LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 19, 2023—The George C. Marshall Foundation will host Dr. David Robarge, Chief Historian of the Central Intelligence Agency, for a lecture about Marshall’s role in the development of the intelligence community at their building in Lexington, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. A reception will follow the lecture.

The event is part of the Marshall Foundation’s ongoing Legacy Lecture series. It is free to the public, but reservations are required. As part of the Marshall Foundation’s ongoing efforts to expand the reach of their programming to a global audience, the presentation will also be livestreamed on their YouTube channel simultaneously. A recording of the lecture will be available to view free online immediately after the event.

In the talk, Dr. Robarge will discuss how Marshall, best known as the Allies’ “organizer of victory” during World War II and steward of the namesake economic recovery program that helped stave off communist-incited instability in postwar Western Europe, was extensively engaged in the world of intelligence during those years. In his Army leadership role in World War II, his diplomatic mission to China right after the war, and his service as head of the State and Defense Departments, he grappled with difficult issues concerning intelligence capabilities and authorities, security matters, and political and bureaucratic conflicts that persist today in the US Intelligence Community. How he approached them can provide insights for current intelligence leaders and practitioners as they confront those historically enduring problems.

General George C. Marshall is best known for organizing victory in World War II, served as Secretary of State under President Truman and later as Secretary of Defense during the onset of the Korean War. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his advocacy for the Marshall Plan, an unprecedented humanitarian relief effort that prevented Western Europe from falling under Soviet control. The George C. Marshall Foundation preserves his legacy through research, digital resources, and educational programs.

To learn more about the Marshall Foundation, visit the organization's website.

Glen J. Carpenter
Director of Media and Communications
GEORGE C. MARSHALL FOUNDATION