George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership

“Presented to one recipient each year who embodies the principles of selfless service, unwavering integrity and visionary leadership that characterized the life and example of its namesake.”

George C. Marshall Award Gala

Our 2025 Award Gala is scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.

Attendees will enjoy dinner, a captivating keynote, the presentation of the annual George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership, remarks by the recipient and entertainment, all while networking and supporting the Marshall Center.

Click below to learn about our Ethical Leadership educational programs:


Ethical Leadership Awardees

  • Jen Easterly

    2024 ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AWARDEE

    Jen Easterly was nominated by President Biden as CISA Director in April 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on July 12, 2021. As Director, she leads CISA’s efforts to understand, manage and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure Americans rely on every day. A two-time recipient of the Bronze Star, Easterly retired from the U.S. Army after more than 20 years of service in intelligence and cyber operations, including tours of duty in Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

  • Dr. Robert Gates

    2023 ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AWARDEE

    Robert Gates served as the 22nd Secretary of Defense (2006-2011). He is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected President. Dr. Gates served eight U.S. presidents in total across both parties. He has led a distinguished career of service and institutional reform both in and out of government. 

  • Col. Greg Gadson

    2022 ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AWARDEE

    Colonel Gregory D. Gadson, a Chesapeake, Va., native, served our nation in the United States Army for more than 26 years. Gadson’s service culminated as the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, where he oversaw the daily operations of the post, a strategic sustaining base where more than 50,000 military personnel and employees provide logistical, intelligence, medical and administrative support, and command and control for a mix of more than 140 commands and agencies for the Department of Defense.

Profiles in Leadership