Join us as we delve into the remarkable career of Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, beginning with his formative years in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and his decision to attend West Point. Eikenberry shares how a pivotal encounter with Major Tom Griffin, along with the unwavering support of his parents and a dedicated congressman, led him to the United States Military Academy. At West Point, he distinguished himself as a dedicated cadet, excelling in economics and Mandarin Chinese, which played a crucial role in shaping his understanding of international affairs.

Karl Eikenberry is the former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and a retired Lieutenant General of the U.S. Army. He is a faculty member at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University. Ambassador Eikenberry also serves on the board of Asia Society Northern California. Previously, he was the Director of the U.S.-Asia Security Initiative at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University and an affiliate with several of Stanford’s research centers. His military career spanned thirty-five years, during which he held various command and staff positions in the U.S., Hawaii, Korea, Italy, and Afghanistan.

Eikenberry’s early military career unfolded during a challenging time for the U.S. Army, transitioning from the Vietnam War era to a volunteer force. He discusses his leadership experiences on the Korean Peninsula and with the 1st Ranger Battalion, highlighting the lessons learned about maintaining high standards and effective leadership. The conversation then shifts to his extensive involvement with China, detailing his early visits and role as an assistant army attaché in Beijing, and emphasizing the evolving dynamics between the U.S. and China.

Finally, we discuss Eikenberry's tenure as the Commander of Combined Forces in Afghanistan and his subsequent appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. He reflects on the complexities of leading coalition forces and the transition from military to diplomatic roles. The episode also covers his academic pursuits, contributions to national security through think tanks, and the invaluable role of networking and continuous learning. Eikenberry concludes by sharing his admiration for the young leaders at the U.S. Military Academy, expressing hope for the future through their dedication and enthusiasm.

Key Quote:

“With your time in the academy, if you use this well then what you're doing is you're developing a network of resources of analysts, of people that are the professors, those that have gone back and forth from the world of policy to the academy itself. And these are a group of people that if you try to keep the networks alive, it's really going to be a good investment for you professionally. Too many times that I look back in my life where I was in a very difficult situation, a very difficult problem where I'm reaching out on the phone or by email or texting to a particular professor that I knew several years ago, but I've stayed in touch with. And they're able to come and give me some best advice here.”

-Ambassador Karl Eikenberry

Episode Timestamps:

00:27 Ambassador Eikenberry’s Journey to West Point

03:29 Life as a Cadet

08:37 Formative Military Experiences

13:56 US-China Relations

18:04 Command in Afghanistan

22:12 Transition to Diplomacy

31:15 Academic Contributions and Networking

Learn more about Ambassador Eikenberry