Leopoldo Martínez sat down with Dr. Frank Mora in Miami to talk about Leopoldo’s new book, 94 paradojas para pensar el siglo XXI. Here is an opportunity to learn more about Dr. Mora.
Dr. Mora was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He majored in International Affairs at The George Washington University, in Washington DC. Later, he obtained his M.A. in Inter-American Studies and a Ph.D. in International Affairs from the University of Miami.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mora stands out for his knowledge and experience in National Security Strategy and Latin America. During Barack Obama’s administration, Dr. Mora served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere from 2009-2013—he was the Hispanic with the highest leadership in the Pentagon. In 2012, he received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, Department of Defense.
On April 29, 2010, Dr. Mora delivered a speech at the Institute for Cuban & Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami titled “The Top Seven Myths of U.S. Defense Policy Toward the Americas.” During his talk, he stated that “Many of the charges of inattention stem from the fact that this administration has not developed a catchy slogan or cookie-cutter approach to the region… The lack of a slogan, however, does not indicate a lack of strategy. The President’s nuanced approach tends to tailor policies to the distinct characteristics of individual countries and their relations with the United States. Flexibility is increasingly important because the Western Hemisphere is a dynamic and constantly evolving region that has changed considerably in recent decades.”
Upon leaving the Pentagon, Dr. Mora moved back to Miami where he is the Director of the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) and Professor of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University (FIU). There, he continues to deepen LACC’s “ties with local and national communities…for discussions and training opportunities that enhance the knowledge and capabilities of these groups to engage issues and opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean.”