Retired US Army Lieutenant General and Historian H. R. McMaster to Join the Museum as Buchholz Lecturer on Sept. 24

Event Marks Seventh Carl M. Buchholz Memorial Lecture Established to Honor Late Museum Board Vice-Chairman  

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (Ret. ) H. R. McMaster, Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, historian, and host of the “Today’s Battlefields” podcast, will join the Museum as the distinguished lecturer for the seventh Carl M. Buchholz Memorial Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. His lecture will focus on George Washington, his leadership and legacy, and the role of the military in our democracy today. Following the lecture, Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson will moderate an interview conversation with McMaster prior to hosting a Q&A with the onsite and online audiences. 

McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the US Army for 34 years. He retired as a lieutenant general in June 2018 after serving as the twenty-fifth Assistant to the US President for National Security Affairs. McMaster holds a PhD in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was an assistant professor of history at the US Military Academy. He is the authoritative voice behind several books, articles, and interviews related to leadership, history, and the future of warfare. 

“As we reflect on the impact of the First U.S. Army during the Revolutionary War in this Semiquincentennial year, the Museum is honored to welcome one of the modern Army’s most decorated and respected leaders for our bi-annual Carl M. Buchholz Memorial Lecture,” Stephenson said. “This spirited discussion of Washington’s legacy, emphasized by the Museum’s robust collection which includes Washington’s War Tent, should not be missed.” 

The hybrid event will take place in the Museum’s Liberty Hall and will be livestreamed for ticketed online viewers. General admission tickets are now available for purchase online or by calling 215.253.6731. Sponsor tickets at $500 per person and include access to a dinner with the author following the lecture. All proceeds from the event support the Museum’s educational programs. 

The event marks the seventh Carl M. Buchholz Memorial Lecture, a series established by the generosity of the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Carl Buchholz, former vice-chairman of the Museum’s Board of Directors. The series was created to honor his public service and to explore the American Revolution and its relevance today.  

The 2026 Carl M. Buchholz Memorial Lecture is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, DLA Piper, and The Haverford Trust Company. Additional support is provided by Ballard Spahr and Morgan Lewis. 

The evening is hosted by Karen Dougherty Buchholz, Alex Buchholz, and Julia Buchholz. 

About H.R. McMaster 

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  

Upon graduation from the US Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the US Army for thirty-four years. He retired as a lieutenant general in June 2018 after serving as the twenty-fifth Assistant to the US President for National Security Affairs. From 2014 to 2017, McMaster designed the future army as the director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center. As commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, he oversaw training, education, and modernization for the Army’s infantry, armor, and cavalry force. He has commanded organizations in wartime including the Combined Joint Inter-Agency Task Force—Shafafiyat in Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2010 to 2012; the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq from 2005 to 2006; and Eagle Troop, Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in Operation Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991. McMaster was a Hoover National Security Affairs Fellow from 2002-2003.  

McMaster holds a PhD in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was an assistant professor of history at the US Military Academy. He is author of the bestselling books Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies that Led to Vietnam; Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World; and At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House. His many essays, articles, and book reviews on leadership, history, and the future of warfare have appeared in The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, National Review, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, The Free Press, the New York Times, and The Economist.  

McMaster is the host of “Today's Battlegrounds” and is a regular on “GoodFellows,” both produced by the Hoover Institution. He is a Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University. 

About Museum of the American Revolution 

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.