TOPIC:
The Soldier-Statesman in the Secret World
George C. Marshall is best known as the Allies’ “organizer of victory” during World War II and steward of the namesake economic recovery program in postwar Western Europe. Far less well-known is Marshall’s extensive engagement with the world of intelligence during those years. In his Army leadership role in World War II, his diplomatic mission to China right after the war and his service as head of the State and Defense Departments, he grappled with difficult issues concerning intelligence capabilities and authorities, security matters and political and bureaucratic conflicts that persist today in the U.S. intelligence community. How he approached them can provide insights for current intelligence leaders and practitioners as they confront those historically enduring problems.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
David Robarge is Chief Historian of the Central Intelligence Agency. He joined the CIA in 1989 and worked as a political and leadership analyst on the Middle East. After earning a Ph.D. in American history from Columbia, he moved to the History Staff in 1996 and was appointed Chief Historian in 2005.
EVENT DETAILS
Off Duty is an outdoor speaker series hosted by the George C. Marshall International Center. Each event features a speaker discussing a topic that touches on history adjacent to George C. Marshall and the times in which he lived. The events run around 90 minutes long, with light refreshments and opportunities for networking before and after the discussion.