Cuba's Past, Present and Future National Security Issues

Books & Books is proud to present a distinguished panel of professionals with real-life expertise in Cuba’s history, geopolitics, and the effects they have had on the Cuban American community and wider country. The conversation will focus on how the island has shaped U.S. immigration, national security, and domestic policies for more than half a century.
Moderated by author and former Cuba Study Group Executive Director Andrew Otazo, the discussion will also include retired Navy Commander and U.S. House of Representatives candidate Phil Ehr, University of Miami Associate Professor and historian Dr. Michael Bustamante, and Miami Freedom Project Executive Director Ana Sofia Pelaez.

Michael J. Bustamante, PhD (Yale University), is an Associate Professor of History and the Emilio Bacardí Moreau Chair in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami. He authored *Cuban Memory Wars: Retrospective Politics in Revolution and Exile* (2021) and co-edited *The Revolution from Within: Cuba, 1959-1980* (2019). As Director of Academic Programs at the Cuban Heritage Collection, he oversees scholarship and public initiatives. His research on Cuban exile politics and cultural policy has appeared in various academic journals, and his commentary on contemporary Cuban affairs has been featured in major media outlets. He previously taught at Florida International University and served at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C.

Phil Ehr, a retired U.S. Navy Commander and Democratic nominee for Florida's 28th Congressional District, has a distinguished career dedicated to national security and public service. With experiences spanning the Cold War and various global conflicts, Phil has been on the front lines of America's defense against authoritarian threats. As a vocal critic of political corruption and advocate for clean governance, Phil brings a sharp perspective on the evolving geopolitical landscape, from the Mariel Boatlift to modern U.S.-Cuba relations. His commitment to principled leadership and community engagement drives his mission to restore integrity and accountability in public office.

Ana Sofia Pelaez is an activist, community organizer, and non-profit executive who has led Latino get out the vote efforts since 2016. Through her nonprofit organization, Miami Freedom Project, she is committed to building a community of leaders capable and willing to change the narrative of what it means to be progressive in Miami. She is also an award-winning food, culture, and political writer. As an advocate for cultural representation, her first cookbook The Cuban Table was nominated for a James Beard award and she also contributed to The Immigrant Cookbook to benefit the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project. She has worked in the childhood nutrition equity space and is a frequent contributor to national media outlets.

Andrew Otazo is an award-winning Cuban American author from Miami. He published The Miami Creation Myth, which was featured in The Dan Le Batard Show, AXIOS, NPR, NBC, Brickell Magazine, and The New Tropic, among many other outlets. Andrew was previously published in AXIOS, Acentos Review, The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, The New Tropic, The Plantain, The Islander, The Sun Sentinel, and Energy Policy Journal. Andrew is the CEO of ARO Communications, a public relations firm that specializes in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, public affairs, and earned media strategy.

Andrew has a recurring guest lecture series at the University of Miami, Cornell, Clemson, and local middle and high schools on grassroots activism. Andrew’s accolades include the International Latino Book Award, Brickell Magazine’s Top 20 Under 40 List, WPLG Local 10’s Most Treasured Citizen, Miami’s Next Leader, FAES Latino Leader in Politics, and two Proclamations from the Village of Key Biscayne.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, United States