New Video: The Next Generation of Ethical Leaders

What does ethical leadership mean to you? In this new video, recent alumni of Five-Star Character: The George C. Marshall Ethical Leadership Conference offer their insights and lessons learned from our groundbreaking leadership program.

ELC Director Pete Janhunen on the importance of promoting ethical leadership at this challenging moment in history: “You hear a lot of cynicism from adults these days about the future of the country and the kind of leaders we have. I resist that narrative and I don’t want to be cynical about the future – and I don’t need to be because the students we get to meet, the kind of conversations we have, and the quality of their characters give me great optimism for the future.”

Student Testimonials

“I’ve learned a lot not only about George Marshall, but also what it means to be an ethical leader – to put others needs and wants above your own.”

“Anyone, regardless of what they want to study in the future … should definitely apply to this conference.”

Please share the video with your networks – and encourage interested students to apply now for our fall session (September 29-30).

Approved Charity: Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Certifies Marshall Center Participation

Solicitation Period for Federal Workplace Giving Campaign Begins in September

We are pleased to announce that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has cleared the Marshall Center’s application to participate as an approved charity in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) – the workplace giving program that helps the federal community, including retirees, support causes close to their heart.

CFC participation will create new opportunities for Marshall Center supporters to contribute to our efforts to educate and inspire the leaders of today and tomorrow to live out General Marshall’s enduring example of ethical leadership.

We are grateful to Marshall Center Board member Paul Michaels, whose efforts were critical to bringing this to fruition.

Our CFC number is 51415. Stay tuned for additional details when the official solicitation period opens in September.

Another Fabulous Fourth!

July 19 Off Duty Event with Bob Holcomb

Space Shuttle Challenger Accident – Examination of Decision Process & Leadership Lessons

Join us Wednesday, July 19 from 5:30-7 p.m. ET for an in-person speaker event in the Haub Room at Dodona Manor featuring Dr. Bob Holcomb, an adjunct staff member in the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Alexandria, Virginia. 

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was launched in extremely cold temperatures and, after 73 seconds of flight, disintegrated due to a failure of one of the solid rocket boosters, causing the vehicle to explode. All seven astronauts aboard perished.

In this Off Duty talk, Holcomb will present background information about how the accident occurred, the decision process to launch in such cold temperatures and how the vehicle was destroyed. In addition to the larger leadership lessons that the accident underscores, Holcomb will discuss some of the accident investigation findings and how the process was revised for future space shuttle launches.

Dr. Robert C. Holcomb is an adjunct staff member in the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Alexandria, Virginia. He earned his bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy in 1973, his master’s degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1982 and his Ph.D. in Information Technology from George Mason University in 2011. Dr. Holcomb retired from the Army in 1993 as a lieutenant colonel after a 20-year career.

NOTE: This event will be held in the Haub Room inside Dodona Manor. Seating is limited to 25 attendees. Email Casey Koester to RSVP today!

Special thanks to our in-kind sponsors for their contributions to this year's Off Duty programming

Dodona Fence Upgrade

VW Volunteers Get it Done!

Big thanks to the Accessory Department at Volkswagen for pitching in and spending your valuable volunteer hours with us!

The team worked with our Dodona Manor volunteers to replace a border fence – completing the task in just one day.

Together, they installed fence posts by hand using post hole diggers. Horizontal boards were then individually measured, cut and installed between the posts. Next time you visit, check out the new fence at Dodona Manor, just to the right of the front porch.

Thanks again, Volkswagen Accessory Team!

Thriving: Katherine Marshall's Rose Garden

Have you visited Katherine Marshall’s rose garden this year? Our volunteers have lovingly weeded, fertilized and pruned the roses all year and the flowers are repaying the effort with fabulous blooms.

One of the most stunning is the Chicago Peace Rose, which is a hybrid tea sport variety developed by Stanley Johnson for Star Roses in 1956. It was created from the original Peace rose, named to commemorate the fall of Berlin on April 29, 1945.

Check out this article from Cornell University to learn more about how to care for your own roses.

Katherine Marshall’s rose garden is thriving today thanks to a generous donation from The Rust Foundation for the restoration and maintenance of the garden. We are grateful for their support!