KENNETH F. MCKENZIE Jr.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GLOBAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, TAMPA

The GNSI is a policy institute that informs decisionmakers at the local, state, national and global level. Its goal is to prepare the next generation of national security leaders and enable actionable solutions to today’s security challenges. As executive director, McKenzie, a retired Marine Corps general, leads a team of 20 employees who collaborate with academic, government and industry partners throughout the Tampa Bay region while providing critical national security insights to make our country and world safer.

EDUCATION: The Citadel (BA, MA)

FIRST JOB: Delivering The Birmingham News in Birmingham, Ala., while in high school.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I considered pursuing a Ph.D. in history. I would have enjoyed being a teacher, writer and researcher in this field.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I coached college football at the Virginia Military Institute 1988-1991. It remains one of the best experiences of my life. Coaching is teaching, and I love teaching.

PASSION PROJECT: I am a long-distance runner. I’ve run several ultra marathons — the “short” 50-milers, not the 100-milers. I plan to run another 50-miler in the next year or so.

INDUSTRY TREND: Higher education needs to justify the trust that the American people have placed in it. For many reasons, this trust is eroding. To regain it means focusing on education — and producing graduates with meaningful degrees that are ready to join the workforce and can contribute as citizens.