U.S. energy production increased significantly over the past decade. While oil production has peaked and natural gas imports are expensive, new technologies in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have raised energy output. The U.S. is once again capable of being a major force in world petroleum politics.

Michael Houlahan, a graduate of Dartmouth College and The Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, will address foreign policy and oil in the last of this year’s Great Discussion series on Friday, April 7.

Foreign policies often have complex origins and multiple causes that are difficult to analyze definitively. Energy security for the United States and its allies has been a continuing issue. Some argue today, however, that reduced dependence on foreign oil has contributed to a perceptible reduction in the level of U.S. engagement in the Middle East.

Following a three-year tour in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps, Houlahan served 28 years as a foreign service officer, where his overseas postings included Japan; Romania; New Zealand; Cyprus; Italy; India; the Philippines and Jamaica.

Houlahan has published more than 60 articles and reviews, most of them specializing on the Philippines; including guerilla movements, the Marcos regime and World War II.

After retiring, he was coordinator of the Great Issues Lecture Series in Upper Arlington as well as a resource speaker for the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Lecture Series. Since 1997, he has been a resource speaker for the American Foreign Service Association’s community outreach program.

Great Decisions discussions begin at noon in the Fellowship Hall of the William Street United Methodist Church, 28 W. William St.