Precision Guided Podcast | Book Talk – The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century – Georgetown Security Studies Review

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Podcast host Zach Markenson speaks with former Combatant Commander of the United States Central Command, General McKenzie (R), about his recently released book, “The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century.” General McKenzie provides detailed accounts of some of the most consequential recent military operations he oversaw, including the U.S. strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, leader of the IRGC’s Quds Force, the Special Operations raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also discusses how CENTCOM has handled heightened tensions with Iran and gives his perspective on the long-term impact of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr. (R) is the former Combatant Commander of the United States Central Command. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Gen McKenzie was commissioned into the Marine Corps and trained as an infantry officer after graduating from The Citadel in 1979.

He has commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and component levels. As a lieutenant colonel, he commanded First Battalion, Sixth Marine Corps. As commanding officer of the 22nd MEU (SOC), he led the MEU in combat operations in Afghanistan in 2004 and Iraq in 2005-2006. In 2006-2007, he served as the military secretary to the 33rd and 34th Commandants of the Marine Corps.

In June 2014, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command. In October 2015, he was assigned to the Joint Staff to serve as Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, J5. In July 2017, he was appointed Director of the Joint Staff. General McKenzie was promoted to his highest rank and assumed command of U.S. Central Command from 2019 to 2022.