Retired U.S. Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, an aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, will speak at the annual dinner of Florida Veterans for Common Sense, which takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at The Francis, 1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Wilkerson is the distinguished visiting professor of government and public policy at the College of William & Mary. He served 31 years in the U.S. Army and is a Vietnam veteran; he served as Powell's chief of staff from 2002 to 2005. Florida Veterans for Common Sense is a nonprofit that works to support returning veterans and smart military policy. Tickets to the dinner are $75.