Lieutenant General James Dubik

From Five Questions for a General by Modern War Institute at West Point

February 24, 2026 · 22 min

About this episode

Retired Lieutenant General James Dubik discusses leadership, moral responsibility, and institutional reform based on his extensive military career.

Welcome back to Five Questions for a General, a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. This series features specially selected cadet hosts who are given an incredible professional development opportunity—to sit down with senior military officers and ask carefully crafted questions about everything from leadership to their unique experiences while serving, to their expectations about the future of war. Drawing from his 37-year Army career, retired Lieutenant General James Dubik reflects on leadership, moral responsibility, and institutional reform in a wide-ranging conversation with Cadet Nicholas Finke. From his unconventional path into the Army after leaving the seminary to commanding the Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team and leading multinational efforts in Iraq, General Dubik emphasizes urgency, adaptability, and humility in leadership. He discusses the moral weight of warfare, arguing that while technology may increase physical distance from the battlefield, it never creates distance from a soldier’s conscience. Across roles from platoon leader to three-star general, General Dubik underscores a consistent lesson: treat people with dignity and respect…

People in this episode

Guest: Lieutenant General James Dubik

Topics covered

leadership
moral responsibility
institutional reform
military experience
warfare

Keywords

Army
Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Iraq
multinational commands
tactical training

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Iraq, America