Rick Atkinson is a best-selling author, Pulitzer Prize and George Polk Award winner, and Washington Post journalist. He is the author of the Liberation Trilogy, a history of Europe in World War II, as well as the highly-anticipated 2019 Revolution Trilogy. He is also the author of The Long Gray Line, Crusade, and In the Company of Soldiers. With incredible depth of knowledge and recall for facts and figures, Atkinson shares vivid stories about what military history (both the good and the bad) teaches us about leadership from the generals that shaped history.

A powerful voice in the Intelligence Community and one of its leading national security professionals, Eric Traupe is the former assistant director of the CIA for the Near East and served on the front lines of U.S. counterterrorism efforts for more than 20 years. He remains a trusted advisor to our nation’s highest-ranking leaders, having advised CIA directors, presidents, cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress, and participated in momentous White House strategic, policy, and resource decisions. Traupe has tackled the full range of U.S. national security issues, and his leadership, acumen, and unmatched ability to cultivate enduring relationships between the U.S. and its foreign partners continues to be heralded in intelligence circles. To complement his highly sought-after leadership insights, Traupe is masterfully skilled at engaging audiences with his captivating perspectives on today’s top issues in risk management, national intelligence, and the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape.

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is one of the finest intelligence minds of the 21st century. In the midst of shifting national security policies and varying threats to American interests at home and abroad, Clapper illuminates a broad array of intelligence-related issues.

General Stanley McChrystal is a four-star general, the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and the former leader of Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees the most sensitive counter-terrorism units. He is widely praised for revolutionizing warfare by fusing intelligence and operations and is credited with the capture of Saddam Hussein and the location and killing al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called McChrystal “one of America’s greatest warriors.” McChrystal addresses leadership, teambuilding, and geopolitics.

The former Acting and Deputy Director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe led a historic career as an American intelligence official. Named Acting Director of the FBI in May 2017, McCabe spent a total of 22 years at the FBI in various, increasingly-prominent roles. The New York Times said that McCabe “stood out [at the FBI] for his intellect and the range of high-profile cases he has been at the center of,” and The LA Times called him “a methodical investigator who assiduously worked to earn the trust of victims and, particularly, informants and witnesses.” Known for his incredible rise through the counter-terrorism and national security ranks to ultimately reach the top of the Bureau, McCabe worked such high-profile cases as the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The author of the highly-anticipated 2019 book "The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump," he is exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, and discusses complex, critical issues including national security and cyber security with precision and clarity.

General Michael Hayden, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), was on the frontlines of geopolitics and the war on terror. A two-time New York Times best-selling author, he served nearly 40 years in the Air Force. The longest-tenured NSA director and the number one military intelligence officer in the country, Gen. Hayden oversaw the entire security community. He has also served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, the National Security Council, and more. Hayden addresses security, intelligence, crisis management, terrorism, and geopolitics.

General John Allen is one of the nation’s most legendary military leaders and most respected thought leaders on U.S.-global engagement. When President Obama created the appointment of special envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, General Allen was the first American tapped to confront the Islamic State terror group. Widely hailed as a strategic thinker and a true battlefield leader, Gen. Allen is one of the nation’s foremost experts on the geopolitical relationships between U.S. and Asia and the Middle East. A unique combination of warrior and diplomat, Allen shares awe-inspiring stories of the challenges facing our nation, the keys to combating the enemy, and the leadership lessons that can be applied to today’s business environment.

Revered as a uniquely-skilled “warrior-diplomat,” General John Nicholson retired in September 2018 from his post as Commander of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan and NATO’s Resolute Support mission. In this role, Gen. Nicholson led a 41-nation coalition war effort. The longest serving Commander of the Afghan war, he oversaw a $46.3 billion budget and roughly 14,000 international troops. A combat-seasoned military legend, he discusses coalition building, strengthening culture through collaboration, leadership, geopolitics, and organizational success in the 21st century.

Michael Morell is the former deputy director – and twice acting director – of the CIA and one of the agency’s most legendary leaders. One of the country’s most-respected national security experts, he is the only official who was with both President Bush during September 11th and President Obama during the raid on Osama Bin Laden – which Morell had been integral in planning. He is an emotionally-moving storyteller, and in high-impact presentations, he shares insights and insider stories on current events and geopolitics as he navigates the clandestine web of politics and security.

Michael Beschloss is a specialist in the United States presidency and the author of nine books. In November 2013, he was appointed as a contributing columnist on history for The New York Times. Michael shares lessons learned from Presidential history and applies them to today's leaders.

Renowned journalist, author, and political commentator who keeps his finger on the pulse of modern American politics, speaking to every audience about current events and what the future holds. Widely known as the journalistic icon who broke the deeply disturbing news of the Watergate scandal. Bob Woodward is a reporter-historian with an aggressive but fair and non-partisan reputation for digging deep to uncover Washington’s secrets. He gives audiences unvarnished look at Washington politics and leaders.

Michael Vickers is one of the most accomplished and legendary senior intelligence officials of the last four decades. The former under secretary of defense for intelligence – the “CEO” of our nation’s defense intelligence enterprise that includes agencies like the NSA, he understands the current geopolitical environment like no one else. This Green Beret-turned-CIA operative-turned top Pentagon intelligence official shares insights and eye-opening stories on challenges to the current world order (including what’s at stake for American business) and where we still have work to do.