DOTHAN – Michael Durant, best selling author, will speak about his experiences as a prisoner of war June 29 at Troy University. Durant will also share his thoughts about leadership and the importance of the aerospace industry during the free event, which begins at 10 a.m. in Sony Hall on the Dothan Campus. The Wiregrass Math & Science Consortium invites the public to attend.

A former Black Hawk pilot, Durant became the center of international attention after his helicopter crashed October 3, 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu. Suffering from gunshot wounds, a broken back and other injuries, the aviator was held captive in Somalia for eleven days.

He recounted details of his army career and his days as a POW in his New York Times best seller, In the Company of Heroes. Durant’s most recent work, The Night Stalkers, offers insight into the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Airborne in which he served. Durant will sign copies of his books during his visit to Troy University.

Durant’s harrowing days in Somalia also hit the big screen with Director Ridley Scott’s movie Black Hawk Down, which was based on Mark Bowden’s best selling book by the same name. In the movie version, Actor Ron Eldard plays Durant.
The Wiregrass Math & Science Consortium is housed at Troy University and funded by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The Consortium’s mission is to inspire teachers to ignite student interest in math and science.

For more information about the event or the Consortium, contact Sandy Armstrong at (334) 983-6556, ext. 1-371.