By RICKY BORDELON

OPINIONS EDITOR

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, USN ret., visited Rose Hill campus on March 25 to present a lecture entitled, “Reflections from the Top.”  In front of a large crowd in Tognino Hall, Mullen delivered his lecture and answered questions about many topics ranging from the sequester to drone strikes.

Mullen, who was the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, served as the highest-ranking member of the United States armed forces from 2007 through 2011, under both President Bush and President Obama.  His lecture consisted of a reflection on his life, his rise through the military and the lessons he learned throughout his experience.  He examined his life from growing up in a family that had gone “to the West Coast to find their dreams” to his appointment as the Chair by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in October 2007.

He also reflected on what it means to fail.

“I learned so much more when I failed than when I succeeded…It’s about how you get up and whom you talk to about it,” Mullen said.

During the question-and-answer session, Mullen emphasized the importance of diplomacy in the U.S. foreign policy.

“Every war the end is a political solution,” he said. “Every single one.”

Mullen underscored how serious and dangerous war is and that if the U.S. worked harder diplomatically with other nations, war would be prevented.

Mullen further highlighted that problems in the world are not going away and that the U.S. should proactively seek diplomatic solutions.

Mullen’s lecture appeared to be well-received.

“It was refreshing to hear such a high-ranking member of the military acknowledge the extent of the militarization of the United States and remind everyone that diplomacy is just as, if not more, important in the world we live in,” Megan McLaughlin, FCRH ‘15, said. “As a nation, we shouldn’t forget that fostering positive relationships with other countries can be far more effective than deploying troops or drones.”

After his lecture, Mullen visited Dr. Marcus Holmes’ Introduction to International Politics class to speak candidly with the students about leadership and answer their questions about international relations and other issues.

He emphasized the service aspect of leadership: “You’re going to have to lead… be leaders that make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

Mullen went on to answer students’ questions on topics ranging from North Korea to Zero Dark Thirty to Iran to foreign perceptions of America and the use of the military.

Overall, he underscored the importance of diplomacy again.

“I think we’re way too militarized…I’m not sure if there’s any such thing as a good war,” Mullen said.

Political polarization and American values were also a hot topic of discussion in which he emphasized the need for compromise in the realm of domestic politics as well as international politics.

Overall, in both his lecture and his following talk with Holmes’ class, Mullen highlighted “how challenging the world we are in now is” and the need for political solutions in situations where the tendency is to simply “reach for the gun.”