ABOUT THE SPEAKER

General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.) served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-2012 and as commander of U.S. Central Command from 2008-2010. His highly decorated 37-year military career included combat commanderships of the Surge in Iraq and the U.S./Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He established the KKR Global Institute in 2013 and is a partner with the global investment firm KKR. Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Meredith M. Walker is Principal and Global Economist at MMW Research, a leading business consultancy, is a renowned speaker, author, and media commentator specializing in strategic insights on the economy, geopolitics, and technology. A member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and the National Association for Business Economics, she focuses her research on cross-sector solutions to global challenges in security and sustainability. Walker serves as the President of America’s Future Series and Megellas Award Trustee, leading forums on cybersecurity, space, and defense innovation. With a diverse background including roles as the EarthX Chief Economist and XPRIZE Foundation Global Economist, she has a strong commitment to building international understanding and fostering a better world. She holds a BA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, showcasing a dedication to academic excellence and international collaboration.

About the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture

Mel Kusin (1926-2018) was a World War II veteran and University of Illinois alumnus. Mel Kusin’s association with the Council goes back two decades when he established the International Perspectives Series, a joint program with the American Jewish Committee of Dallas. The series has brought some of the nation’s foremost scholars and thinkers on U.S. foreign policy to Dallas. To honor Mel and his legacy, the Mel Kusin National Security Lecture was established in the fall of 2018 and has since featured Ambassador Michael McFaul, Michael O’Hanlon, and Charles Kupchan.