On Monday, Oct. 7, the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches will host Brigadier General Robert Spalding for a discussion on 5G and the threats China presents. The luncheon will be held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen Pavilion, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Community leaders, Don and Sally Chester, will also be recognized with the organization’s Outstanding Public Service Award at the event.
Spalding retired from the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general after more than 25 years of service. Throughout his career, he was recognized for his knowledge of Chinese economic competition, global trends and cyber warfare. From 2014 to 2016, he was a lead China strategist for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He also served as a senior defense official and defense attaché at the U.S. embassy in Beijing.
Spalding then became the senior director for strategic planning with the National Security Council, where he advocated for a nationalized 5G plan to defend U.S. technological infrastructure from Chinese interference.
In recognition of their longtime service to Palm Beach County, Don and Sally Chester are the recipients of the Forum Club’s Outstanding Public Service Award.
With multiple connections to the healthcare industry, Don Chester has been in leadership positions at St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital for more than 40 years with Sally as a registered nurse. The Chesters were instrumental in forming the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, which created the trauma system that sends critical patients to St. Mary’s. The Chesters have held multiple board and leadership positions within the community. Don is a past president of the Forum Club, while Sally is a past president of Leadership Palm Beach County.
Tickets are $40 for members and $60 for guest tickets ordered by members, $125 for public tickets and $550 for a table of 10 ordered by members. Tickets are currently on sale and can be reserved on the Forum Club’s web site at www.forumclubpalmbeach.org.
