The Wars in Iraq and Afgahnistan: One Soldier's Perspective

General David D. McKiernan (U.S. Army, ret.), former top U.S. combat officer in both Afghanistan and Iraq, will lecture on a “soldier’s perspective” on both wars at Boston University on Tuesday, April 9, 2013. The public is invited to the 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. lecture sponsored by the Boston University Department of International Relations. General David D. McKiernan (U.S. Army, Retired) served from mid-2008 to mid-2009 as the commander of all U.S. military and coalition forces in Afghanistan numbering over 100,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and Special Forces. General McKiernan also led all ground forces into Iraq in 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, removing Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party from power, with a 160,000-person joint and coalition formation. He retired in August 2009 and was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM) for his exceptional performance of duty towards national security and defense of the United States of America. General McKiernan graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1972. He was commissioned from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and entered active duty as an Armor officer. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Shippensburg University and an honorary doctorate in public service from the College of William & Mary.