President Jeffrey W. Talley, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Retired), is the 21st President of Belmont Abbey College. He is an experienced senior leader who has had an expansive career in both the academic and business worlds, including decorated military service. He has served in many advisory roles and on numerous boards.

Dr. Talley received his commission as a Regular Army officer in the Corps of Engineers in 1981. For over 34 years he served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve in a variety of command and staff positions in peace and war, with his final assignment being the 32nd Chief of Army Reserve & Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, an organization of over 215,000 Soldiers and civilians, 134 general officers and executives, with an annual operating budget of $9B, and activities in over 30 countries, including all states and territories. On June 28, 2016, he was recognized by the U.S. Senate with “Tribute to Lieutenant General Jeffrey W. Talley,” as reflected in the Congressional Record, upon the occasion of his military retirement. On April 28, 2023, he was awarded the Gold de Fleury Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Corps of Engineers. As a reservist, he had the opportunity to pursue a civilian career while simultaneously serving in the reserves.

Dr. Talley’s civilian career consists of a portfolio of academic, business, and government experiences. Academic positions include Assistant, Associate & Full Professor, Department Chair, Endowed Chair, Institute Director, Adjunct Professor, Advanced Leadership Fellow, Scholar-in-Residence, and Professor of Practice, with appointments at University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, The Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and University of Southern California. Business positions include Managing Partner and Chairman, The P3i Group, Senior Advisor to Equifax, Vice President & Global Fellow at IBM, President & CEO of Environmental Technology Solutions, and Associate at Malcolm Pirnie. Government service includes Research Engineer & Biotechnology Team Leader at the U.S. Army Engineer Research Development Center, and Environmental Engineer & Engineer Technician with the Baltimore District, Corps of Engineers.

Dr. Talley holds a Ph.D. (Civil & Environmental Engineering) from Carnegie Mellon University, an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Oxford, an M.S.E. (Environmental Engineering & Science) from The Johns Hopkins University, an M.L.A. (Liberal Arts) from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.S.S. (Strategic Studies) from the U.S. Army War College, an M.A. (Religious Studies) from Assumption College, and an B.S. from Louisiana State University. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D. – honoris causa) from Assumption University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a Board-Certified Environmental Engineer in Sustainability, and a Board-Certified Water Resources Engineer.

Dr. Talley and his wife, Linda, live in the Belmont/Charlotte, North Carolina area. They have four grown children and eleven grandchildren. A devoted Catholic, he has been a Benedictine Oblate for over 40 years.