Ridge will address security challenges for the 21^st century during two class sessions.

The Institute, to be held Jan. 9-13 in Laguna Beach, Calif., is the nation's foremost career-building program for rising public affairs professionals. The three-year program helps participants strengthen their skills as strategic analysts, counselors to senior managers and liaisons to government policy makers, businesses and community leaders. Past institute faculty have included ambassadors, Cabinet officers, congressional members, business executives, university professors, authors, journalists, think tank specialists and opinion leaders.

Other faculty at the Institute will include: Michael Watkins, chairman of Genesis Advisers and author of "The First 90 Days" and "Winning the Influence Game," who will speak on corporate leadership changes; Stuart Taylor, former weekly contributor to the National Journal, who will discuss the future of the U.S. Supreme Court; Jerry Michalski, a technology expert who will discuss the rise of social media; and Laura Olson, a professor of political science at Clemson University who will speak about the nexus of religion and politics in America.

For more information, visit www.pac.org/institute, or contact Jen Poos at (202) 721-0902 or by email.