A discussion with General David Petraeus US Army (Retd).
We are delighted to be hosting a special online event on Thursday 20 May 2021 when General David Petraeus will discuss:
General Ulysses S. Grant: The Enduring Relevance of an Exceptional American Combat Leader
(The only US Army general to demonstrate brilliance in combat at the tactical, operational and strategic levels of war.)
He will be interviewed by Dr Jonathan Boff, Reader in the Department of History at the University of Birmingham, who specialises in military history.
General David Petraeus
General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.) is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream, a personal venture investor, and engaged in various academic endeavors.
Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his careerwith six consecutive commands, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of forces in Afghanistan. Following retirement from the military, and after confirmation by the Senate in a vote of 94-0, he served as the Director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the war on terror.
General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and later earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He has held academic affiliations with the US Military Academy, the University of Southern California, Harvard, and the City University of New York, and he is currently a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale, an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham, a member of the Trilateral Commission and the Aspen Strategy Group, Co-Chairman of the Global Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center, and Senior Vice President of the Royal United Services Institute.
Over the past 15 years, General Petraeus has been named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report, a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, twice a Time 100 selectee, Princeton University’s Madison Medalist, Prospect Magazine’s Public Intellectual of the Year, and three times one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 public intellectuals. General Petraeus has earned numerous awards and decorations including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, two NATO Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, and the Ranger Tab. He has also been decorated by 13 foreign countries.
Reading materials:
General Petraeus encourages attendees to read Grady McWhiney's Grant, Lee, Lincoln and the radicals: essays on Civil War leadership as well as Ron White’s or Ron Chernow’s biographies of Grant, both of which he regards as exceptional.
After the interview, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. You can submit questions in advance when you register or by emailing them to academic.conferences@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Event Details
Thursday 20th May 2021
7 - 8.15pm (BST)/2 - 3.15pm (ET)
The discussion will be hosted virtually by the University of Birmingham via Zoom
Any other questions please contact the Academic Events Team, academic.conferences@contacts.bham.ac.uk