Spotlighting Those Who Served

Admiral Bill McRaven: We Are the Good Guys

Admiral William H. McRaven has had one of the most storied careers of any soldier in American military history. He oversaw the operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the rescue of Captain Phillips, and the capture of Saddam Hussein. RDI was proud to present him with the 2025 Heroes of Democracy Award at our gala last month.

In his speech there, Admiral McRaven showcased the vision and commitment to service typical of our nation’s top brass. He set forth a positive vision for American leadership as an alternative to the transactionalism and nihilism gaining purchase in the corridors of power.

The Secrets of Effective Leaders—Good & Evil

General McChrystal, a member of RDI’s advisory board, led US Joint Special Operations Command and served as commander of the International Security Assistance Force and United States forces in Afghanistan. Like any seasoned officer, he can quickly recognize a capable leader—even when they’re in the enemy trenches.

In this interview with RDI Chairman Garry Kasparov, General McChrystal shares his insights into what makes for strong leadership. Some of the names whose leadership he praises may surprise you!

Russia First

The strength of America’s military isn’t just measured in firepower but in the power of our knowledge. The US devotes significant resources to educating America’s most promising military leaders and leveraging their expertise to advance our national interests.

RDI Board Member Lt. Col. Vindman is one such leader—as he rose through the ranks, the government supported his academic study of Eastern Europe, and he ultimately served as an attache at the US embassies in Kyiv and Moscow before joining the National Security Council.

Drawing on those experiences, Vindman speaks with RDI’s Evan Gottesman and shares unsparing insights into the flaws of the US approach to Russia and Ukraine—with a recommendation for how to build something better.

War Isn’t What You Think It Is

War isn’t just 10-second snapshots on TikTok and Instagram. It’s a terrible and complicated affair. That’s especially true in the crowded urban battlefields of places like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

Major John Spencer, the chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, understands this well. In an interview with Garry Kasparov, Major Spencer takes us from ancient Greece to Kherson and Khan Yunis.

General Ben Hodges: From Minerals to Missiles

In order for the United States and other democracies to remain democratic, the military must be answerable to civilian authority. That means that officers are frequently tasked with the fraught task of executing on a political vision they may personally disagree with.

General Ben Hodges, an RDI board member and former commander of the US Army in Europe, performs that duty admirably. A passionate advocate for the US-Ukraine alliance, it’s no secret that he disagrees with the Trump administration’s approach to Kyiv. But his latest piece for The Next Move maps out a realistic strategy for supporting Ukraine within the political constraints created by our democratically elected leaders.