Commencement Forum: Global Threats and the Future of Public Service

Why It Matters

Dunford’s insights signal urgent strategic recalibration for U.S. defense and policy makers, emphasizing that lagging innovation and weakened alliances could jeopardize national security and democratic governance.

Key Takeaways

• Global order shifting as autocratic powers deepen cooperation
• Technological acceleration outpaces military adaptation, raising security gaps
• U.S. advantage eroding due to complacency and adversary targeting
• AI, quantum, synthetic biology reshape defense and economic competition
• Leadership hinges on alliances, rapid innovation, and institutional renewal

Summary

The Brown Watson School’s commencement forum featured retired Marine General Joe Dunford, who reflected on the evolving international order and the role of public service in navigating it. He highlighted the growing alignment among Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and warned that the United States lacks modern mechanisms for conflict resolution, arms control, and non‑proliferation.

Dunford stressed that the pace of geopolitical and technological change now unfolds within a news cycle, outstripping the military’s traditional, slower adaptation processes. He identified artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and synthetic biology as the “big three” technologies reshaping both security and the broader economy, while noting that U.S. power‑projection advantages have eroded after decades of complacency.

Citing Henry Kissinger’s 2014 observation that we live in the most complex era since World War II, Dunford illustrated how today’s lieutenants confront a landscape that transforms in days rather than decades. He recounted personal anecdotes about mentorship and duty, underscoring that principled leadership and institutional trust remain essential amid rapid disruption.

The discussion concluded that America must revitalize its alliance network, accelerate innovation pipelines, and reform bureaucratic structures to remain credible. For future leaders, the message is clear: effective public service now demands agility, technological fluency, and a commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.

Original Description

What does it take to lead in an era of global volatility? Honorary Degree Recipient General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC (Ret.), the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), sits down with Watson School Dean, John N. Friedman, for a candid look at the challenges facing the next generation.

Drawing on his experience as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, General Dunford will discuss his path from New England to the Marine Corps and the top ranks of the Pentagon, providing his perspective on the reemergence of Great Power competition and the rise of disruptive technologies. Together, they will explore the urgent need for bipartisan consensus, the vital importance of a non-partisan civil service, and how America can strengthen its global alliances to navigate a shifting world order.

About General Dunford

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. is a U.S. military leader who has dedicated four decades of military and public service to the nation.

As the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2015 to 2019, he served as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council. A member of the U.S. Marine Corps since 1977, Dunford was the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps and commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He retired from military service in 2019.

A leading expert in national security and geopolitics, Dunford begins a new role this spring as CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and chairs the board for the Adams Presidential Center.

Dunford is a dedicated advocate for military veterans and active-duty service members. He is chairman of the board for Semper Fi & America’s Fund, which supports wounded and ill service members. He also serves on the board of the Travis Manion Foundation.

Dunford earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Saint Michael’s College, a master’s in government at Georgetown University and a master’s in international relations at Tufts University.