Milwaukee School of Engineering will hold Fall Commencement on Saturday, Nov. 19 honoring undergraduate and graduate students in engineering majors, the Rader School of Business and the School of Nursing as they receive their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in the Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway. It will be broadcast live online as well.

The keynote address will be delivered by Chris Kolenda. Kolenda is a retired Army colonel and the founder of the Strategic Leaders Academy (SLA), an organization dedicated to helping senior military leaders, combat veterans and public servants to build joyful, meaningful and profitable consulting businesses. During his time as colonel, he inspired change in the military’s strategy and got Pentagon officials on board to push for new diplomatic initiatives. As a trusted adviser to three 4-star generals and two secretaries of defense, Kolenda became the first American to have both fought the Taliban as a commander in combat and negotiated with them in peace talks.

His unique warrior-diplomacy and contributions haves been featured in several New York Times bestselling books and cited in journals and newspapers such as the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and New York Times. He also authored the books Leadership: The Warrior’s Art, The Counterinsurgency Challenge and Zero-Sum Victory: What We’re Getting Wrong About War.

His latest venture was a 1,689-mile cross-country bike ride to honor fallen U.S. soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and to raise funds for the survivors suffering from PTSD and addiction. Learn more about the ride.

Kolenda holds a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, master’s degrees from US Naval War College, and a Ph.D. from King’s College London.