Few leaders embody the intersection of discipline, service and community impact as fully as General Stanley McChrystal, the retired four‑star U.S. Army officer known for commanding Joint Special Operations Command and later U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

While his military career is widely documented, his ongoing commitment to civic leadership, particularly his support for organizations that strengthen communities, receives far less attention. One of the most meaningful examples of this commitment is his connection to the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.

“General McChrystal and his wife Annie have been supporters of the Seaport Foundation for some time now,” said ASF executive director Deb Roepke. “A board member brought Annie in for a tour of our workshop and she saw the way ASF is transforming the lives of young people at risk.”

McChrystal will be the featured speaker at a special event in support of the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. He will lead a fireside chat on building character Feb. 27 at Belle Haven Country Club. McChrystal will be joined by ASF program director Matt Roberts. Roberts holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh and will focus on learning in non-traditional settings.

“The fireside chat will focus on building character,” Roepke said. “They will discuss leadership and building character, highlighting the vital work of the Seaport Apprentice Program. And they will explore insights from the General's latest book, ‘On Character: Choices That Define a Life.’”

Located on the Potomac River waterfront in Old Town, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to helping young people build better futures. Its mission centers on workforce development, hands-on learning through boatbuilding, mentorship, and life‑skills training, all designed to support youth who face academic, economic, or personal challenges.

The Seaport Foundation’s Apprentice Program uses traditional boatbuilding as a vehicle for teaching math, craftsmanship, and teamwork to participants ages 18-23.

Said Roepke, “Participants don’t just build boats. They build confidence, discipline and a sense of purpose.”

The long-running Apprentice Program remains the organization’s cornerstone initiative. Apprentices spend six to nine months immersed in woodworking and traditional boatbuilding, gaining job-readiness skills, life skills, and the support of experienced mentors. Recent updates highlight the program’s continued success in helping participants pursue higher education, obtain driver’s licenses, and transition into the workforce.

In addition to local programming, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation is elevating its national profile by participating in a year‑long Boatbuilding Educator Fellowship through the Teaching With Small Boats Alliance. Roberts and volunteer Katherine Hamilton recently joined other educators in shaping a curriculum for a future national certification in wooden boatbuilding, an achievement that underscores ASF’s leadership beyond Alexandria.

The fireside chat event will include a reception and buffet dinner and attendees will receive a signed copy of McChrystal’s latest book “On Character.” The evening will include a silent auction featuring a private dinner with General McChrystal and his wife.

After leaving military service, McChrystal shifted his focus to education, leadership consulting, and public service. He became a Senior Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and co-founded the McChrystal Group, a leadership advisory firm headquartered in Alexandria.

The evening is hosted by Rob Dugger and Joan Huffer and all proceeds will benefit the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Visit www.alexandriaseaport.org for more information.