About this item
Craig M. Mullaneys education had been relentlessly preparing him for this moment. The four years he spent at West Point and the harrowing test of Ranger School readied him for a career in the Army. His subsequent experience as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford couldnt have been further from the Army and his working-class roots, and yet the unorthodox education he received there would be surprisingly relevant as a combat leader. Years later, after that unforgettable experience in Afghanistan, he would return to the United States to teach history to future Navy and Marine Corps officers at the Naval Academy. He had been in their position once, and he had put his education to the test. How would he use his own life-changing experience to prepare them? The Unforgiving Minute is the extraordinary story of one soldiers singular education.
About the Author
Craig M. Mullaney was appointed Principal Director of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia Policy at the Department of Defense in May 2009. He was previously the Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense Transition Team. Prior to joining the Department of Defense, Mullaney was President Obama's defense policy advisor during the 2008 presidential campaign.Mullaney graduated second in his class from the United States Military Academy. After completing Ranger School, he continued to the University of Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship. At Oxford, he completed masters degrees in diplomatic and economic history.In 2003, Mullaney led an infantry rifle platoon along the hostile border between Afghanistan and Pakistan with the 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. His platoon operated along the entire spectrum of military operations--from humanitarian assistance with the first Provincial Reconstruction Team established in Afghanistan to combat engagements against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Following his return to the United States, Mullaney joined the elite 3rd Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," in Arlington, Virginia, responsible for Arlington National Cemetery burials, the Tomb of the Unknowns, and defense of the National Capital Region. He served for three years on the history faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.Mullaney's military decorations include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with "V" device, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Ranger Tab, and Parachutist Badge.Mullaney is the author of the 2009 New York Times bestseller The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education. He has appeared on The Charlie Rose Show, The CBS Early Show, BBC World News America, National Public Radio, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has lectured at Harvard Business School, U.S. Southern Command, military service academies, and business forums.He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Meena.Learn more about The Unforgiving Minute at www.craigmmullaney.com
