy Operations Group (Deep Blue) following 9/11, he formulated a comprehensive redefinition of strategic, operational and budgetary policies in the Global War on Terrorism.
As Director for Defense Policy on the National Security Council staff in the Office of the President of the United States, he was responsible for national security and defense strategy, policies, programs, interagency and congressional coordination and regional political/military advice.
As Director, Assessment Division / Capability Analysis Group (N81/N00X), he directed the independent analysis and centralized assessment of all Joint and Navy national security strategy, policies, force posture requirements and resources, reporting directly to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). He provided the CNO alternative approaches to national security strategy apart from traditional Joint/Navy strategic and resource sponsors.
As Vice Admiral and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs (N6/N7), he directed the assessment, integration and budgetary programming of all naval warfare requirements for the Navy’s Five Year Defense Plan of $350 Billion, and articulated its relationship with national security strategy to the White House, Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.