Hope, Global Stability, and the Role of the U.S. with Gen. Martin Dempsey

As the United States and the globe face a myriad of complex foreign policy, economic and security challenges, where do we find opportunities to create a more just and peaceful world? On October 10, 2025, General (Ret.) Martin Dempsey joined University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., for “Hope, Global Stability, and the Role of the United States,” as part of the 2025-26 Notre Dame Forum on Cultivating Hope. Hear Dempsey discuss his experiences as the senior leader of the United States Military, an award-winning author, and a professor of leadership and offer insights about the importance of creating a culture of hope and the powerful role of hope in leadership.

“There is a very definite relationship between hope and trust, and in the military—and I think in most walks of life, actually—the success of leadership is in building trust among those entrusted to our care,” Dempsey said. “Hope and trust, in terms of leadership, are inseparable.”

Since its establishment in 2005, each year the Notre Dame Forum invites campus-wide dialogue about issues of importance to the University, the nation, and the larger world.

This year’s theme is Cultivating Hope. In a world where hope is too often in short supply, our goal is to invite reflection about how each of us can be “seekers of truth, sustainers of hope, and builders of bridges.”

To learn more about the Notre Dame Forum 2025-26, please visit the Forum website.