Thank You for Your Service (But What Does that Really Mean) - Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.

Less than 1% of Americans serve in the military today, and most who do come from military families or communities. This creates two separate Americas: one that serves and one that doesn't really understand what modern military service means. Most civilians—including some who may be appointed to leadership positions in the Defense Department—have little idea what today's military actually does beyond the Hollywood stereotypes. Meanwhile, military members can become isolated from rapid changes in civilian society. This growing gap has real consequences for both democracy and policymaking.

Join the Institute of Politics for a breakfast conversation between Alex Wagner, the former "chief people officer" of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force and General CQ Brown Jr., who served as Chief of Staff of the Air Force and then as the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, before being fired by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth in early 2025. Brown will share his unique perspective on military leadership at the highest levels, from advising presidents on global threats to navigating complex relationships with civilian bosses. They'll discuss his historic career, leadership lessons along the way, and reveal what senior political appointees should know when working alongside military leadership. This is a rare opportunity to engage the former highest-ranked military officer in the nation and someone at the center of one of the most politically charged periods in modern civil-military relations.

*Free Breakfast

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