National Defense Briefing Series Event

The recent National Defense Briefing Series, presentation of the Sam Johnson Defender of Freedom award to Mr. Darcy Anderson, to which I was invited, was a memorable one for many reasons.

Several of our McCuistion Perspectives Matter television guests were at the event, including Jeff (Jeffrey) Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University.

Jim Falk, our lead host for McCuistion TV, Perspectives Matter, moderated a discussion with The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison , and General (Ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti on our U.S. response to the increasing present geo-political threats.

Ms. Hutchison, who has been a guest on our program several times, was the 22nd United States Permanent Representative to NATO from 2017 until 2021. She served as a United States Senator from Texas, from 1993 to 2013.

The discussion focused on several issues which we’ll be focusing on for the program in the near future. One of real concern are the inflammatory statements out of North Korea.

Also not surprising was that NATO views Putin’s Russia as a grave threat and if the members of the NATO alliance show any weakness, Russia will be even more aggressive in pursuing its political and territorial ambitions.

The prestigious Defender of Freedom Award is awarded to an individual who has consistently demonstrated the qualities of patriotism and service embodied by Congressman Sam Johnson.

The 2024 Sam Johnson Defender of Freedom Awardee, Mr. Darcy Anderson serves as Vice Chairman of Hillwood Management. He’s served in various roles with Hillwood Development Company, including Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Chief Operation Officer.

Congressman, (Colonel), Sam Johnson served 29 years in the United States Air Force where he served as Director of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School.

During his service he was the recipient of two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, Four Air Medals and three Outstanding Unit Awards.

A combat veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a fighter pilot, in 1996, while flying his 23rd combat mission he was shot down over North Vietnam. Colonel Johnson was a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton for nearly 7 years, of which 42 months were spent in solitary confinement. He was part of a group of eleven other U.S. military prisoners known as the “Alcatraz Gang”, which was separated from other prisoners because of their resistance to their captors.

Colonel Johnson served as the U.S. representative for Texas‘ 3^rd Congressional District from 1991 to 2019.

Watch the video: