MG (Ret) William “Bill” Hix, former Army Chief Strategy Officer, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Next Horizon Partners, a strategy and innovation consultancy. Next Horizon Partners provides services to a wide range of companies and organizations across the defense, security, and technology sectors.
With over 37 years as an Infantry and Special Forces officer, MG (Ret) Hix served chiefly in Asia and the Middle East where he led thousands of U.S. Service members from all branches in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served over 10 years in a variety of joint/combined assignments, from Combined Forces Command Korea to Joint Forces Command, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Supreme Allied Command Transformation, Multinational Forces-Iraq, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command, and the Joint Staff.
Over much of his last 20 years, he had an active role in numerous efforts to transform the Armed Forces, from Force XXI to Army After Next, Stryker, the Joint Force After Next, Army 2020, and the Army’s “Big 6” modernization effort. He last served in uniform as the Deputy Director, Army Futures Command Task Force, charting the most significant change to the Army’s modernization enterprise in 40 years, delivering proposals to dramatically improve the Army’s modernization enterprise.
MG (Ret) Hix is affiliated with the Army Science Board, National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Army Research and Development, the Army Strategist Association, and the Association of Wartime Allies. He is a published author and public speaker on topics ranging from geo-politics to innovation.
EDUCATION
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Master of Military Art and Science
U.S. Military Academy at West Point, B.S.