NATO’s 16th Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis will kick off UB’s 2025-26 Distinguished Speakers Series with an appearance on Oct. 21.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Stavridis attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and spent 37 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of four-star admiral. Among his many commands were four years as the 16th supreme allied commander at NATO, where he oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans and counter-piracy off the coast of Africa.

He also commanded U.S. Southern Command in Miami for nearly three years, charged with military operations throughout Latin America. He was the longest-serving combatant commander in recent U.S. history. Following his military career, he served for five years as the 12th dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, from which he earned a PhD in 1983.

Stavridis currently serves as a Bloomberg opinion columnist and a senior military analyst for CNN.

He has published 15 books on leadership, character, risk, the oceans, maritime affairs and Latin America, as well as hundreds of articles in leading journals. One of his most popular books, “2034: A Novel of the Next World War,” was a New York Times bestseller and is being published in 22 languages. His most recent book, “The Admiral’s Bookshelf,” highlights 25 essential leadership lessons drawn from classic works of literature.

Ticket range from $25-$45 and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or in person at the Center for the Arts box office.

UB employees are eligible for discounted tickets, while supplies last. 

Subscriptions for the entire series are still available. 

For more information, visit the Distinguished Speakers Series website.