General Stanley McChrystal Signs With Leading Authorities, Inc. for Exclusive Lecture Representation

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Aug 18, 2010, 09:45 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Authorities, Inc., one of the nation's largest and most prominent lecture agencies and event firms, is proud to announce its representation of General Stanley McChrystal, USA (Ret.), the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan. Gen. McChrystal's crucial contributions to U.S. military operations since 9/11 include commanding Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees the military's most sensitive counter-terrorism units. McChrystal's leadership at JSOC is credited with the December 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein and the June 2006 location and killing of Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

"We are extremely proud to be representing Gen. McChrystal," said Leading Authorities founder and president Mark French. "His views on leadership, global security, and international affairs will be of immense value to our customers. There's no doubt audiences will benefit from his very unique perspectives on the strategic challenges facing our nation. Our team is thrilled to be working with him."

Gen. McChrystal will speak about leadership, management strategy and global affairs. He says, "I'm looking forward to speaking about no-nonsense, practical leadership that combines the ability to leverage the reality and opportunity of constant change with a willingness to build relationships and trust that inspires people."

The son and grandson of Army officers, McChrystal graduated from West Point in 1976 and began training at the Special Forces School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, two years later. During the Persian Gulf War, he served in a Joint Special Operations Task Force and later commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment. He completed year-long fellowships at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1997 and, in 2000, at the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2002, he was appointed chief of staff of military operations in Afghanistan. The following year, McChrystal was selected to deliver nationally televised Pentagon briefings about military operations in Iraq. From 2003 to 2008, McChrystal commanded JSOC and was responsible for leading the nation's deployed military counter-terrorism efforts around the globe.

McChrystal assumed command of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan in June 2009. He was praised for directing soldiers to limit the use of force in areas likely to produce civilian casualties, and for stressing that the only way to win the war is to earn the support of the people. Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, called McChrystal's contributions to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan "groundbreaking" and said he was "a pioneer in creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations." McChrystal retired from the military in August 2010.

About Leading Authorities, Inc. (LAI)

Leading Authorities, Inc. is one of the nation's most progressive event design firms, a renowned lecture agency, and a production house. LAI represents thought leaders in business, politics and contemporary life as well as nationally-recognized entertainment acts. Our award-winning video and production departments provide professionally managed events and cutting-edge media products. Our experiential event design experts conduct workshops to improve attendance, engagement, and return on investment. With tools such as our Strategic Event Evaluation and our Event Design Workshops, Leading Authorities is setting the standard in customized, fully integrated event design.

www.leadingauthorities.com

SOURCE Leading Authorities, Inc.