The Daily Beast is pleased to announce that the annual Hero Summit: An Exploration of Courage, Character & Our National Security—an influential gathering of some of the brightest minds and bravest individuals from America and abroad—will convene for its second power-packed year on October 10, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
An invitation-only event that will be streamed live on The Daily Beast, the Hero Summit will analyze the essential elements of moral and physical courage, illuminate untold stories from the front lines, and consider the power of the service ethic.
The summit will open the morning of October 10 with panel discussions and interviews with top U.S. military officials, experts on counterterrorism and national security, leaders in politics, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who will share their incredible stories of heroism and loyalty. In the evening, Ron Meyer, Vice Chairman NBCUniversal and former Marine, will be joining Tina Brown in hosting a buffet dinner and an exclusive screening of the brilliant new movie from writer/director Peter Berg, Universal Pictures’ Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg,Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, and Eric Bana. After the screening, Brown will be joined for a panel discussion by Foster, Kitsch, Berg, and retired Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor author and former Navy SEAL.
Speakers at the summit include U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, Gen. Michael Hayden (USAF Ret.), film and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer, New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly, retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star Gen. John Allen, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, journalist and author Robin Wright, and New York Times columnist David Brooks.
We will explore the challenges American servicemen and women face transitioning back to civilian life—and how the skills acquired in the military can be leveraged beyond the battlefield to vigorously impact business, politics, and civil service. Conversations also will explore the core principles of courage with police officials making our streets safer, political leaders innovating change, and entrepreneurs championing inspired solutions to the challenges we face today as a nation.
We salute our corporate sponsors, Jeep, IBM, and AT&T, all of whom are committed to supporting veterans and without whom this summit would not be possible.
And we are partnering once again with six esteemed nonprofit organizations: The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, The USO, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, and Student Veterans of America.
Follow The Hero Project at The Daily Beast for more coverage of the summit, including exclusive interviews with speakers and guests, as well as our extensive reporting on military and veterans’ issues. On Twitter, follow The Hero Summit and the hashtag #hero13.