McChrystal Brings Lesson on Character to Georgia Tech

Work on your character, be honest with yourself, and never stop reading. That was the advice from retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal at a recent fireside chat in the John Lewis Student Center’s Walter Ehmer Theater. 

"Character is the essence of who we are," McChrystal told the audience, "but it is also the product of the discipline we have to actually live to that.” 

The retired general visited campus April 13 at the invitation of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. 

In his conversation with Nunn School Professor of the Practice John Tien, a former Army colonel and intelligence official, the retired general reflected on the fragility of national unity and the "tactical choices" that define a life. 

McChrystal said vulnerability and the ability to admit error are crucial for developing leadership qualities. He told the audience about a decision he had made that later led operators to hesitate in calling for necessary air support, a mistake he owned instead of explaining away. 

To sharpen the judgment required for such moments, McChrystal urged students to view reading as a way to experience the lives and mistakes of others.  

“As soon as you stop [reading], I think you stop thinking," he said. 

McChrystal noted the high level of distrust in government across much of society. Coming to expect lying or stealing from a political leader can lead some to conclude that it’s ok for you to do that, too, he said. He urged audience members to resist that urge. 

To counter political polarization and distrust, McChrystal proposed mandatory national service, suggesting that such a year spent serving other Americans and meeting those with different accents and attitudes would create "shareholders" in the nation who are more likely to vote, and to engage with and learn from those from different backgrounds. 

Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera noted that the talk coincided with the launch of the Georgia Tech Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership and highlights the Institute’s desire to graduate leaders prepared to guide society. 

“We don’t say, 'We’re going to educate engineers or architects,” he said. “We say, ‘We’re going to develop leaders."