Paul Nakasone, founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, interviewed retired Army General Stanley McChrystal on character, leadership and service in the current political climate and how these themes relate to national security. Around 650 students and faculty attended this first Fall 2025 lecture of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security and Dialogue Vanderbilt’s Lecture Series on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. She spoke about the significance of the intersection of The Vanderbilt Institute of National Security and Dialogue Vanderbilt for the lecture. “By combining these conversations, we confront our nation’s most pressing issues and reflect on leadership and character required to address them,” Riedling said. “Leadership is getting people and organizations to do things that they might not otherwise do, maybe to do at a higher standard, maybe to do difficult things,” McChrystal said.