After the swearing-in ceremony concluded on the National Mall Tuesday afternoon, University President Steven Knapp dined with President Barack Obama’s Joint Chiefs of Staff at his home on F Street.

Commandant of the United States Coast Guard and GW alumnus Thad W. Allen contacted the University last week about a venue to hold the Joint Chiefs of Staff inauguration luncheon when their original location within the security perimeter became unavailable, University spokeswoman Tracy Schario said. After a tour of the home, they agreed to hold it at the F Street residence.

Knapp and his wife Diane joined the heads of the five military branches – Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Army – and their spouses, though the chairman was not present. Schario said the lunch was hosted by the Coast Guard, who provided the catering and service.

Knapp also hosted a meeting at his home on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Schario said Knapp will keep the F Street House open for D.C. leaders, politicians and community members to hold events in an effort to build relationships between GW and the D.C. community.

“It’s certainly all about relationship building,” Schario said. “It’s part of President Knapp’s mission for the F Street House: to open it up to these types of engagements so that leaders of not just the District and the federal government, but all members of the diplomatic and international communities can come and gather for a variety of reasons.”