James Cartwright

Innovation and Technology. Cartwright is known as one of the military’s most original thinkers, and he is cited as possessing a unique blend of technical and strategic brilliance. Known for having jolted the military establishment out of complacency, General Cartwright addresses innovation and what great innovation requires of an organization – diversity and great leaders. He gives a futuristic look at what is coming down the pipeline, including quantum computing, and the opportunities these advancements provide for business and society. He also discusses how crowd-sourcing, data mining, trend spotting, cloud computing and how other advancements in technology and science are currently affecting organizations today – from what they can do with these new tools and information to how they should start thinking of innovation for themselves. Cartwright also addresses how to lead innovation within an organization.

Medical Advancements and Innovation. In this presentation, General Cartwright addresses the medical advancements that have come from the United States’ recent wars and how innovation will affect not only the future of the military but also the quality of life of our nation’s citizens. For example, nowadays, if you are injuring in combat, if medical personnel can reach you within an hour, you will most likely survive. He also explains what this technology means for businesses. The range of medical advancements discussed includes prosthetics (and how doctors are able to trick patients’ brains into believing that they are actual limbs, which also reduces phantom pain), biochip implants, man-made nerve pathways, and more. Cartwright stresses that leaders have a moral obligation to take care of their servicemen and women – and not just in battle, but all through their lives and all through our own lives.

Cyber Security. Cartwright is known as a recognized expert on cyber issues, having worked during his 40-year career to develop new strategies to tackle cyber, nuclear proliferation, space, and missile defense issues. He raised the profile of cyber security while still in uniform and believes that the increasing intensity and frequency of network attacks by hackers underscores the need for an effective deterrent. Maintaining that the U.S. needs to disclose its offensive cyber capabilities in order to deter attacks (instead of merely defending against them), General Cartwright discusses the current cyber security environment, our real risks, and how we can mitigate them. In a statement, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said, “He saw [the use of cyber space] as a major emerging threat…and put STRATCOM on a footing to deal with cyber as a major strategic issue.”

The Role of Leaders. General Cartwright looks at the role of leaders and leadership today and what it takes to be truly great. Citing lifelong learning and the need to recognize diverse expertise (both in terms of a person’s background and area of study) as the top two determining factors of a leader’s success or failure, Cartwright shares the leadership lessons he learned in action. Due to its make-up, the military is also particularly adept at training an older generation how to communicate and lead a younger one (the average age of enlistment is 20 years-old), and General Cartwright shares how businesses can overcome the age gap in any area of their organizations. The diversity of the military (in terms of characteristics like personal religion and race and also factors like geography) gives Cartwright unique insight into how to lead and manage a disparate culture. He also explains how scientists are just now starting to understand how our brains learn information and the implications and impact this should have on how people lead.

The Changing Nature of National Security. As the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the former commander of U.S. Strategic Command, General Cartwright is intimately familiar with the current status of our country’s national security, how it has evolved over the past several decades, and where the focus is heading in the future. Time and again, Cartwright has proven himself instrumental in the national security debate. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Cartwright was the first person he turned to for guidance on how to reel in Osama bin Laden after receiving intelligence reports on the al-Qaeda leaders’s whereabouts in Abbottabad. Cartwright “was instrumental in helping us to plan and execute the operation that took bin Laden down.” Also known as an expert in cyber security, General Cartwright discusses how advancements in technology affect national security and what we need as a nation in order to be as safe as possible. He also addresses what the status of our national security means for businesses at home and on the global stage.

Travels From


Local Fee Range
$20,001.00 to $30,000.00

West Coast Fee Range
$25,001.00 to $50,000.00

East Coast Fee Range
$25,001.00 to $50,000.00

This specific fee falls within this range. Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact your Leading Authorities representative.