From 1995 to 1999, General Charles Krulak served as the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Born in Quantico, Virginia, he graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy. After his commissioning and graduation from The Basic School at Quantico, he commanded a platoon and two rifle companies in Vietnam. In 1987, he was assigned duty as Deputy Director of the White House Military Office. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general. By 1994, he was a lieutenant general assigned as Commander of Marine Forces Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific. The following year he was promoted to four-star General and chosen to serve as the 31st Commandant of the Marines. After 35 years of distinguished service, General Krulak retired from the Marine Corps in 1999 and embarked on a new career in banking. In 1999 he joined MBNA Corporation; within two years he was named CEO of MBNA Europe. General Krulak left MBNA in 2005 when it was acquired by Bank of America. He has also served on the boards of ConocoPhillips, Freeport-McMoran (formerly known as Phelps Dodge Corporation) and Union Pacific. In 2011, he became the President of Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. This podcast was recorded at the Academy of Achievement's 1996 Summit in Sun Valley, Idaho, while General Krulak was Commandant of the Marine Corps.