The Veterans Law Society is honored to announce that General Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, USAF (Ret), will be joining us as a guest speaker on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 12:15 to 1:15 PM at the Appalachian School of Law. Fittingly, September 18 is also the Air Force’s Birthday, and we could not think of a better way to celebrate it.
The presentation is open to the public, and community members are warmly invited to attend. Lunch will be provided free of charge, and no RSVP is necessary.
General Newton is a retired four-star general with a 34-and-a-half-year career in the United States Air Force. He flew 269 combat missions in Vietnam, and in 1974 he became the first African American pilot to fly with the Thunderbirds. He went on to command three wings and an air division before finishing his career as Commander of Air Education and Training Command, where he was responsible for recruiting, training, and education for the entire Air Force.
After more than three decades of service, General Newton transitioned into the private sector, where he served as Executive Vice President of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines. He was also responsible for worldwide customer satisfaction and the continued growth of the Military Engine business, which had $1.3 billion in annual revenue.
President Bush appointed him to the 2005 Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission, and President Obama later named him a Commissioner for the White House Fellows Program. Today, he serves on the boards of the National Business Aviation Association, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Polaris Tech Charter School, and the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. In September 2025, he was inducted into the U.S. National Aviation Hall of Fame.
General Newton has also graciously offered to spend two hours before his presentation meeting one-on-one with Appalachian School of Law students. A Google Form with available times will be sent to students soon for those who would like to sign up.
It is a tremendous honor to welcome someone of General Newton’s caliber to the Appalachian School of Law, and we hope members of both the ASL community and the public will join us for this special event.
Event Details
Friday, September 18, 2026
12:15–1:15 PM
Appalachian School of Law
Open to the public
Lunch provided free of charge
No RSVP required
