Leadership Tips from a Navy Admiral & CEO
Episode 7
Leadership Tips with with Dr. Peter Cressy
Aired: June 13, 2025
Theme: Change
Guest: Dr. Peter Cressy, Executive Director, George Washington’s Mount Vernon
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In Episode 7 of Crave – The IFDA Podcast, we speak with Dr. Peter Cressy, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, former CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, and Director of Executive Leadership Programs at the George Washington Presidential Library.
With a career that spans military command, higher education, and trade association leadership, Dr. Cressy brings timeless leadership lessons to life—through the lens of history and personal experience. From commanding 16,000 troops during Desert Storm to navigating organizational change in the private sector, his insights are as practical as they are profound.
More About Our Guest
Dr. Peter Cressy
Executive Director, George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Dr. Peter Cressy is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, former CEO, and distinguished educator with more than 35 years of leadership experience across public, private, and international sectors. His career includes roles as Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth, President of Massachusetts Maritime College, and 28 years of naval service with key assignments at the State Department, Pentagon, and NATO during Desert Storm, where he commanded 16,000 personnel.
He later led the Distilled Spirits Council for 16 years and now directs Executive Leadership Programs at the Washington Presidential Library. A Yale graduate with advanced degrees in international affairs, business, and organizational development, Dr. Cressy is an expert in leadership training and has coached senior executives for over four decades. He remains active in several civic and educational organizations, including the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, the Cotton Bowl Board, and Folds of Honor.
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