- Tue October 21, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Former National Security Advisor (2017-2018), Lt. Gen. McMaster (Ret.) is known for his expertise in the complex dynamics of American foreign policy. A leading military strategist for three decades, he offers critical perspectives on national security. His books include At War with Ourselves and Battlegrounds.
Lt. Gen. McMaster was the 25th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He served as a commissioned officer in the US Army for 34 years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in 2018. His extensive experience leading soldiers and organizations in wartime includes Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lt. Gen. McMaster led strategic assessments including the revision of Iraq strategy during the ‘surge’ of 2007 and efforts to develop security forces and governmental institutions in post-war Iraq. He also led an assessment and planning effort to develop a comprehensive strategy for the greater Middle East. From 2014 to 2017, he oversaw all training and education for the Army’s infantry, armor, and cavalry force.
Lt. Gen. McMaster was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984. He holds a PhD in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has written three bestselling books and published scores of essays, articles, and book reviews on leadership, history, and the future of warfare.
He is a senior at the Hoover Institution, Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University, and lecturer at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. His military awards include the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart.