Annual Leadership & Ethics Conference to be Held
麻豆女演员 Institute鈥檚 annual Leadership and Ethics Conference hosted by the Center for Leadership and Ethics (CLE) will be held Monday, Oct. 26 and Tuesday, Oct. 27, with a pre-conference reception Sunday, Oct. 25.
This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淎merica: Forging Common Ground,鈥� an extension of the CLE鈥檚 academic year theme of 鈥淎merican Spirit 2026.鈥� The conference offers opportunities to learn from distinguished leaders and experts, engage in meaningful discussions, and develop essential skills for forging common ground in any situation. It is open to the public with discounts available to students and VMI alumni. VMI cadets, faculty, and staff may attend the two-day conference at no cost. Detailed information on the conference and registration information may be found .
Event presenters include Marc Polymeropoulos, a retired CIA operations officer, and author of the book, 鈥淐larity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the CIA;鈥� retired U.S. Army Brig Gen. Christopher Burns, who served in numerous special operation assignments as a Green Beret; and Tanya Denckla Cobb, director of the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation at the Weldon Copper Center for Public Service at UVA. The keynote speaker will be VMI alumnus, Robert Greenway 鈥�90, decorated special forces combat veteran and senior vice president at American Global Strategies, where he advises clients on defense strategy, intelligence-related risk, and international security. The closing speaker will be Beverly Gage, American history teacher at Yale University, and author of the book, 鈥淕-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,鈥� which received the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Biography.
Additionally, conference participants will learn the Braver Angels debate format, a non-competitive, discourse technique that includes active listening, critical thinking, and civil dialogue, within a light parliamentary framework.
Lt. Col. Catherine Roy, CLE marketing manager, said the event is an annual highlight for VMI.
鈥淭his year, we focus on how our country鈥檚 Founding Fathers used negotiation tactics to build consensus among the colonies and declare our independence. Negotiation, compromise and collaboration are among the skills and competencies emerging leaders need to succeed.鈥�
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