Stanley A. McChrystal

From commanding elite military units to advising global businesses, General Stanley A. McChrystal now shares his profound insights on leadership, teamwork, and navigating complex challenges with corporate and public audiences worldwide. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1976 as a second lieutenant, General Stanley A.

Kennedy School of Government (1996-1997) and served as a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (around 1999). Promoted to Brigadier General in 2001, General McChrystal served as chief of staff for the combined joint task force in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks. In 2002, he became vice director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, before commanding the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in 2003. During his influential JSOC tenure, he oversaw significant missions during the Iraq War, including the capture of Saddam Hussein (2003) and the air strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (2006).

General McChrystal continued to expand his thought leadership, co-authoring Leaders: Myth and Reality in 2018. He is currently anticipating the 2025 release of his latest book, On Character: Choices That Define a Life. Today, General McChrystal provides profound insights on leadership, teamwork, and navigating complex challenges to corporate and public audiences worldwide. Leveraging unparalleled experience from commanding elite military units to advising global businesses, he is a highly sought-after expert and speaker.