The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs is honored to welcome General Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal is a retired United States Army general best known for his command of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2003-08, during which his organization was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. He will be joined by the Honorable John Tien, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and Nunn School Distinguished Professor of the Practice, for a fireside chat to discuss his book On Character: Choices that Define a Life. Together, they will explore the insights found within its pages and examine the lessons learned from a lifetime of service.   

Doors to the theater will open at 11:30 a.m. RSVP requested. This is an incredible opportunity, and we hope you will be able to join us!      

Parking

For information on parking for the event, please visit the Student and Campus Event Centers website. Parking on the Georgia Tech campus is limited, and with the size of this event, it will be difficult to navigate. Due to the limited parking, rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) are highly recommended. For these services, please use the address listed above.

From the Book

How to measure a life? After a career of service, retired four-star general Stanley McChrystal had much to contemplate. He pondered his successes and failures, his beliefs and aspirations, and asked himself, Who am I, really? And more importantly, who have I become? When I die, how will I be measured? In the end, McChrystal came to a conclusion as simple as it was profound: the reality of who we are cannot be recorded in dates or accomplishments. It is found in our character—the most accurate, and last full measure, of who we choose to be.    

On Character offers McChrystal’s blueprint for living with purpose and integrity, challenging us to examine not just our deeds but who we become through them. Drawing from a lifetime of experience, he distills profound insights on setting and meeting standards, aligning actions with beliefs, and offers practical advice on overcoming obstacles and pursuing self-improvement.    

According to McChrystal, character is not a trait inherited at birth, nor does it automatically come from education, position, or experience. Character, instead, comes down to a succession of choices, most mundane, several momentous, that reveal the deep truth of our capacity for virtue.    

In an era where understanding and upholding our ideals is more crucial than ever, On Character offers an inspiring roadmap for personal growth and integrity—a call to become our best selves, both as individuals and as Americans.