CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen, one of the few journalists who interviewed Osama Bin Laden, is keynote speaker at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Center for Statesmanship, Law and Liberty Annual Symposium, April 20-21.

His talk, 8-9:30 p.m. April 20 in RIT’s Ingle Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

In its third year, the theme of the symposium is “Challenges to Statesmanship in a Global Era.”

Bergen, a vice president at New America think tank and professor of practice at Arizona State University, produced Bin Laden’s first television interview in 1997, when Bin Laden declared war against the United States for the first time to a Western audience.

“We are proud to have Peter Bergen as our keynote speaker,” said Joseph Fornieri, the center’s director and professor of political science at RIT. “The center seeks to promote civic discourse on issues related to statesmanship, and he adds invaluable expertise on this subject. What are the global challenges facing our next president? How should he or she best deal with them? And who among the candidates is best qualified to confront these challenges?”

Bergen has authored five books, three that have been on the New York Times bestseller’s list. His most recent ones are The United States of Jihad and Manhunt: The Ten Year Search for Bin Laden, from 9/11 to Abbottabad. Bergen will sign books in the Fireside Lounge after his talk.

On April 21, the symposium continues at 10 a.m. at RIT’s Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies in Louise Slaughter Hall with discussion from experts on related topics that have dominated headlines such as the challenge of ISIS, domestic terrorism and American statesmanship.

Panelists include David Tucker, Earhart Senior Fellow at the Ashbrook Center in Ohio and associate director of the Masters of Arts in American History and Government there; and Benjamin Banta, assistant professor of political science at RIT.

The afternoon session, from 1:30-3 p.m., discusses “The Challenge of Russia, Refugees and Citizenship.” Panelists include Robert Goeckel, professor of political science and international relations at State University College at Geneseo; and Leah Bradshaw, professor of political theory at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.

Both Bergen’s talk and the next day’s symposium are free and open to the public, but registration is urged for the symposium. For more information or to register, visit the center’s website at https://www.rit.edu/cla/statesmanship.