About the series
The Commanders Series, generously supported by Saab, is the Atlantic Council’s flagship speakers’ forum for senior military and defense leaders. The series provides a platform to discuss current strategic issues with an impressive audience drawn from across Washington’s policy community, including think tanks, media, industry, embassies, and the US government.
In 2023, the Atlantic Council hosted the Commander of US Southern Command General Laura Richardson, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa General James Hecker, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Chief of Space Operations General B. Chance Saltzman, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady.
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Commanders Series Highlights
Archive of Commanders series Alumnus
2024
- Commander of the United Kingdom Strategic Command General Sir Jim Hockenhull
- Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown, Jr.
2023
- Commander of US Southern Command General Laura J. Richardson
- Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa General James Hecker
- Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall
- Chief of Space Operations General B. Chance Saltzman
- Vice Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady
2022
- Former US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday
- Secretary of the US Army Christine Wormuth
- Former Commander of US Space Command General James Dickinson
2021
- Former US Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Hyten
- Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. (Before Gen Brown was confirmed as the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Former Acting Secretary of the US Army John Whitley
- Chief of Staff of the US Army General James C. McConville
2020
- Former US National Security Advisor General James L. Jones
- Former US National Security Advisor John R. Bolton
- Former US National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane
- Former Department of the US Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett
- Former US Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein
- Former US Chief of Space Operations General John W. Raymond
- Former Commander of US Transportation Command General Stephen R. Lyons
- Former Commanding General of US Army Futures Command General John M. Murray
- US Chief of the National Guard Bureau General Joseph L. Lengyel
- Chief of Staff of the US Army General James C. McConville
2019
- Former Secretary of the US Army Dr. Mark T. Esper (Before Dr. Esper was confirmed as the 27th Secretary of Defense)
- Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford
- Former Chief of Naval Operations John M. Richardson
2018
- Former Commander of US Naval Forces Europe Admiral James G. Foggo III
- Former Commandant of the US Marine Corps General Robert B. Neller
2017
- Former Chief of Staff of the US Army General Mark Milley (Before General Milley was confirmed as the 20th Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff)
- Former Commander of US Pacific Command (Now US Indo-Pacific Command) Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr.
2016
- Former Secretary of the US Air Force Deborah Lee James
- Former Commander, US Southern Command Admiral Kurt W. Tidd
- Former Commandant of the US Marine Corps General Robert Neller
- Former Commander of US Cyber Command Admiral Michael S. Rogers
2015
- Former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General Mark Welsh III
- Former Commander, US Southern Command General John F. Kelly
- Former US Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers
- Former Commandant of the US Marine Corps General Robert Neller
2014
- Former Commander of US Central Command General Lloyd J. Austin III (Before General Austin was confirmed as the 28th Secretary of Defense)
- Former Commandant of the US Marine Corps General James F. Amos
- Former Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Lieutenant General Mark O. Schissler
- Former Commander, US Air Force Space Command General William L. Shelton
- Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Philip Breedlove
- Former Commander of US Strategic Command Admiral Cecil Haney
2013
- Former Chief of Staff of the US Army General Raymond T. Odierno
2012
- Former Commandant of the US Marine Corps General James F. Amos
- Former US Commander of International Security Assistance Force, Regional Command Southwest (RC-SW), Major General John A. Toolan Jr.
2011
- Former Commander, Canada Command Canadian Lieutenant-General Walter Semianiw
2010
- Former Commander of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation French General Stéphane Abrial
2009
- Former French Chief of Defense General Jean-Louis Georgelin
- Former Commander, US Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating
- Former Chief of Staff of the US Army General George W. Casey, Jr.
- Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO and former Commander, US European Command General John Craddock
2008
- Former Commander, International Security Assistance Force General David McKiernan
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