Ambassador John Bolton

Ambassador Antonio Duarte Lopes

Dear Members and Friends,

Dear Members and Friends,
On 11 March 2026, we heard from Ambassador Duarte Lopez about Portugal. Located at the Western edge of Europe, Portugal has a rich history marked by exploration and global influence. US-Portugal relations are historically strong, built over
200 years of diplomacy, shared democratic values and deep cooperation within NATO.

Phil Reynolds

President, International Club of Annapolis

Video of this talk

Bogdan Klich

Dear Members and Friends,
On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, we will learn about Poland from the Polish Head of Mission, Mr. Bogdan Klich. Mr. Klich’s presentation was originally scheduled for September 2025 but had to be postponed due to a last-minute Polish Presidential visit. In 1980, the world watched in wonder as Lech Wałęsa’s Solidarity movement helped initiate the fall of the Iron Curtain. Poland went on to achieve one of the most successful transitions from the Polish People’s Republic and its planned economy to the Third Republic of Poland and a thriving market economy. Today, Poland is one of the United States’ key allies and an important member of both NATO and the European Union.

Mr. Klich became the Head of Mission in the Embassy of the Republic of Poland as of 28 November 2024. He has been a Senator in the Polish Parliament between 2011 and 2019, Minister of Defense from 2007-2011 and a Member of the European Parliament.

In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, he was active in the democratic opposition movement. Mr. Klich graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the Krakow Medical Academy and the Faculty of Philosophy and History at the Jagiellonian University. You can reserve a seat for you and your friends at https://icannapolis.org/dinner-reservation. Please note that we can only accept reservations made online – so we can give accurate numbers to the hotel. Because of PayPal problems you will need to pay this month by check only. You can contact our Reservations Chair at [email protected] with any questions. Please make your reservation by noon on Friday February 6. 2026

I look forward to seeing you on 10 February at 6:00 pm at the Doubletree Hotel,
Phil Reynolds
President, International Club of Annapolis

Chris Inglis

Dear Members and Friends,

On 7 January 2026, the Honorable Chris Inglis, will help us “Decode the National Security Agency (NSA).”  It’s hard to think of anyone more qualified to do this than the first US National Cyber Director, who is a 3-decade veteran of the Agency.  Mr. Inglis impressed our club in 2021 when, against all odds, he helped us understand the dangers and dictates of cybersecurity. You won’t want to miss this one.

At the National Security Agency, Mr. Inglis served as the senior civilian, Chief Operating Officer, and Deputy Director from 2006-2014.  He is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, holds graduate degrees from Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and George Washington Universities with an honorary Doctorate from the National Intelligence Agency.  He is also a 30-year active and reserve veteran of the US Air Force.  He was recently announced as the 2026 recipient of the William Oliver Baker Award , which is presented annually by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) to honor extraordinary contributions to U.S. intelligence and national security. 

You can reserve a seat for you and your friends at https://icannapolis.org/dinner-reservation. Please note that we can only accept reservations made online – so we can give accurate numbers to the hotel. You still have the option to pay by credit card or check. You can contact our Reservations Chair at  [email protected]with any questions. In view of difficulties with the Clover payment system, we have switched back to PayPal. You can still pay with a credit card without being a PayPal member. Please make your reservation by noon on Friday 2 January 2026.

As we think about the future, I attach a brief description of all ICA Board positions.  For 2026 – 27, we are looking for nominations for VP Program Chair, Reservations and Membership Chairs. If you are interested in supporting your club and working with a great Board, please contact Sue Konick (410-279-7483) or me. 

I look forward to seeing you on 7 January at 6:00 at the Doubletree Hotel in Annapolis,

Phil Reynolds

President, International Club of Annapolis

Dr. Rose Cardarelli

Dr. Rose Cardarelli

Dr. Rose Cardarelli will speak on “Leadership in an Uncertain World.”  Dr. Cardarelli is an internationally-recognized author, educator, healthcare strategist, and humanitarian who brings people, organizations, and resources together to develop sustainable healthcare and education solutions. Her background in international cooperation, combined with her firsthand experience in civil society development in a variety of crisis/post-crisis settings, has made her an influential advisor to international institutions and governments worldwide. Her leadership experiences are deeply rooted in her service in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer and in government as a Professor of Human Security.

Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian

Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian

On Wednesday 2 April, Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, a Venezuelan-American citizen and Director, Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity at the Organization of American States, will speak to us on “Migration, Asylum and Forced Displacement in the Americas: Main Dynamics and the Role of the Organization of American States (OAS).”

Forced displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean has reached record levels, with over 21 million people displaced by the end of 2022, driven by factors like violence, insecurity, and the Venezuelan crisis, representing one in five displaced people worldwide in the region. Forced displacement in the Americas requires regional cooperation, sustainable solutions and protection for vulnerable groups.

Dr. Muñoz-Pogossian is responsible for directing the work of the OAS in matters of social inclusion and access to human rights with special consideration for populations in vulnerable situations. She has edited, published and co-authored several articles and volumes on issues of Latin American reality. She is also a founding member and coordinator of the Network of Latin American Female Political Scientist’s “#NoSinMujeres,” a project that seeks to promote, make visible and empower the work of women dedicated to Latin American Political Science.

She is a regular columnist for “El Nacional” and “Caracas Chronicles,” as well as a guest columnist in various regional media. She is also a 2021 Fellow of the Fisher Family Fellowship on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law at Stanford University, and a Senior Associate (Non-Resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. In 2024, she was named one of “Apolitical”‘s 50 Gender Equality Gamechangers: a list that recognizes public servants from across the world who are helping to push gender-equitable policies to the top of local and national government priorities.

Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida International University.

You can make your dinner reservations at https://icannapolis.org/dinner-reservation.    Please reserve as soon as possible.

I look forward to seeing you at 6:00 pm on April 2 at the Double Tree Hotel.

Ambassador Shaikh Al Khalifa

Ambassador Shaikh Al Khalifa

On Tuesday, May 7th, our International Club is honored to welcome His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, as our distinguished guest speaker.

Ambassador Al Khalifa will share insights about Bahrain—a dynamic island nation in the Persian Gulf known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and modern economy. From its roots as the ancient land of Dilmun to its present-day role as a global financial hub, Bahrain stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation.

This is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about Bahrain’s relationship with the U.S., its strategic position in the Gulf region, and its ongoing commitment to education, diplomacy, and development.

Don’t miss this evening of global conversation, cultural exchange, and international fellowship.

Dr. Gordon Roesler

Dr. Gordon Roesler

Dr. Gordon Roesler is an internationally recognized authority in the application of robotic
technologies to space missions. As president of Robots in Space LLC, he provides advisory
services in space infrastructure and business concepts to industry, government and academia,
with a focus on applications, logistics, advanced missions and new markets.