The Honorable David Howell Petraeus was our special guest at the Sweethearts and Patriots Gala on September 7, 2024, at The British Embassy in northwest Washington, DC. The young members of the DC SAR and DC DAR organized this annual event to raise funds for military charities. This year’s charity was the National Military Family Association who will receive nearly $25,000. Their mission is to stand up for, support, and enhance the quality of life for every military family through bold advocacy, innovative programming, and dynamic and responsive solutions.
The moderator was the British Defense Attache RADM Tim Woods during the fireside chat of General Petraeus. General Petraeus is a partner in the global investment firm KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream, a personal venture investor, and engaged in various academic endeavors.
Petraeus is a retired United States Army general and public official. He served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from September 6, 2011, until his resignation on November 9, 2012. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus served 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and commander, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from July 4, 2010, to July 18, 2011.
His other four-star assignments include serving as the 10th commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) from October 13, 2008, to June 30, 2010, and as commanding general, Multi-National Force – Iraq (MNF-I) from February 10, 2007, to September 16, 2008. As commander of MNF-I, Petraeus oversaw all coalition forces in Iraq.
General Petraeus has a B.S. degree from the United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1974 as a distinguished cadet (top 5% of his class). He was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College class of 1983, He subsequently earned an M.P.A. in 1985 and a Ph.D. degree in international relations in 1987 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He later served as assistant professor of international relations at the United States Military Academy and also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University.
General Petraeus highlighted his military service and his service as director of the CIA during his fireside chat. He discussed what advocacy organizations such as the National Military Family Association mean to those who honorably serve our country and to their families. General Petraeus talked about the importance of family and service. His remarks resonated about the crisis in the Ukraine. He called the resident "freedom loving people of Ukraine and that they align with our Patriot values."
The honorary hosts were General/Chairman Richard Myers (ret USAF), Lt. Gen Scott Rice (ret USAF and Past Director Air National Guard) and Major General John Ewars (Ret)
The 2025 Sweethearts and Patriot Gala will be held on February 15, 2025, at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC. The gala will pay tribute to Marquis de Lafayette on the Bicentennial of his Farewell Tour as “Guest of the Nation”. Please visit www.sweetheartsandpatriots.org for more information as it becomes available.
Sweethearts and Patriots began in 2014 to bring together the DC Community to benefit organizations that support the military, veterans and their families and is sponsored by the District of Columbia Sons of the American Revolution.