Ambassadors to History
Mission:
To develop character driven leaders who grow by understanding the history that shaped our world so that they can positively impact our future.
Why Leadership Skills Matter for the Next Generation
The challenges facing tomorrow's leaders will be more complex, fast-moving, and interconnected than ever before. Academic knowledge alone will not prepare young people to meet these demands. They must also learn how to think critically, communicate clearly, act decisively, and lead others in the face of uncertainty based on strong values, ethical behavior and character.
Programmatic Outcomes
The Normandy Leadership Program is designed to build essential capabilities through experiential learning and historical insight. Students don't just study leadership — they practice it in real-world and high-pressure scenarios, learning how to:
The Normandy Leadership Program is designed to build essential capabilities through experiential learning and historical insight. Students don't just study leadership — they practice it in real-world and high-pressure scenarios, learning how to:
Think Critically
Analyze situations from multiple perspectives, question assumptions, and make sound judgments.
Analyze situations from multiple perspectives, question assumptions, and make sound judgments.
Lead with Purpose
Inspire and guide teams toward shared goals while upholding ethical standards.
Inspire and guide teams toward shared goals while upholding ethical standards.
Navigate Complexity
Adapt to changing circumstances, solve problems creatively, and balance competing priorities.
Adapt to changing circumstances, solve problems creatively, and balance competing priorities.
Communicate Responsibility
Develop skills that allow them to responsibly share information and insights through multiple platforms.
Develop skills that allow them to responsibly share information and insights through multiple platforms.
Our Leadership
Lieutenant General (LTG) Benjamin C. Freakley (U.S. Army, Retired)
Serves as the Professor of Practice of Leadership for Arizona State University and as a Special Advisor to ASU President Michael Crow for Leadership Initiatives. Most recently, General Freakley co-founded the ASU Lab for Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security. He retired from the U.S. Army after more than 36 years of active military service. Today, Ben leads the NLP immersive training program.
Serves as the Professor of Practice of Leadership for Arizona State University and as a Special Advisor to ASU President Michael Crow for Leadership Initiatives. Most recently, General Freakley co-founded the ASU Lab for Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security. He retired from the U.S. Army after more than 36 years of active military service. Today, Ben leads the NLP immersive training program.
Ambassador Michael Polt Ambassador Polt
Currently the ASU Ambassador-in-Residence in The College's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab. Prior to that, he served as Senior Director at the University's McCain Institute for International Leadership after his 35-year diplomatic career.
As a career diplomat, Ambassador Polt served as U.S. Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany and Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge' d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland.
Currently the ASU Ambassador-in-Residence in The College's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab. Prior to that, he served as Senior Director at the University's McCain Institute for International Leadership after his 35-year diplomatic career.
As a career diplomat, Ambassador Polt served as U.S. Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany and Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge' d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland.
Colonel Derek Keller, PMP
Retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel, with 30+ years of defense experience including joint military operations & leadership, counterterrorism and WMD strategic planning and preparedness, and incident management and response. Sasha Tapie Advisor founder VideoAi.Media
Retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel, with 30+ years of defense experience including joint military operations & leadership, counterterrorism and WMD strategic planning and preparedness, and incident management and response. Sasha Tapie Advisor founder VideoAi.Media
Monique Tapie
Monique Tapie is the Founder of Shadwell Global Partners, a leading communications and public affairs firm, and she is the co-founder of Ambassadors to History and its Normandy Leadership Program. As a communications and public affairs expert, her past work with the U.S. Army led Monique to develop advocacy programs that have focused on transitioning military workforce and veteran care issues. Having grown up in both the U.S. and France, Monique is fully bilingual and bicultural working with leadership in the U.S. and Europe.
Monique Tapie is the Founder of Shadwell Global Partners, a leading communications and public affairs firm, and she is the co-founder of Ambassadors to History and its Normandy Leadership Program. As a communications and public affairs expert, her past work with the U.S. Army led Monique to develop advocacy programs that have focused on transitioning military workforce and veteran care issues. Having grown up in both the U.S. and France, Monique is fully bilingual and bicultural working with leadership in the U.S. and Europe.