This presentation examines the recent past and current events in the War in Ukraine and looks at strategies, tactics, and weapons systems involved in the months ahead. The talk will include a special look at Putin’s “Secret” Army: The Wagner Group and its African roots. The speaker, anthropologist Dr. Richard Lobban, Adjunct Professor of African security studies at the Naval War College, offers his own perspective and does not speak on behalf of any agency or entity. Comments and questions will be welcome after the talk.

Dr. Richard Lobban (MA, Temple University 1968; PhD, Northwestern University, Anthropology 1973) is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and African Studies at Rhode Island College where he taught for thirty-five years. He has published scores of articles, reviews, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries, and many basic reference books on the Middle East and Africa history and security. Since 2005, Dr. Lobban has taught a diversity of African courses at the Naval War College and through the College of Distance Education and Residential Program in partial support for the African Combatant Command. Currently he is teaching courses on Russia and China in Africa, on Counter-Terrorism for Foreign and American military officers. He and his wife, Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, are both active beekeepers.