<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Distinguished 37-year military career emphasizes patriotism</em><em></em></p>
<p><strong>Las Vegas, Nev. &ndash; </strong>The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation today announced General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Retired), former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and former commander of coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as the keynote speaker for the 2013 NACDS Foundation Dinner.&nbsp; The dinner will take place on December 3, 2013 in New York City, New York.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Celebrating its 15<sup>th</sup> anniversary this year, the NACDS Foundation Dinner and contributions from the Foundation&rsquo;s benefactors help to advance evidence-based research and related medication management and educational initiatives that benefit patients, improve outcomes and advance public health.</p>
<p>&ldquo;As a patriot and defender of America&rsquo;s freedom, we are delighted that General Petraeus will address the benefactors of the 2013 NACDS Foundation Dinner later this year,&rdquo; said NACDS Foundation President Kathleen Jaeger.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is an honor to present such a distinguished speaker in recognition of the tremendous commitment that the NACDS Foundation&rsquo;s benefactors demonstrate at this important event and throughout the year.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Born and raised in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, Petraeus graduated with distinction from the U.S. Military Academy in 1974, and was commissioned as an infantry officer.&nbsp; He later earned his MPA and Ph.D. degrees in international relations from Princeton University.</p>
<p>Petraeus&rsquo; distinguished 37-year military career included service in Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, and following 9/11 was deployed for nearly seven years culminating his career with six straight commands, five of which were in combat.</p>
<p>Following his second deployment in Iraq where he spearheaded efforts that led to a 90 percent reduction in counterinsurgent violence, Petraeus took command of the U.S. Central Command, overseeing operations of all U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. He later took command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan where he led efforts to prevent the re-establishment of al-Qaeda sanctuaries that existed when the 9/11 attacks were planned. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Petraeus received numerous U.S. military, State Department, NATO and United Nations awards and decorations.&nbsp; He has been decorated by 12 foreign countries for his service.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Following retirement from the U.S. Army, Petraeus served as director of the CIA during a time of significant achievements in the global counterterrorism effort, and worked to increase worldwide intelligence coverage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>He is now the chairman of KKR Global Institute and is a professor at CUNY&rsquo;s Macaulay Honors College and at the University of Southern California.</p>
<p>A photo General Petraeus is available <a href="http://www.nacds.org/images/email/comm/2013/petraeus.jpg">here</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For more information, please visit the NACDS Foundation Dinner <a href="http://dinner.nacdsfoundation.org/">website</a>.</p>