John Batiste

Major General John Batiste (Retired) is a military leader with more than three decades of command experience, specializing in leadership, military strategy, and organizational development. Commissioned as an infantry officer from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Batiste served in five U.S. Army heavy divisions over 31 years. He is a two-time combat veteran, having served as a brigade operations officer with the 24th Infantry Division during the Gulf War and later as commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Batiste was promoted to brigadier general and held roles including plans officer for NATO's Southern Region, assistant division commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Joint Staff/J8 Deputy Director for Joint Warfighting Capability Assessment, and senior military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Batiste’s final Army position was as commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, known as the Big Red One. In this role, he oversaw peace enforcement operations in Kosovo, established a line of communication through southern Turkey in support of operations in Iraq, and led combat operations in Iraq with a division combat team of 22,000 soldiers from both active and reserve units. Batiste declined a promotion to lieutenant general and retired from active duty, citing his convictions about the principles of war. He holds a master’s degree in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School, is a graduate of the Army War College and the Command and General Staff College, and is a Ranger School honor graduate.

After retiring, Batiste became a public commentator on military strategy and national security. He was among a group of retired generals who publicly criticized the conduct of the war in Iraq and called for the resignation of the Secretary of Defense, an event referred to as the Night of the Generals by the media. Batiste appeared on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" and testified before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives regarding strategic failures and recommendations for Iraq.

Batiste transitioned to the private sector as president and CEO of Klein Steel Service Inc. and later Buffalo Armory LLC. At Klein Steel, the company received recognition as a Best Company to Work for in New York State and as an IndustryWeek Best Plant. At Buffalo Armory, Batiste led the development of proprietary induction heat and quench technology for armor and high-strength steel, resulting in multiple patents. He co-authored the book "Cows in the Living Room: Developing an Effective Strategic Plan and Sustaining It."

Through Batiste Leadership, Batiste provides executive training and organizational development, focusing on business leadership, change management, disruptive thinking, innovation, and strategic leadership. He has delivered leadership training for executives at Fortune 500 companies. Batiste has served on the board of advisors for the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, the board and executive committee of the Metals Service Center Institute, the board of the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, as president of the Rochester Regional Veterans Business Council, and as chair of the Warrior Salute Advisory Board, a nonprofit supporting veterans with PTSD. Batiste emphasizes that leadership is a developed skill requiring courage, integrity, and commitment to service.