Exclusive: Former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris C. Miller On Invading Afghanistan, His Time in the White House, and His Next Act

The Profile

Chris C. Miller, a company commander with the 5th Special Forces Group, helped direct the first, covert invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. A number of Green Berets from the 5th Group were sent to invade Afghanistan and defeat the Taliban — some of them on horseback — in a secret and dangerous mission, which was portrayed in the film '12 Strong.'

In this conversation, Miller explains what training for the Afghanistan mission entailed, how he used his experiences in the field to transition from a tactical position into a strategic one, the challenges of his role as the acting secretary of defense, and the leadership lessons he's learned along the way.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - September 11, 2001
05:36 - The military's reaction
13:28 - The invasion of Afghanistan
21:08 - Mental training for times of uncertainty
27:09 - What makes a great team
32:51 - Coming home from the Afghanistan mission
35:01 - Conventional tactics versus unconventional warfare
41:09 - Planning his military career
42:46 - Transition from a tactical position into a strategic one
46:21 - Becoming the Acting Secretary of Defense
54:18 - Miller's response to the storming of the Capitol
58:19 - How to develop independent thought
1:04:15 - Balancing his personal relationships with his professional aspirations
1:08:18 - The mental toll of going to war
01:03:31 - Miller's next act

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