LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 7, 2022—Gen. Robert B. Neller, a retired four-star general who served as the 37^th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, will appear at Virginia Military Institute’s annual Leadership and Ethics Conference as a H.B. Johnson, Class of 1926 Distinguished Lecture Series speaker on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 11:00 a.m. in Cameron Hall located at 401 N. Main St. in Lexington, Virginia. His speech is free and open to the public. All other conference events require a registration fee.

This year’s conference theme is “Principled Dissent: Navigating Moral Challenges.” Neller’s talk will focus on how dissent should be handled by senior leadership in organizations.

Prior to serving as U.S.M.C. commandant, Neller served as the commander, Marine Forces Command from July 2014 to September 2015 and commander, Marine Forces Central Command from September 2012 to June 2014.

A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Neller graduated from the University of Virginia and was commissioned in 1975. He served as an infantry officer at all levels, including command of Marine Security Force Company Panama during Operation Just Cause and Operation Promote Liberty; 3^rd Light Armored Infantry Battalion during Operation Restore Hope; 6^th Marine Regiment; and 3^rd Marine Division.

Neller also served as deputy commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005-2007; assistant division commander for 1^st and 2^nd Marine Divisions; and president of Marine Corps University.

His Joint assignments include service in the Policy Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Casteau, Belgium, and as director of operations (J-3) of the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.

Neller is a graduate of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, NATO Defense College, and the Armed Forces Staff College. He holds a master’s degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University.

For more information on the conference and how to register, contact Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director of programs and conferences, at connollykv@vmi.edu or 540-464-7740.

-VMI-