U.S-Ukraine Foundation in Phoenix

Bob McConnell
March 8, 2023

U.S-Ukraine Foundation in Phoenix

On January 31st and March 1st General Philip Breedlove USAF (ret.), the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and very active member of the Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN), and Bob McConnell, Co-Founder of the Foundation, were in Phoenix and spoke at several events regarding the status of Russia’s war against Ukraine and what must be done to allow Ukraine to win the war.

They made a luncheon presentation on the Arizona State University campus at an event sponsored by the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations  and ASU’s Melikian Center.

It was a public event and drew students, faculty, and members of the broader public.  The event provided an opportunity for a very lively question & answer session that led to loud applause and many in the audience staying around for one-on-one discussions.  Several of the hosts commented a great deal of information was provided that simply had not been discussed in the media.

There was a dinner event at the Wigwam Resort with members of the Fighter Country Foundation a business group supporting Air Force personnel at Luke Air Force Base.   It was somewhat of a homecoming for General Breedlove who from 2002 to 2004 was the commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, at Luke.  (During that time the USAF contingent at Luke was the fifth largest air force in the world.)

A good many of the business people at the dinner already knew the general and were most anxious to hear his personal views and to have an opportunity to ask informed questions.

The following day Breedlove and McConnell hosted an appreciation luncheon at Phoenix’s Capital Grill for Arizona donors and supporters of the Foundation.

Again attendees had the opportunity to hear from both about the war and about the Foundation’s on-going activities.

The final event was an exquisite dinner at the home of former Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and her husband Craig, retired CEO of Intel.

The Barrett’s brought together a gathering of very influential and informed Phoenicians who enjoyed both fabulous food and a wide-ranging discussion, sharing insights and concerns.