Over the past twenty years the United States has been involved in a range of conflicts, placing significant demands on the individuals who are deployed, often multiple times. These individuals have borne the brunt of civilian decisions regarding when, how and where to use force, as well as what the goals of these conflicts should be. The challenges of war are not often well communicated to civilian policymakers. This series seeks to engage with military personnel and gain a broader perspective of the challenges they face.
About the Speaker
Lieutenant General Laura Potter, USA (Ret'd) is a senior defense, national security and intelligence community leader with over 36 years of experience. She concluded her distinguished career in the U.S. Army as the Director of the Army Staff, involved in the daily global operations of the Army. Prior to that, she served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 (Intelligence), responsible for advising the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army on intelligence, counterintelligence, security and intelligence acquisition, and leading a global enterprise of over 58,000 men and women.
She has commanded at every echelon, from company command to Commanding General of the Army’s Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, Arizona, responsible for intelligence training, modernization, and innovation; and for leading installation programs to support families, environmental stewardship, and base resilience.
Her overseas assignments include the Republic of Korea, NATO Headquarters in Belgium and three tours in Germany, culminating in service as the Senior Intelligence Officer (J-2) for U.S. European Command. Her deployments include the Republic of Georgia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lieutenant General Potter holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Russian from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, a master’s degree (with distinction) from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree (with distinction) in National Security Strategy from the Naval War College.
Lieutenant General Potter is the CEO of Potter Global Solutions LLC and advises companies in the national security sector. Passionate about the well-being of veterans and families, she serves on the Board of America’s Warrior Partnership, dedicated to empowering veterans and communities to improve and save lives.
This event is generously sponsored by the Institute for Public Leadership.