Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, leader of the federal response to the 2010 BP oil spill, is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. today in Hoover, Ala., during a symposium hosted by the University of Alabama’s Blackburn Institute.

“We are very excited to have him come,” said Jimmy Young, coordinator of Blackburn Institute. “We are hoping to have a full house. It will be first come, first serve.”

Blackburn Institute representatives said they want people in attendance to learn from Allen about leading both crisis situations as well as everyday situations. With his accomplishments in the Coast Guard, Blackburn Institute representatives felt Allen would be a timely speaker for the event.

“He just got done handling the oil spill mission and we hope to create future leaders for Alabama,” Young said.

In Sept. 2005 the admiral was the principal federal official for Hurricane Katrina response and recovery for Louisiana. Later in 2006 he was appointed by George W. Bush as commandant of the Coast Guard.

Allen is part of Blackburn Institute’s annual Winter Symposium. The symposium brings together speakers from different industries to talk and give advice in their specified area. The Winter Symposium first began in 1995, according to the Blackburn Institute website.

“The Winter Symposium is the culminating of our academic year,” said Evan Ward, a Blackburn Fellow and a junior majoring in history. “The Institute is concerned with positively impacting the state of Alabama, and we see ourselves as a multi-generational network of student and civic leaders who are united by our common goal of changing our state.”

The symposium will take place at the Ross Bridge Resort and Spa located at 4000 Grand Ave., Hoover, Ala. Registration for the symposium will begin at 4:30 p.m. today. The symposium will last until Saturday. On Saturday the symposium will be just for Blackburn Fellows and members.

“The Winter Symposium serves as a kind of reunion, a time when Blackburn students, Fellows and Advisory Board members take a weekend to catch up and make new connections while being treated to several inspiring and informative speakers,” Ward said.

The focus of the symposium will be on aspects of development and the future of Alabama. There will be a morning session with a representative from the bank BBVA Compass speaking on the global and Alabama economies. The afternoon session will deal with those trying to get employment and those who are currently employed. Those planning on attending should come early. To find out more about this event visit their site, blackburninstitute.org.