Virtual Event | The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century with General Frank McKenzie

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As the commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie (Ret.) oversaw some of the most important—and debated—operations in modern U.S. military history. In his new book, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, General McKenzie shares insightful lessons about the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, civil-military relations, his experience as a combatant commander, and the importance of leadership in action.

On Thursday, June 13, CNAS hosted General McKenzie in conversation with Richard Fontaine, chief executive officer at the Center for a New American Security, to discuss hard-learned lessons from a pivotal time in American history and the future of U.S. policy in the Middle East.

General Frank McKenzie, USMC, retired as the fourteenth commander of U.S. Central Command in 2022, completing a forty-two-year career as a Marine. Prior to Central Command, he served as the Director of the Joint Staff. He is currently the Executive Director of the Global and National Security Institute and the Florida Center for Cyber Security at the University of South Florida and resides in Tampa Bay.

Featuring:

General Frank McKenzie
Former Commander of U.S. Central Command

Richard Fontaine
Chief Executive Officer
Center for a New American Security