Michael Glenn 'Mike' Mullen is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2007 to September 2011, the longest-serving chairman in U.S. history at that time. Born on October 4, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned advanced degrees including a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School (1973) and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School (1985). His naval career spanned over 43 years, including commands as a surface warfare officer such as commanding the USS Goldsborough, serving as Director of Surface Force Readiness, and rising to Vice Chief of Naval Operations (2005) and Chief of Naval Operations (2006). As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he advised Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama on global military and national security strategy, particularly during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he played key roles in the surge strategy and counterinsurgency transition. Mullen was a strong proponent of military ethics, criticizing detainee treatment and advocating for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (achieved in 2011). He also addressed emerging challenges like cybersecurity and China's rise as a strategic competitor. After retiring in 2011, he joined boards including Goldman Sachs and Boeing, served as a visiting professor at Princeton University, and led President Obama's investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attack.