From Combat To The Classroom: Lt. Gen Mark Hertling On Leadership That Lasts

In business schools, leadership is often taught through frameworks, case studies, and organizational theory. But some of the most powerful leadership lessons emerge in environments where the stakes are far higher than quarterly earnings or market share. 

At the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, students are learning leadership through the perspective of someone who spent nearly four decades leading soldiers in combat zones, global operations, and moments of profound uncertainty: Mark Hertling. 

A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, Hertling commanded organizations ranging from platoons to multinational forces during the Gulf War and the Iraq War before transitioning into healthcare leadership, academia, and executive education. Today, he serves as a Professor of Practice in Leadership at Crummer, where his military experiences shape how future business leaders think about responsibility, trust, and decision-making.  

What makes Hertling’s approach resonate with MBA students is that it is not centered on authority or hierarchy. It is centered on humanity. 

In a recent leadership conversation connected to Crummer’s HEART Leadership Podcast, Hertling discussed lessons drawn from his book If I Don’t Return, a deeply personal collection of letters he wrote to his sons while deployed during wartime. The letters were never originally intended for publication, they were reflections written in moments when uncertainty was real and outcomes were unknown.  

“This isn’t a conversation about leadership theory,” podcast host Sara Valentine noted in introducing the episode. “It’s about real moments, real responsibility, and the weight leaders carry — especially when the outcome is uncertain.”  

For business professionals navigating volatile industries, economic disruption, and AI-driven transformation, this message feels especially relevant. 

Modern leadership requires operating without complete information. Teams look to leaders not because they always have perfect answers, but because they can provide clarity, steadiness, and trust during ambiguity. Hertling’s military background reinforces that leadership is tested most when certainty disappears. 

Another theme found in Hertling’s work is vulnerability. In many corporate environments, leaders still feel pressure to project constant confidence and control. Military leadership, however, often teaches the opposite. Leaders earn trust not through misplaced assurance, but through honesty, accountability, and care for the people around them. 

Hertling argues that leadership is deeply connected to values and character, especially during difficult moments. That humanity is something Crummer students encounter directly in the classroom. 

Hertling’s own path to business education reflects his commitment to lifelong learning. After retiring from the military, he entered the healthcare sector and later earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from Crummer, focusing his research on physician leadership.  

Hertling once said that when he entered the DBA program, he quickly realized how much more there was to learn about systems, organizations, and leadership outside the military environment. “Good leaders continue to learn and grow every day,” he explained.  

A growth mindset matters in today’s business landscape, where adaptability has become an important leadership trait. Industries are evolving rapidly. Technology is changing workflows overnight. Career paths are less linear than ever before. Leaders who succeed are often the ones willing to remain curious, reflective, and open to growth. 

Reflection itself is another lesson Hertling emphasizes. He describes the importance of overcoming fear and embracing self-reflection as part of leadership development, offering that growth often comes from moments that force people beyond their comfort zones.  

This perspective challenges the common assumption that leadership is simply about decisiveness or charisma. Instead, leadership becomes a practice of continual self-examination: asking hard questions, learning from failure, and understanding the impact one has on others. 

For MBA students, especially those preparing to lead teams across cultures, industries, and generations, these lessons resonate deeply in the business landscape. 

Business leaders today are managing increasingly complex human dynamics. Employees expect authenticity. Organizations are being evaluated not only by financial performance, but also by culture, ethics, and social impact. In that environment, technical expertise alone is not enough. 

At Crummer, students are not simply studying leadership as an abstract concept. They are examining it through the lived experiences of someone who understands what leadership looks like when decisions carry real consequences and when people depend on one another under extraordinary pressure. 

At Crummer, we are today’s and tomorrow’s leaders across the full spectrum of industry: accounting, AI, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing, operations, and more. Our diverse, high-touch learning community doesn’t just offer degrees—we are a launchpad for your ambitions. Whether you’re pursuing an MBA, seeking a specialized certificate, or tapping into our wealth of resources for the local business community, Crummer is your catalyst for growth. Learn More.

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