The featured speaker for the 2026 Cy Nicholas Luncheon at the Commonwealth Club is Brigadier General Chad Manske, USAF (Ret), who will address current global affairs.
Gen. Manske had a distinguished career as a pilot and held command at the squadron and wing levels. He served as an Air Force Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and in various command positions including in Southwest Asia and as Deputy Commander, Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Region. His final posting was as Commandant of the National War College, Ft Lesley J. McNair, in our nation’s capital.
Following his distinguished 30-year military career, he continues to assist the national security community as a Senior Advisor to the CEO of the National Defense University (NDU) Foundation. He flys for American Airlines and leads his own strategy and logistics consulting company. Gen. Manske holds a BA from Michigan State University, an MAS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and two Master’s degrees from the Air University at Maxwell AFB.
