The Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, in partnership with Dialogue Vanderbilt, will open its Fall 2025 Lecture Series on Monday, September 29 with a fireside chat featuring two of the nation’s most respected military leaders: General Stanley McChrystal (Ret.) and General Paul M. Nakasone (Ret.).
This signature event will explore the role of character, leadership, and service in the context of modern conflict and emerging national security threats. The conversation will be held on Vanderbilt’s campus in Langford Auditorium and is free and open to the public with advance registration.
Now in its third year, the Lecture Series on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats brings senior leaders and national security experts to campus for public conversations on the forces reshaping our global landscape—from cyber warfare and AI to strategic competition and democratic resilience.
McChrystal and Nakasone will draw from decades of experience in military and intelligence leadership to reflect on what defines effective leadership in times of crisis, and why personal character remains critical amid rapid technological and geopolitical change.
“In an era defined by uncertainty and accelerating threats, character remains the bedrock of effective leadership,” said Nakasone. “General McChrystal’s reflections offer a rare window into the moral choices that shape not just military operations, but national security at large. This conversation underscores what the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security was built to do—bring principled, seasoned voices into dialogue with the next generation of leaders.”
The event is part of the Institute’s Lecture Series on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats, which brings senior leaders, authors, and scholars to Vanderbilt for public conversations on the forces reshaping our national and global security landscape.
Event Details:
🗓 Monday, Sept. 29, 2025
🕠 5:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5:00 p.m.)
📍 Langford Auditorium, 2209 Garland Ave., Nashville, TN 37232
🎟 Free admission with advance registration
🍴 Reception hosted by the Institute to follow
About General Stanley McChrystal:
McChrystal is the founder of the McChrystal Group, a best-selling author (My Share of the Task, Team of Teams, Leaders), and one of the most transformative military leaders of the post-9/11 era. His new book, On Character, offers a deeply personal and timely guide to making ethical choices under pressure.