News Releases

New Rochelle, NY; October 2, 2006 – Iona College’s department of Criminal Justice will host a presentation, “National Security and the September 11 Attack on America,” by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Darling, USMC, Thursday, October 12 at noon in the McGrath Room of the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union. Darling will give a first-hand account of the U.S. government’s response in the immediate 24 hours following the September 11, 2001 attacks, when he acted as liaison between Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and the Pentagon.

On September 11, Darling, a 1987 Iona alumnus, was working as the White House Military Office Airlift Operations liaison officer. He was initially tasked to coordinate airlift assets for the President’s evacuation but was quickly recruited to provide his military expertise to the highest levels of government. He received real time information from numerous government authorities, worked directly with the National Command Authority to respond to the terrorist attacks, and witnessed the enormity of the decisions that were made on behalf of all Americans.

He is currently assigned as the Department of the Navy Flying Hour Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Operations in Arlington, VA.

Iona’s criminal justice department currently offers two baccalaureate degree programs and a master's degree program for students interested in careers both within and outside the field of criminal justice. Many graduates have gone on to pursue advanced degrees and professional careers in the areas of law enforcement, probation and parole, public administration, education, law, and the behavioral sciences.

Founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, Iona College is a private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of American Catholic higher education. Iona, currently listed in the US News and World Report's annual "America's Best Colleges 2007" and The Princeton Review's Best Northeastern Colleges 2007 edition, offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous post-graduate certificate programs.

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For questions or more information please contact:
Cecilia Donohoe
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: (914) 633-2005 fax: (914) 637-2711
cdonohoe@iona.edu

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