After a twenty-three year career in the U.S. Marine Corps and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, Greg Ballard returned home to Indianapolis in 2001. In 2007, he ran a successful campaign to become the 48th Mayor of Indianapolis, subsequently serving two terms. While Mayor, he became a Trustee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was known by his fellow mayors for his boldness and innovation. Mayor Ballard achieved national stature for his work on clean energy, water, and infrastructure. He doubled the number of sister cities for Indianapolis, visited all eight sister cities, and he and his wife, Winnie, were honored as the International Citizens of the Year in 2014. He also began the VEX Robotics Championship in the City of Indianapolis which later expanded to the largest state championship in the nation. He is in the VEX Robotics Hall of Fame.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University, earned a Master of Military Science degree from the Marine Corps University, and was awarded honorary doctorates from Butler University and Marian University. After his time as mayor, he served on numerous boards and was a co-founder of Indy Women in Tech, an organization that provides funding for women to train for tech careers. He has been a Visiting Fellow for Civic Leadership and Mayoral Archives at the University of Indianapolis and continues to serve on the President’s Advisory Board for Marian University.
A Persian Gulf War veteran, his military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and the Saudi and Kuwaiti Liberation of Kuwait Medals. He has recently published his third book, Urban Republican Mayor: My Story by Indiana University Press. His previous works include Less Oil or More Caskets: The National Security Argument for Moving Away from Oil, also published by Indiana University Press. Greg and Winnie have been married for 42 years and have two children, Erica who lives in Denver, and Greg Jr. who lives in Los Angeles.
2025 Event Speakers
