by Mark Hyatt
Executive Director and CEO
Character Education Partnership
Whether or not you consider the scandal that caused CIA Director David Petraeus to resign to be a character failure, most feel that the celebrated General’s ability to lead the intelligence agency had been irreparably compromised. To many of us—especially those with military experience—David Petraeus is a great American public servant and one of the most respected military leaders in modern times. In fact, on a recent trip to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, I stayed in the Thayer Hotel. Across the hall from my room was “The David Petraeus Suite.” From Washington to Eisenhower to Colin Powell, our top military leaders have always captured our imagination and respect. Hungering for heroes, we marvel at how they can shoulder so much responsibility and somehow do so with unfailing honor, integrity, logic and decisiveness.
At least that is what we hope is the case.
Ask yourself, ‘In the past 30 years, how many generals and admirals have we lost in combat?’ Answer: Next to none. But how many have we lost to “character related issues”? Too many, I’m afraid. And like it or not, as defined by Article 134 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice—adultery; in addition to financial improprieties, improper sexual conduct with personnel under their supervision, inappropriate use of authority, and more—the fact is that these failings by top government officials do pose a real threat to our national security.
After investing millions of taxpayer dollars and decades of the best education, training and hands-on experience, Americas’ top military minds are quite literally national treasures. We expect them to honorably lead our military forces whenever and wherever they are needed. That is their return on the public’s collective investment and the faith that we have put in them. So, to lose someone as skilled and as experienced as Gen. Petraeus is a both a terrible waste and a national tragedy. Of course, some argue that these are acceptable losses, the reason that the chain of command exists. In his first book, Colin Powell recalled these sobering words from his orientation upon being promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General. “If we took all of you newly minted generals, put you in an airplane and flew you into a mountain, we could go to the next batch of colonels, promote them, and our nation would be just fine,” said one revered, retired four-star general.
Well, I have a problem with that.
Our military has a highly selective promotion system for its officers. It’s either up or out. No in-between. The top officers are not just a meritocracy; they are groomed for 20-30 years with high-level academics, progressively more responsibility, and challenged with character lessons and unique experiences along the journey that test their mettle. They are held accountable to the highest professional and personal standards and asked to hold those around them to the same. The goal is to prepare them so that when bullets start flying, they can be trusted to exercise wisdom and discretion in managing vast arsenals and the lives of hundreds of thousands of our most precious commodities—our young soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen.
Trust is everything.
It is the superglue of effective leadership—the one thing that holds organizations together during the most trying of times. It is also the miracle ingredient in any successful relationship.
Recently, I was asked to be a character reference for one of our most senior government officials as his security clearance was being updated. The Defense Investigative Service met with me face-to-face and asked the most sensitive questions about the candidate’s personal life—his financial status, trustworthiness, social drinking habits, joke-telling, and much more. We want our leaders to be people of good character who have no vulnerability for possible compromise. We need them to demonstrate integrity, responsibility, personal discipline, moral courage, grit, resilience and more. And when they fail, they must hold themselves accountable.
It appears that Gen. Petraeus, in stepping down as CIA Director, has fulfilled that last requirement. I applaud his decision. David Petraeus is no doubt disappointed in himself from all of this and terribly hurt by how is personal failing embarrassed and hurt those closest to him. Even so, something tells me that we have not seen the end of what this man can and will contribute to our nation.
If America loves anything more than winning, it’s winners who come back from being left for dead. I’m confident David Petraeus has not made his last contribution to America. So, while others in the gallery may hoot and jeer at his demise, I will continue to root for the strong character that we know is still inside this good, but flawed man.
