Off Duty
Join author Robert Holcomb for a discussion of his recent book, “Stone Tapestry: a Visual and Historical Guide to the West Point Cemetery.” Among those resting there are several generals who were personally selected by General Marshall to command during World War II.
The variety of the figures buried at the West Point Cemetery is astonishing, and the tales of their accomplishments – in every field of human endeavor – are inspiring. The book describes an eclectic mix of athletes, clergy, an astronaut, a member of the House of Representatives, engineers and Medal of Honor recipients. Join Dr. Holcomb as he describes the lives and achievements of the men and women who served their country and shaped its history. The concepts of Duty, Honor and Country are well represented here – it is a sacred place in American history.
Special offer for our guests! Use the code GCMIC20 to get 20% off Stone Tapestry on the Schiffer Books website. Offer valid June 1-20, 2025.
EVENT DETAILS
Off Duty is an outdoor speaker series hosted by the George C. Marshall International Center. Each event features a speaker discussing a topic that touches on history adjacent to George C. Marshall and the times in which he lived. The events run around 90 minutes, with light refreshments and opportunities for networking before and after the discussion.
This event will be held in person and outside on the grounds of Dodona Manor in Leesburg, VA. Only registered participants will be admitted to this event. Seating is limited.
Join us before the event begins at 5pm for a FREE tour of the first floor of Dodona Manor.
Members get first notice and free admittance when registration opens! Become a member today to ensure you have a seat.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Robert C. Holcomb is an adjunct staff member in the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Alexandria, VA. He earned his BS degree from the United States Military Academy in 1973, his MS degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1982 and his PhD in Information Technology from George Mason University in 2011.
Dr. Holcomb retired from the Army in 1993 as a lieutenant colonel after a distinguished 20-year career. His service included command and staff positions in field artillery units, as well as roles as an operations research analyst for the Field Artillery School, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Special Operations Command and the Space and Strategic Defense Command.
In addition to his work in support of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Dr. Holcomb has had extensive operational assessment experience overseas. He participated in an assessment of the U.S. deployment into Bosnia, evaluated system performance in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003 and participated in an assessment of the counter-IED campaign in Iraq in 2005. His most recent overseas experience was as the chief of the operations research cell in Baghdad from April 2007 to February 2008, for which he was awarded the IDA Goodpaster Award.