KU News Release

Army colonel to discuss his experiences serving in Iraq

LAWRENCE — The Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will present “Leading the Surge: The View From Sadr City,” an interview with Col. Don Farris, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at the institute’s Simons Media Room. Farris has just returned from a 15-month deployment in Iraq, where he commanded the first brigade sent into Baghdad under the surge initiative.

Farris was responsible for Sadr City until March. Sadr City has been the site of a significant escalation of violence in recent months, with direct fire attacks on the Green Zone and the complicated political evolution of local leadership.

“Things in Sadr City are difficult right now,” said Bill Lacy, director of the Dole Institute. “This is a very unique opportunity to hear about the complexities of the Iraq war from a first hand participant. Col. Farris was the first brigade commander of the surge and is uniquely qualified to answer the tough questions that students and members of the community want to ask.”

“Leading the Surge: The View From Sadr City” is co-sponsored by the KU-Fort Leavenworth Program and is free and open to the public.

Farris has served in Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield/Storm and two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Infantry Division.

Farris graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1983. He holds a master’s degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth and served as an Army fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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