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Frank McKenzie: American College of Trial Lawyers September 2024
Gen. (R) Frank McKenzie, Jr.
42 Years of Military Service, CENTCOM Commander, Cybersecurity and Crisis Leadership Expert
- Internationally recognized leader in defense and security affairs, adept and comfortable working at the nexus of policy, statecraft, security, industry, and politics
- Unparalleled experience leading large organizations through periods of extreme stress or rapid transition, including crisis leadership
- Strategist, negotiator, team builder, problem solver at the interagency and international level
- Strong communicator in all forms of media, with a clear understanding of the new and disruptive forms of mass communication and disinformation
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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, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) for the Joint Staff, and Director of the Joint Staff.
General McKenzie played a pivotal role in critical military operations, including leading efforts to strike 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 has been published widely, including in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. He has written two books, including his latest, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century. Known for his exceptional leadership and operational expertise, General McKenzie is a sought-after speaker on global security, military strategy, and leadership.
Speaker Video
Frank McKenzie: State Secrets Podcast | The Cipher Brief
Frank McKenzie: GNSI Tampa Summit 4
Frank McKenzie: GNSI Policy Dialogues - The Iran Enigma
Overview of Global Hot Spots, and what it means for the U.S. economy:
Discussion of what’s going on in the Middle East, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific. Discussion of each geographic area, then a review of the global linkages. Ultimately I will work back to a summary of potential economic impacts.
Managing Risk around the Globe:
Understanding how to think about risk. What are the best ways to describe risk, and mitigate its consequences? Based on historical examples, and presented in a case study approach.
What’s Going on in the Middle East? What does it mean?
A discussion of events in the Middle East, leading up to today’s complex situation. Discussion of the role of Iran, Israel, the United States, and other actors. Updated to reflect most recent events.
Command and leadership in war in the 21st Century:
The perspective of a geographic combatant commander. How leadership works at the pinnacle of the chain of command. How decisions are made. How risk is apportioned. This presentation is based on material from my book on this subject.
What Happened in Afghanistan?
U.S. national security decision making: the good, the bad, and the ugly. A discussion of the decisions that led to August 2021. This material mixes analysis and a first-person perspective.
Civ-Mil Relations:
How the U.S. military interacts with elected and appointed civilian leadership. Is there a crisis in civ-mil relations, as many have argued? I don’t think so, and will discuss this in detail, using specific examples from my personal experience.
