Off Duty
One of the most consequential decisions George Marshall had to make during his time as Army Chief of Staff during World War II was to cap Army Divisions at 90.
Dubbed the "90-division gamble," this strategy focused on preserving a strong reserve force rather than quickly increasing the number of active frontline divisions. Striking the right balance between deploying an effective combat force with the industrial needs of the war effort was a fine line Marshall was forced to walk, and the final decision was influenced by a myriad of factors, some of which were outside of his control.
With the return of great power competition and the potential for conflict across multiple geographic regions, Curtis will examine what lessons today’s leaders can learn from Marshall’s decision-making process during this critical moment in history.
Event Details
This event will be in person in Leesburg, VA. Registration for this event has not opened yet.
BIOGRAPHY
Jack Curtis was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2010 with a degree in History. His senior thesis, Marshall and The Politics of Command: 1901-June 6th, 1944, was awarded VMI’s Garnett Andrews Prize for the top paper on military history.
Mr. Curtis commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Armor Officer. He supported Operation Enduring Freedom with two deployments to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan from 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 as a Reconnaissance and Scout Platoon Leader and a Company Executive Officer.
Upon leaving active duty in 2014, Mr. Curtis continued serving in the Army Reserves in various military intelligence positions until 2023. For the past decade, he has worked as a consultant for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. He now serves as a Managing Consultant at Guidehouse, providing support to the Department of the Navy and the United States Coast Guard. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Arizona State University in World War II Studies.