ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) announced that General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), will serve as the keynote speaker for the General Business Program at the 2026 NACDS Total Store Expo. General Petraeus will take the stage on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, during the Business Program that begins at 8 a.m., bringing to this premier industry event his powerful perspective on leadership, strategy, and turning complexity into opportunity.
This year's Business Program is designed to build on the momentum of an industry that is innovating with purpose and leading with conviction. "General Petraeus brings a caliber of leadership that has applications to industries that are charting their course for the future,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven Anderson. "He has commanded forces in some of the most complex environments imaginable, and led our nation's intelligence community, and he now applies his strategic discipline to the global business arena. There is no better voice to speak to the clear-eyed decision-making and adaptability that members need to overcome challenges and pursue opportunities to serve Americans in communities across the country. We are proud to welcome him to the NACDS Total Store Expo."
One of the most distinguished military commanders of his generation, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military. His career culminated in six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He served as Director of the CIA, confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 94-0, during a period of significant achievements in the global war on terror.
Since his military career, General Petraeus has built an equally formidable presence in the private sector, applying his leadership and geopolitical expertise to the global business and policy arena. He is a Partner with the global investment firm KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in 2013. He also serves on corporate boards, is a strategic advisor to multiple firms, and is a personal venture capitalist invested in over 30 startups.
A holder of a Ph.D. from Princeton University in international relations and economics, he brings a rare combination of operational and analytical rigor to the challenges facing complex industries — including the economic, regulatory, and global forces reshaping health and wellness. He is Co-Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Global Advisory Council, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Strategy Group, and the co-author, with Andrew Roberts, of the award-winning, New York Times best-selling book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.
The Business Program will also feature remarks from NACDS Board Chair David B. Warner, president and chief executive officer of KPH Healthcare Services, Inc., and NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. Together, the program will offer attendees a compelling perspective on navigating disruption, driving innovation, and positioning organizations for long-term success in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Drawing on General Petraeus’ unparalleled experience leading through crisis and competition, attendees can expect insights on organizational resilience, strategic decision-making, and adapting to complex, fast-moving challenges — lessons with direct relevance for health and wellness industry executives managing supply chains, consumer expectations, technological disruption, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
The NACDS Total Store Expo is the largest gathering of retailers and suppliers in the health and wellness industry — a premier platform for discovering innovative products, technologies, and services, and forging the partnerships that will define the next era of health and wellness retail. The 2026 event will take place in Boston August 15–17, 2026.
More information is available at tse.nacds.org.
