July 2019

Lieutenant General Robert Caslen Speaks at SAGS

by Perry J. Martini, Ph.D.

The Service Academies Global Summit (SAGS) is organized by alumni from all five U.S. service academies and is an annual professional refresher and a non-profit endeavor whose purpose it is to develop, inspire and promote fellowship, leadership/professional development and service for the “super-community” of graduates worldwide from the five U.S. Service Academies.

Lieutenant General (LTG) Robert Caslen, U.S. Army (Retired) recently spoke at the fifth annual Service Academy Global Summit (SAGS) held in Annapolis, Maryland. Caslen’s remarks were made as a keynote address at the closing summit dinner which highlighted leadership by service academy graduates in business and industry as well as all levels of public and private education.

General Caslen spoke eloquently about the quality of young men and women who have stepped forward this past decade to apply in record numbers to the five U.S. Service Academies. He was encouraged by the increasing number of young Americans willing to serve even though current statistics show that 60-70% of 18-20 year olds do not physically qualify to enlist in the armed forces. He further commended those at the summit who continue to enter into non-traditional careers following their service time. General Caslen is convinced that their educational foundation of leadership learned at the service academies served them well during their time in the service but is equally important to their contribution to society at large, specifically within industries that are in need of men and women of character.

General Caslen acknowledged that for senior officers like himself, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be selected for positions of the highest authority within the higher education industry. He challenged attendees at the SAGS to encourage those who are dedicated to becoming more involved with the education of our youth to continue to pursue higher education opportunities. He recommended positions on school boards, within the teaching profession, or within the faculty and administration.

A member of Academy Leadership’s Keynote Speaker team, General Caslen served in the U.S. Army for 43 years retiring in his final tour at West Point as one of their longest serving Superintendents (2013-2018).