IOP Pritzker Fellow Alex Wagner on "“Thank You for Your Service” (But What Does That Really Mean?)

THIS SEMINAR IS OPEN TO CURRENT UCHICAGO STUDENTS ONLY

Thursday, October 30

12:30-1:45pm

Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military today, and most who do come from military families or communities. This creates two separate Americas: one that serves and one that doesn't really understand what modern military service means. Most civilians - including some who may be appointed to leadership positions in the DoD - have little idea what today's military actually does beyond the Hollywood stereotypes. Meanwhile, military members can become isolated from rapid changes in civilian society. This growing gap has real consequences for democracy and policymaking.

We'll hear from General CQ Brown Jr., who served as Chief of Staff of the Air Force and then as the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs before being fired by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth in early 2025. Brown will share his unique perspective on military leadership at the highest levels, from advising presidents on global threats to navigating complex relationships with civilian bosses. We’ll discuss his historic career, leadership lessons along the way, and reveal what senior political appointees should know when working alongside military leadership. This is a rare opportunity to engage the highest-ranked military officer in the nation and someone at the center of one of the most politically charged periods in modern civil-military relations.

Special Guest: General CQ Brown (Ret.), 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Pritzker Fellows seminars are off the record and open to current UChicago students only. Seating in the IOP Living Room is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Ella Kumano-Maloney (ikmaloney@uchicago.edu).