War Hero Tammy Duckworth to Speak at SMC

Tammy Duckworth—who lost both her legs while piloting a Black Hawk helicopter during a combat mission in Iraq in 2004—will deliver a free speech Sept. 27 at Santa Monica College.

Now a Congressional candidate in Illinois, she recounted the story of the assault before a national audience at the Democratic National Convention.

She will speak at 11:15 a.m. Sept. 27 in the Theatre Arts Main Stage on the Santa Monica College main campus. Her talk is titled, "Our Next Mission."

In a statement, Superintendent Chui Tsang said the lieutenant colonel is an "inspiration for the nation" and "an important voice" for veterans, who now number 600 at the college.

"Lt. Colonel Duckworth’s talk will dovetail beautifully with our college’s new GRIT initiative, which seeks to instill in students growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity," he said.

A former assistant secretary in the Veterans Affairs department and former director of Illinois’ Department of Veterans Affairs, she ran unsuccessfully for the House in 2006. She continues to drill as a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard.

For information about her speech at Santa Monica College, call (310) 434-4303.

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