Oral History Interview, Chris Kolenda (2460)

Abstract

In October and November of 2024, Colonel Chris Kolenda discussed his storied career with Sophia Scolman. Colonel Kolenda is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, holds a PhD in war studies from King's College, and is an author and entrepreneur. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1987 and later earned his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1996. In 2007-2008, Colonel Kolenda led an 800-paratrooper task force in eastern Afghanistan, where he motivated a large insurgent group to switch sides — the only known instance of such success in Afghanistan. Six of his paratroopers were killed in action. After his success in Afghanistan, Colonel Kolenda participated in Taliban peace talks during the Obama administration and again in 2017 as a civilian in conjunction with Pugwash, an NGO that "seeks a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction." After his military career, he began his consulting business, where he helps leaders and organizations bridge the gap between their performance and potential. Chris is also the author of several books on leadership and strategy, and he continues to be an influential voice in discussions on military and leadership topics. This interview was conducted as part of the UW Archives and Record Management's Badger Veterans Oral History Project.