James Mattis, a retired four-star general and former secretary of defense, will speak in Erie on Oct. 7.
Mattis, who led the Department of Defense under President Donald Trump between 2017 and 2018, will serve as keynote speaker for the Manufacturer & Business Association‘s 121st Annual Event.
Mattis, who will speak at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center, joins a long line of prominent speakers hosted by the MBA.
General James Mattis will speak Oct. 7 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center for the Manufacturer & Business Association’s Annual Event.
That list includes former Whitehouse spokeswoman Dana Perino, pilot C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush; former secretary of State Colin Powell; Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and General Electric CEO Jack Welch.
“As we celebrate America’s 250th this year, General Mattis is the perfect choice for our keynote speaker,” Lori Joint, CEO of the MBA, said in a statement. “He is a dedicated patriot, intellectual and strategist and exemplifies leading with insight, courage and compassion.”
A veteran of three wars, Mattis spent 44 years in the Marines, rising from an 18-year-old reservist to the rank of four-star general.
He ended his military career as the as head of the U.S. Central Command, where he was in charge of all American forces serving in the Middle East and oversaw operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as parts of Syria, Iran and Yemen.
Mattis resigned his cabinet position in December of 2018 over Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria and the administration’s treatment of international alliances, according to a New York Times account.
Tickets for the MBA’s annual event sell out each year. Joint expects this year will be no exception.
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“We are thrilled that he will share his message with our members and guests about how leaders inspire commitment, navigate uncertainty and lead by example,” Joint said in a statement.
Tickets are $2,500 for a table of 10.
Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: James Mattis to give keynote address at MBA event in Erie