The University of Southern California has just hired a big time name to fill one of its visiting professor positions. Retired General and former CIA Director David Petraeus has accepted a spot among the faculty there for the upcoming fall semester.

"I am very grateful to have an opportunity to be part of a great university that prizes academic excellence, that is doing cutting-edge research in areas of enormous importance to our country," Petraeus said.

Petraeus is certainly well-qualified, not only for his work experience but his education as well. In 1960 he earned a Ph.D. in international relations from Princeton and has also taught at the U.S. Military Academy, where he received his bachelor's.

"USC is thrilled to have General Petraeus join our faculty as a Judge Widney Professor. He embodies all the noble qualities of our founder along with a fearless commitment to excellence. His presence will have a profound impact on our students across many disciplines," USC President C. L. Max Nikias said in a press release.

While Petraeus certainly has plenty of merits for the position, the issue of his "noble qualities" is at the very least debatable. He resigned from his position as CIA Director after his extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, made national headlines this November. Pertraeus was also facing challenges over one of the CIA's operations at the time.

On the whole, however, it appears that USC is happy to have Petraeus and is willing to look past his prior indiscretions. Petraeus looks to be a versatile addition to USC's staff, with the university stating that he will be affiliated with the schools of public policy, social work, communications, international relations, engineering and others.

"The appointment of General Petraeus as a Judge Widney Professor at USC will add transformative energy to our teaching and research in international relations, government, economics, management, defense studies and military science - fields mastered by this clear-thinking jargon-free polymath," professor and historian Kevin Starr said.

This is not the first teaching appointment for one of the preeminent leaders in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In April it was announced that Petraeus will also be working as a visiting professor for the City University of New York.