Today: Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
It's not often a Navy admiral will appear on a comedy-based talk show.
But there was Mike Mullen the other night, chatting away with Comedy Central's Jon Stewart.
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is certainly intelligent. No surprise there.
But he also proved to be funny, humble, conversational and insightful. At least that's what I picked up from the interview.
Admiral Mullen was born in 1947. His parents were in the entertainment business. His father was a successful Hollywood publicist.
In 1964, at the age of 17, Mullen told his parents he was joining the Navy. The admiral told Stewart his parents supported that decision and off he went.
Mullen's accomplishments, as listed on the joint chiefs' website, is impressive.
After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968, he was stationed aboard the USS Collett. The ensign was assigned as an anti-submarine officer. His ship patrolled the Western Pacific and participated in combat operations off the coast of Vietnam.
Mullen served on six other warships over the years, three as a commanding officer. As an admiral, he commanded the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and U.S. Second Fleet.
He eventually rose to chief of naval operations with a chair on the joint chiefs. In 2007, he was appointed chairman of that group.
His duties now include advising the president, the secretary of defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. All this during a time when the United States is withdrawing soldiers from Iraq and increasing its number of troops in Afghanistan.
Mullen also has a master of sciences degree in operation research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. He also graduated from the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
Yet, on the Stewart show, he seemed like a guy you'd like to chat with at a barbecue.
Stewart recalled how on a goodwill trip to Afghanistan he noticed how much the soldiers there liked to talk with Mullen. The admiral responded by talking about how awesome today's soldiers are.
Stewart joked about the soldiers supposedly carrying Mullen around and throwing rose petals at his feet. Mullen responded, "That usually only happens once a trip."
The admiral retires at the end of this month. He and Deborah, his wife of 41 years, plan to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.
Yes, successful and influential. Yet, civil with a proper perspective, too.
Mike Mullen. A Baby Boomer we can be proud of.
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