UPDATE | March 18, 2020 — Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the 30th annual luncheon of the Florida Chapter of the National Institute of Social Sciences has been postponed indefinitely. Members and those who have already purchased tickets to the luncheon will be sent more information as it becomes available.

Brigadier General Peter Miller Dawkins will headline the 30th annual luncheon of the Florida Chapter of the National Institute of Social Sciences on Wednesday, April 8, in Palm Beach. Gen. Dawkins is former college football star, decorated military officer, and successful business executive. In 1988, he was the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.

“We absolutely delighted that Pete Dawkins has agreed to join us at our 30th luncheon,” says NISS Vice President Joe Flanagan, chair of the Florida Chapter. “I’m certain our members and guests will enjoy hearing a speaking with such a stellar career and outstanding accomplishments.”

A native of Royal Oak, Michigan, Gen. Dawkins was accepted by Yale but chose to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. More than 60 years since he graduated, he remains the only cadet to ever serve as Brigade Commander, president of his Class, captain of the football team, and a “Star Man”—one of the top 5 percent, academically. A halfback, he won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award, and was a consensus All-America.

After graduating in 1959, Gen. Dawkins studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, graduating with a BA at Brasenose College (1962). He later earned a master of public affairs (1970) and a PhD (1977) from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

After receiving his commission and completing his Rhodes Scholarship, he finished Infantry School and Ranger School before serving in the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam. He won two Bronze Stars for valor and held commands in the 7th Infantry Division and 101st Airborne. He commanded a battalion in Korea, taught at West Point, was a White House Fellow, and worked on a task force charged with creating an all-volunteer Army. During the 1970s, he commanded the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 3rd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell. He later became chief of staff for the 101st Airborne Division. In 1983, he retired with the rank of brigadier general.

Following his retirement from the Army, Gen. Dawkins took up a position as a partner in the Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers, later becoming vice-chairman of Bain & Company. In 1991, he moved on to become chairman and CEO of Primerica. He would go on to hold several senior positions in Citigroup, serving as vice chairman and executive vice president of Travelers Insurance, vice chairman of Citibank’s Private Bank, and vice chairman of Citi’s Global Wealth management business. Currently, he is a senior advisor at Virtu Financial, a leading electronic trading and market making firm.

Gen. Dawkins received the National Institute’s Gold Medal in 1974, when Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, and civil rights activist Roy Wilkins were also honored.

In addition to hosting these annual luncheons in Palm Beach, the Florida Chapter sponsors undergraduate scholarships for graduates of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.

For information about the luncheon, please contact May Bell Lin, executive secretary of the Florida Chapter, at maybell_lin@bellsouth.net.

This story was updated on March 18, 2020 to reflect the luncheon’s postponement.