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Preserving and Sharing Rhode Island History

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You are here: Home / Speaking Program / OCTOBER GUEST SPEAKER: John W. Kennedy, Director of Museum Education Naval War College Museum

OCTOBER GUEST SPEAKER: John W. Kennedy, Director of Museum Education Naval War College Museum

October 10, 2015 By James Mitchell Varnum

John W. Kennedy, Director - Naval War College Museum
John W. Kennedy, Director – Naval War College Museum

The Varnum Continentals welcome John W. Kennedy, Director of Museum Education Naval War College Museum, as the guest speaker at our October dinner and annual meeting at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum on Monday, October 19, 2015.  This event is open to Varnum Continental Members and their guests only (join the Varnum Continentals here).

Kennedy entered Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, and was commissioned in 1974. Following designation as a Naval Flight Officer, he joined his first squadron, VP-04, in May of 1975.

Throughout his 20-year career, Kennedy served in a variety of antisubmarine warfare billets in patrol squadron tours, in the USS Constellation (CV-64) as a Tactical Action Officer, with the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) with the Royal Air Force, to Wing operations. At the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the Naval War College, he conducted research in support of Pentagon and Fleet Commanders’ tasking. His final assignment prior to retirement was as Exec. Assistant to the Director, Naval Command College.

Following retirement, Kennedy taught at the high school level before going into. He earned an MA in Counseling and an MS in Labor and Industrial Relations. He began work at the Naval War College Museum as the Director of Museum Education and Community Outreach in 2008.

Naval War College Museum (Founder Hall)
Naval War College Museum (Founder Hall)

The Naval War College Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits artifacts and documents dating from the 1500s to the present day to interpret the naval history of Narragansett Bay and the Naval War College as well as the history of naval strategy.

ANNUAL MEETING: The October meeting is also the Annual Meeting for the Varnum Continentals, in accordance with our by-laws. Nominees for office and open trustee positions will be presented and voted upon.

Please RSVP by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, to Scott Seaback at 401/413-6277 or by email at scott@ritemps.com.

Meeting Date: Monday, October 19
Time: 5:30 p.m. (social hour); 6:30 p.m. (dinner followed by program)
Fee: $15/person


Join the Varnum Continentals for $50!

At only $50 per person annually, membership keeps you in the Varnum loop and supports our efforts to preserve U.S. history and educate the public. Members get a monthly newsletter and can also attend our monthly dinner programs that feature authoritative and engaging speakers on historic and military topics. CLICK HERE TO JOIN NOW!



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We’re a private nonprofit organization receiving no state or federal funding. We depend on your donations to support out valuable work to preserve U.S. history and support our two museums. MAKE A DONATION TODAY!


Filed Under: Speaking Program, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: annual meeting, john w. kennedy, speaker program, varnum memorial armory

[MAY 8 VARNUM MEMBER MEETING] Speaker Greg Banner on “El Salvador: US participation in a Central American Civil War

May 4, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

In 1991, Greg Banner (a US Army Major at the time) was assigned as an advisor in El Salvador. The US had established an advisory team approximately 10 years prior to help that country fight a communist insurgency. Major Banner spent 15 months as the team leader for one of the several district teams living with and helping Salvadoran units fight their war. This presentation will provide some background to the war and then an overview of one soldier’s experiences there, up to and including the peace treaty which was signed at the end of his tour.

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

Our Mission

The Varnum Continentals are committed to encourage patriotism through the Varnum Armory Museum, the Continental Militia, and the James Mitchell Varnum House and thus to preserve, support, and communicate the military history of our community, our state, and our nation.

Recent Posts

  • [MAY 8 VARNUM MEMBER MEETING] Speaker Greg Banner on “El Salvador: US participation in a Central American Civil War
  • [APR. 10 DINNER MEETING] Speaker Blake Ruehrwein on Monuments Officers of the 21st Century
  • [MAR. 20 DINNER MEETING] Maria Vazquez on Conservation of the USS Constellation Anchor

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