Lisa Monaco is one of the nation’s most trusted voices on national security, cyber threats, and crisis leadership—bringing decades of high-stakes experience from the courtroom, the Situation Room, and the boardroom. As former Deputy Attorney General and Homeland Security Advisor to President Obama, she led the nation’s response to global threats ranging from terrorism and pandemics to cyberattacks and disruptive technologies. With a proven track record of building strategy at the intersection of law enforcement, technology, and geopolitics, Lisa offers audiences unparalleled insight into today’s complex risk environment. Her deep operational expertise, combined with her unique ability to translate complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies, makes her an invaluable voice for organizations seeking to lead through disruption and safeguard what matters most.

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.

Dr. Phil H. Gordon is a leading expert on geopolitics, national security, and international affairs, offering audiences behind-the-scenes insights into the global landscape. As the former Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President, he advised President Biden and Vice President Harris, engaged with over 150 world leaders, and played a pivotal role in U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and crisis management. He has decades of experience at the White House, State Department, and top global think tanks, which informs his strategic knowledge of future U.S.-China relations, AI, climate change, Middle East conflicts, and the future of democracy. His engaging, insider stories and expert analysis help business and political leaders navigate uncertainty, anticipate policy shifts, and make informed decisions in an increasingly complex world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

General (Ret.) Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie, Jr. is a highly accomplished military leader and expert in international affairs, security, cybersecurity, and leadership. From 2019 to 2022, he served as the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing significant military operations and global security initiatives. He now serves as the Executive Director of the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida and Cyber Florida, the Florida Center for Cybersecurity. Over his distinguished 42-year career in the Marine Corps, General McKenzie commanded at every level, including the platoon, battalion, and component levels. Notably, he led the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq between 2004-2006. His strategic leadership roles included serving as Military Secretary to two Commandants of the Marine Corps, Director of the Chairman’s New Administration Transition Team, and Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) for the Joint Staff. General McKenzie played a pivotal role in critical military operations, including leading efforts to eliminate high-profile targets such as ISIS leaders Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his successor, as well as Qassem Soleimani. He also oversaw the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq and the complex withdrawal from Afghanistan. An accomplished scholar, General McKenzie is an honors graduate of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the School of Advanced Warfighting. He holds a master’s degree in teaching with a focus on history and has served as a Senior Military Fellow at the National Defense University. Known for his exceptional leadership and operational expertise, General McKenzie is a sought-after speaker on global security, military strategy, and leadership.

Dr. Evelyn Farkas is one of the nation’s premier voices on American foreign policy and geopolitics, and one of the nation’s most-trusted experts on U.S.-Russia relations. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia, she was the Department of Defense’s top Russia expert under President Obama. Farkas advised three Secretaries of Defense during her tenure at the Pentagon and was responsible for policy toward Russia and the surrounding region. She is an outspoken voice on how America ought to respond to adversaries and manage aggressors, ranging from Russia to North Korea to Iran and China. Expertly positioned to discuss the at times tenuous intersection of foreign objectives and domestic priorities, Dr. Farkas appears regularly on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, and other networks. She currently serves as the executive director of the McCain Institute, and her op-eds are regularly featured in leading publications. She discusses how America’s position abroad is shifting under the current presidential administration, and the global gamut of national security challenges.

Zachary Karabell is a renowned economist and the author of The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers That Rule Our World. With his prolific, award-winning writing career, illustrious background on Wall Street, and PhD from Harvard, he offers audiences a tour de force of what’s to come and shows that optimism is a vital ingredient for capitalizing on current economic opportunities. He brings a unique perspective to the discussion of globalization and the economic environment and shares insights on how to use big data to get a real picture of the global economy.

Dr. Kenneth Pollack, the Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute, is an expert on Middle Eastern political-military affairs, with an emphasis on the Persian Gulf region. With an extensive background in national security, intelligence, and foreign policy, he has also written myriad books and articles. Pollack began his career as an Iran-Iraq military analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency and twice served on the staff of the National Security Council. He addresses foreign policy, the Middle East, national security, and intelligence.

One of the foremost authorities on national security and foreign policy, Peter Bergen is CNN’s most senior security analyst and has more than 20 years experience reporting from the world’s hot spots. He has written six books, 3 of which were New York Times best-sellers, including Manhunt, which was turned into an Emmy-winning documentary. He is best known as one of the few people to interview Osama bin Laden face-to-face. Always putting himself where the action is, Bergen is a compelling and knowledgeable speaker on what’s going on in the world’s hot spots.