David Petraeus has decided to go back to school. The former four-star general and head of the Central Intelligence Agency has accepted a position at the University of Southern California to teach part time.
Petraeus was forced to resign as head of the CIA in disgrace after details of an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, were uncovered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Prior to his fall from grace, Petraeus was lauded for being the brains behind the surge in Iraq and helping the U.S. military recover from the many blunders they had made in Iraq and Afghanistan. At a celebration honoring Petraeus Adm. Mike Mullen heaped praise on the general.
"You now stand among the giants not just in our time but of all time, joining the likes of Grant and Pershing and Marshall and Eisenhower as one of the great battle captains of American History," Mullen said.
In his new role at USC the administration is hoping that Petraeus can pass on the skills and knowledge that made him such a revered leader. In a statement USC president C.L. "Max" Nikias said that Petraeus displayed "a fearless commitment to excellence."
"His presence will have a profound impact on our students across many disciplines," Nikias said.
Petraeus, who earned degrees from West Point and Princeton, is expected to participate in seminars on government, leadership and international relations, according to KTLA. KTLA also reports that Petraeus will serve as a mentor to veteran students and work with the university's RTOC program.
Since his resignation in November, Petraeus has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. At a USC sponsored event in March Petraeus, spoke and once again publicly apologized for his misdeeds, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Petraeus released a statement expressing his excitement and gratitude over the opportunity to start fresh at USC.
"I am very grateful to have an opportunity to be part of a great university that prizes academic excellence, that is doing cutting-edge research in areas of enormous importance to our country, and that is known for steadfast support of its veterans and ROTC programs," the statement read.
