General Stanley McChrystal Talks Leadership at Desert Town Hall Series

On March 28 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, the Desert Town Hall Lecture Series welcomed former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal as the final speaker for the 2013 season. Prior to the main lecture, students from various high schools were granted the opportunity to listen to a group of six retired military generals speak about taking on leadership roles as part of the Youth Town Hall program.

The six generals—Lieutenant General Herb Temple, Major General John Bianchi, Major General Ken Bouldin, Major General Phil Kaplan, Major General Kenneth Miles, and Brigadier General Guido Portante Jr.—each gave a brief speech on their militaristic endeavors as it pertained to the leadership skills they acquired during their time of service. “It’s easy to take the path of least resistance, but leaders stay the course no matter how hard it may be,” stated Brigadier General Portante Jr.

After a brief Q & A with the retired generals, General Stanley McChrystal spent a few moments before the main lecture to talk to the students in a separate room designated for Youth Town Hall. General McChrystal gave insight on the question of “Are leaders born or made?” “I think you are a leader based on what you believe and experience… The students in this room are all leaders… Make each other better,” proclaimed General McChrystal.

The four-star general then exited the Youth Town Hall room and proceeded to his main lecture in the Emerald Ballroom. General McChrystal began the lecture with some information on his family and military background. He also recalled how his father was a Vietnam veteran and how the love and support from family eases the pain slightly when going away to war.

General McChrystal referenced an assortment of historical influences that have inspired him throughout his career, such as Martin Luther King Jr., John Paul Jones, and his favorite, Admiral Horatio Nelson—a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. “[Horatio Nelson] was the victor, he was the architect, but he gave his life for victory,” praised General McChrystal.

To conclude his lecture, General McChrystal emphasized the importance of teamwork, either on the battlefield or in everyday life. “No one has the potential to do it by themselves… A team has a shared consciousness and is able to act with independent thought, but everyone owns the outcome,” he explained. General McChrystal shared stories of combat missions to support his stance on teamwork, informing the audience that the first thing a wounded soldier says when he wakes up is, “How are my buddies?”

General McChrystal covered the importance of responsibility in a leader as a final send-off to all who attended his lecture. “Sometimes you have to accept responsibility even if you aren’t completely responsible because it’s the right thing to do… If you got trust, everything will cascade into success.”