On Sept. 13, Gen. (ret) Carter Ham, president of the Association of the United States Army, will visit the University of North Georgia's Dahlonega Campus next week to learn about the university's Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies, and will address UNG's Corps of Cadets.
UNG's Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies assesses the leadership education and competencies required for cadet graduates in demand by the U.S. Army, federal agencies, and multinational corporations. The institute facilitates and develops the educational programs for UNG cadets that serve to satisfy those needs. The programs are also available to undergraduate students.
Ham, who will be at UNG Tuesday, served as an enlisted infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division, and during his career rose from a private to a four-star general. He attended John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, graduating in 1976 as a distinguished military graduate. His service has taken him to Italy, Germany, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Macedonia, Qatar, Iraq, and more than 40 African countries in addition many assignments within the U.S.
He also served as director for operations on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he oversaw all global operations. His first four-star command was as commanding general, U.S. Army Europe. In 2011, he became only the second commander of United States Africa Command, where he led all U.S. military activities on the African continent, ranging from combat operations in Libya to hostage rescue operations in Somalia, as well as training and security assistance activities across 54 African nations.
"General Ham has helped shape our modern Army into what it is today; having him on our Dahlonega Campus to learn about our programs, especially our Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies, will no doubt provide opportunities to help us take our preparation of tomorrow's military leaders to the next level," said Keith Antonia, associate vice president for military programs at UNG.
Ham retired in June 2013 after nearly 38 years of service. Immediately prior to joining the staff at AUSA, he served as the chairman of the National Commission on the Future of the Army, an eight-member panel tasked by the U.S. Congress with making recommendations on the size, force structure and capabilities of the Army.
"We hold our cadets to the highest standards, and General Ham's visit will afford them the opportunity to hear from someone who had an incredibly successful military career by holding himself to those same standards," said Col. (ret) Tom Palmer, UNG's commandant of cadets. "We are honored to have him visit our campus, and we want our cadets, particularly our seniors, to learn more about AUSA and its vital importance to all soldiers, both active and retired."
Ham's address to UNG's Corps of Cadets is open to all students, faculty, staff and the public. He will speak at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Hall Gymnasium on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.
