Gen. Stan McChrystal, David Sanger, and Amb. Ryan Crocker to speak at Rudder Auditorium

The MSC Wiley Lecture Series presents
Boots Off The Ground: A 21st Century American Military

For 31 years, the MSC Wiley Lecture Series has brought world renowned speakers to the Texas A&M University campus, broadening the educational experience of the Texas A&M community by encouraging thought-provoking discussion on national and foreign policy issues. Continuing this legacy, we are pleased to welcome David Sanger, Chief Washington Correspondent for the New York Times and Foreign Policy Specialist, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and former Ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, and General Stan McChrystal to speak at Boots Off The Ground: A 21st Century American Military on November 8, 2013 at 7.30pm in Rudder Auditorium. Tickets for the event are available online or in person at the MSC Box Office, which is located on the 1st floor of Rudder Tower. Students and active duty members receive a discount.

In response to the changing shape of America's global enemy, the United States has begun to shift from warfare based on manpower and overwhelming force to an increasing reliance on intelligence-led precision warfare, including the use of tools such as drone warfare, Special Forces strikes, and instruments of cyber-warfare. While these tools promise to save the lives of American soldiers, there are a great number of questions surrounding their use, ranging from ethical and legal issues to America’s long-term diplomatic strategy. “Neither speaker is limited to these topics, however, and we are very excited to see how each speakers' personal experience will impact the program's dialogue,” says Taylor Arnold, Chair of the MSC Wiley Lecture Series. “General Stan McChrystal, David Sanger, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker come from different professional backgrounds, and I am looking forward to seeing how this will influence the program's panel discussion and any dialogue that arises during the Q&A portion.”

David E. Sanger is Chief Washington Correspondent for the New York Times and is one of the newspaper's senior writers. In a 28-year career at the paper, he has reported from New York, Tokyo and Washington, specializing in foreign policy, national security and the politics of globalization. His experience includes seven years as the Times’ White House correspondent, covering two wars, the confrontations with Iran, North Korea and other rogue states, and America’s efforts to deal with the rise of China. In 2010 Sanger was also appointed adjunct professor of public policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. David Sanger will bring the political and the journalistic aspects of the changing shape of the American military to the podium.

Ryan Crocker retired from the Foreign Service in April 2009 after a career of over 37 years but was recalled to active duty by President Obama to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan in 2011. He has served as U.S. Ambassador six times: Afghanistan (2011-2012), Iraq (2007-2009), Pakistan (2004-2007), Syria (1998-2001), Kuwait (1994-1997), and Lebanon (1990-1993). He is Dean and Executive Professor at the George Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. Due to his outstanding service and vast diplomatic experience throughout the Middle East, he will speak about the diplomatic implications of America’s future foreign policy.

General Stan McChrystal, a four-star general, is the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and the former leader of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees the military’s most sensitive forces. His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein and the 2006 location and killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He was responsible for leading the nation’s deployed military counter-terrorism efforts around the globe, assuming command of all international forces in Afghanistan in June 2009. President Obama’s order for an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan was based on McChrystal’s assessment of the war. General McChrystal will offer his insights on the future of the American military, based on his experience in military strategy and leadership.

Our three distinguished panelists will each offer prepared remarks on the political, diplomatic, and military aspects of the future of the American military. Then, they will participate in a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A session. 

The MSC Wiley Lecture Series is a student programming committee in the Memorial Student Center programs office at Texas A&M University. The committee is managed and operated by student members and its mission is to provide public affairs programs to the campus community. More information on the MSC Wiley Lecture Series is available at wiley.tamu.edu.