The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is honored to welcome General Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army four-star general and one of the nation’s foremost leaders in cybersecurity and national defense, as a featured speaker in our WACC National Security Series on March 12th, 2026.

From 2018 to 2024, General Nakasone simultaneously led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, placing him at the center of America’s efforts to defend against cyber attacks, safeguard critical infrastructure, and conduct global signals intelligence operations. During a period marked by escalating cyber aggression from state and non-state actors, he oversaw the national cyber defense strategy as digital threats became a defining challenge in modern security.

With more than 30 years of military service, General Nakasone commanded at every level of the U.S. Army and served in combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His career bridges traditional military leadership and the rapidly evolving domain of cyber operations, giving him rare insight into how cyber threats intersect with diplomacy, intelligence, economic security, and military power.

In this National Security Series conversation, General Nakasone will examine:

  • The global cyber threat landscape, including AI, state-sponsored cyber attacks, ransomware, and emerging digital risks
  • How cyber operations shape modern conflict, deterrence, and national security strategy
  • The vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure, elections, and private-sector systems
  • What governments, institutions, and leaders must do to prepare for the next generation of cyber challenges

Now serving as the Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, General Nakasone continues to advance research, leadership development, and dialogue on emerging global security issues, helping to shape the next generation of national security leaders. This program offers a timely opportunity to gain perspective from a leader who has operated at the highest levels of cyber defense, intelligence, and global security decision-making.

DIPLOMAT SPONSOR
Kathryn and Luke Kissam

ATTACHÉ SPONSOR

 

 

 

 

 

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Program Information: 

Date:
Thursday, March 12th, 2026
Check-In and Pre-Lunch Networking: 
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch & Presentation: 
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location:
Hilton Charlotte Uptown (222 E. Third St., Charlotte, NC 28202)
Cost:
$60 (WACC Member Rate) | $80 (Non-Member Rate) | $45 (Young Professionals of the World Affairs Council of Charlotte — YPWACC) | $35 (WACC Student Member / WACC Educator Member)

  • Please call 704-687-7762 to make a credit card payment over the phone.
  • Checks can be mailed to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., CHHS 227, Charlotte, NC 28223.”

 

 

 

Biography: 

General Paul M. Nakasone, a retired U.S. Army four-star general, serves as the Founding Director of Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security.

From 2018 to 2024, General Nakasone led U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, overseeing national cyber defense and global signals intelligence operations. A career military leader with more than three decades of experience, he has commanded at all levels, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and has held key intelligence and joint staff roles. A recognized authority on cyber operations and national security, General Nakasone continues to advance dialogue and research on emerging global security challenges, inspiring innovation, and leadership in this critical field.