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James Stavridis

Admiral James Stavridis is an author and retired four-star U.S. naval officer. He led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy, and cyber security. He also served as Commander of U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America from 2006 to 2009. He has earned more than 50 medals, including 28 from foreign nations in his 37-year military career.

Stavridis has published ten books and dozens of articles on leadership and military affairs, including The Leader’s Bookshelf: 50 Books That Make Us Better Leaders, Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the Oceans, and The Accidental Admiral, a memoir of his NATO years. He is a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News, as well as Operating Executive of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm and Chair of the Board of Counselors of McLarty Associates, an international consulting firm.