2003 News Release
Center for Creative Leadership Names General James Dozier (Ret.) 2003 Distinguished Alumni

Greensboro, N.C. - The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL^®), an international, nonprofit educational institution devoted to leadership research and training recently announced retired Maj. Gen. James Dozier as the recipient of its fifth annual Distinguished Alumni Award.

The CCL Distinguished Alumni Award was established to honor the accomplishments and continuing growth and development of individuals who have participated in CCL programs.
The award will be presented to General Dozier during CCL's Friends of the Center Leadership Conference October 8-10 in Orlando, Florida.

On Dec. 17, 1981 as part of an attempt to overthrow the Italian government, left wing terrorists, the Red Brigades kidnapped Gen. Dozier. At the time he was serving as the highest-ranking U.S. Army officer in LANDSOUTH, a NATO command in Northern Italy. During his captivity, he credits the lessons learned in the Center's flagship program Leadership Development Program (LDP^®) for helping him survive the ordeal.

"The most important thing that I took away from the Center's program was to learn how to see myself through the eyes of others," said Dozier. "That led me to two intuitive things that enhanced my chances of survival. First, in order to forestall violent reactions on the part of the guards, I tried to make myself a more reliable prisoner by conducting myself as they would expect a general to so do. I did so by establishing a set daily routine and behaving accordingly. Secondly, by repeatedly asking questions about my wife, I attempted to get them to see me as a human being, rather than just a prisoner."

His strategy worked. The General's kidnappers became calmer and less vigilant. They began bringing him newspaper clippings to show that his wife and family were fine. On Jan. 28, 1982, after six weeks in captivity, an Italian national level counter-terrorism team rescued Gen. Dozier.

"We are very pleased to have in our midst a distinguished alumni such as Gen. Dozier," said CCL President John Alexander. "Both his exemplary career in the military and his brave exploits as a hostage of terrorists inspire us and teach us that one individual can triumph over seemingly impossible odds."

Gen. Dozier is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy, West Point and the University of Arizona, with a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering. During his 35-year career with the U.S. Army he served in the United States, Europe and Asia. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat in Vietnam. He retired from the Army in 1985.

Today Gen. Dozier serves on numerous boards and operates a citrus grove and foliage plant nursery. He and wife Judy, serve as anti-terrorist consultants to numerous government and private agencies. Florida Governor Jeb Bush recently appointed Gen. Dozier to the Florida Commission on Veterans Affairs.

About the Center for Creative Leadership
The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL^®) is a top-ranked, global provider of executive education that unlocks individual and organizational potential through its exclusive focus on leadership development and research. Founded in 1970 as a nonprofit, educational institution, CCL helps clients worldwide cultivate creative leadership - the capacity to achieve more than imagined by thinking and acting beyond boundaries - through an array of programs, products and other services. Ranked among the world's top providers of executive education by BusinessWeek and Financial Times, CCL is headquartered in Greensboro, NC, with offices in Colorado Springs, Colo.; San Diego, Calif.; Brussels; Moscow; Singapore; and India. Its work is supported by more than 450 faculty members and staff.

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