Leon Panetta Lecture Series

2026 Leon Panetta Lecture Series Afternoon Student Program

Leon Panetta, chairman of the Panetta Institute, former Secretary of Defense and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, will moderate each of the four discussions.

This year’s series will focus on the theme, The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution – What Will Be Its Legacy in the 21st Century? We will begin the series by addressing the lessons of our history and whether Americans still believe in the Constitution and the values of our democracy. Our second lecture will focus on the legacy of the American economy and whether it will follow a path of strong growth, a strong market and stability, or will the artificial intelligence bubble burst and lead to what some economists predict will be another 1929-type crash. Our third lecture will examine the legacy of American foreign policy and whether we will follow over 80 years of bipartisan commitment to strong alliances, democratic values, and world leadership or be an "America first" approach that stresses military power, tariffs, rather than trade and territorial acquisition instead of diplomatic negotiation. And finally, we will look at the legacy of free and fair elections in the 2026 midterms and whether we will have the ability to exercise a strong system of checks and balances or whether there are those who will try to undermine this basic constitutional right.

Further distinguishing this renowned program is the Institute’s commitment to inspiring thoughtful students to lives of public service by inviting them to the Afternoon Student Program. This year, once again, we welcome high school, college and military students from throughout the Central Coast region and beyond to hear from and ask questions of the same speakers that appear at the evening Lecture Series. The Afternoon Student Program is education at its most illuminating—first-hand interactions with major leaders and thinkers of our day. Students leave engaged and inspired, having discovered a new relevance of public service careers and having observed first-hand positive examples of leadership and civic debate. 

These afternoon student programs will begin with registration at 12:00 p.m. at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey. From 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Panetta Institute professors will facilitate an academic exercise focusing on the lecture topic. This session informs students about the issues to be discussed and encourages them to develop questions and comments for interactive dialogue with the speakers. After a fifteen-minute break, the lecture begins at 2:45 p.m. with the guest speakers and Secretary Panetta presenting a discussion amongst themselves. During the second half, they will answer the students’ questions. The program will end at 4:30 p.m.

Through the generosity of our lecture series sponsors, we are able to provide scholarships for all students who wish to attend the afternoon lectures. All attendees (students, professors) who wish to participate must be pre-registered by their school.

Attendees must arrange their own transportation and are responsible for parking fees.

Monterey Conference Center
One Portola Plaza
Monterey, CA 93940
Map