Welcome to the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire's 2025 Global Forum Signature Fundraiser, featuring the 70th U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This fascinating conversation, where the Secretary shared his insights, predictions, and stances on how to build back American deterrence and strength in a dangerous world. This comes at a particularly pertinent time, as Iran and Israel continued their escalatory war and the United States had just attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. 

Thank you to the sponsors, especially X-Corp the lead sponsor, for ensuring this timely discussion happened. You can find a list of sponsors at the bottom of this page. 

The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire welcomes challenging conversations about critical global issues, providing a platform for discussions that can shape perspectives, push new ideas, and help bring understanding to people with differing opinions. This program was presented as a part of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire's signature fundraising event and builds on the strong tradition of WACNH hosting high level speakers on key global issues.

About the Speaker

Michael R. Pompeo served as the 70th Secretary of State of the United States, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and was elected to four terms in Congress representing the Fourth District of Kansas. Mike graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986. He served as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army, leading troops patrolling the Iron Curtain. Mike left the military in 1991 and then graduated from Harvard Law School, having served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Up next was almost a decade leading two manufacturing businesses in South Central Kansas – first in the aerospace industry and then making energy drilling and production equipment.

In 2010, Mike watched the government grow too big and decided to run for Congress. He won and was re-elected three more times to represent South Central Kansas – the heartland of America. Becoming America’s most senior spy, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, was Mike’s next chance to champion American values. President Donald Trump saw that good work and decided to make Mike America’s 70th Secretary of State. As our nation’s most senior diplomat in the Trump Administration and President Trump’s chief negotiator, Mike helped to craft U.S. foreign policy based on our nation’s founding ideals. During this time, America became a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East, with real peace cemented in the Abraham Accords. Mike also placed special emphasis on renewing alliances with key allies, including India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. The largest human rights gatherings ever held at the State Department occurred under his leadership.

Since leaving government, Mike has remained active on the global stage advancing American interests. Currently, he serves as Executive Chair of Impact Investments, a US-based strategic and financial advisory and investment firm which seeks to develop long-term partnerships with the world’s leading companies across a range of industries and geographies.

Married to Susan, Mike and his wife have one son, Nick. Mike and Susan were thrilled to see their family grow to include a daughter-in-law when Nick married his wife, Rachael, in 2022! Mike and Susan’s two retrievers, Sherman and Mercer, each named after important American generals, are patriots too!