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Charleston Mayor Honors President of the Citadel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org



(WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 29, 2007) Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. was on-hand at a private reception on Monday, May 28, to honor Lieutenant General John W. Rosa, USAF (Ret.), president of The Citadel. The reception was hosted by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and brought more than 130 prominent Italian-Americans and guests, including Michael A. Delia, longtime supporter of NIAF and the City of Charleston; Sergio Fedelini, honorary consul of Italy in South Carolina; Julie Forster, assistant director of Spoleto Festival USA; and Nigel Redden, general director of Spoleto Festival USA, together at the Mills House Hotel.

Rosa previously served as superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, deputy director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in charge of the National Military Command Center, and a Pentagon spokesman. In January 2006, Rosa became the 19th president of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, from which he had received his bachelor’s degree. Rosa holds a master’s degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. He is also a graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He is married to Donna Kangeter, a Charleston native. They have two sons and a grandson.

The reception was held in conjunction with the 2007 Spoleto Festival USA, which concludes on June 10 in Charleston, S.C. The festival, which is in its 31st season, was founded by renowned opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti and includes an array of American premieres and debuts. Opera, dance, theatre, classical music, jazz, and a variety of free outdoor concerts and programs oriented to families are some of the highlights of this year’s season. Information about the festival can be found on the NIAF Web site, www.niaf.org, or by visiting www.spoletousa.org.

NIAF is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. To learn about our programs/events, visit www.niaf.org