Radio Stockdale: Recent Episodes
Stockdale Center - Michael Sears
Topics covering ethics, philosophy, and leadership issues and dilemmas of interest to aspiring Naval warriors at the United States Naval Academy.
Dark Waters is an interactive scenario case study about a collision at sea between a US Navy Destroyer and a tanker. Sailors are trapped in spaces that are quickly flooding, and the protagonist must make the recommendation to close the hatch, and thereby save the ship. In so doing, those sailors would perish. It is used in Plebe Leadership, and Youngster Ethics classes. It is part of the Stockdale Interactive group of digital case studies, available at:
https://stockdaleinteractive.com/
Professor Doug Rau discusses the learning objectives of this case study, and presents to instructors and students alike the best way to use, teach, and learn from "playing" these simulations in the classroom, and as an individual.
Maritime Security is a complex case study, where a junior officer must decide among several different outcomes, none of which are optimal from a mission and moral standing. This case is not an outlier, but a representation of what young sailors face in the fleet daily. How does one balance the accomplishment of the mission, with the fact that lives are at stake, both innocents and those who have taken the oath to serve? This case study addresses the responsibilities as a leader, and the ethical implications of leadership.
Allyship is a series of case studies that follows the interactions of Midshipmen in various scenarios. After witnessing an event or comment by a third part friend and colleague, the protagonist is put into a situation where s\he must decide why and how to support a different friend who has been assailed by that inappropriate ugly event. This case study addresses your responsibilities as an Ally, when living in everyday situations that challenge friendships and respect.
Test Depth is a case study that follows the experiences of a young Junior Officer on his first role in the engineering department on a US Navy nuclear submarine. When he discovers a leak in the sea water system, he is challenged to do something about it. This case study addresses his responsibilities as a JO in working with a tight-knit team, where he may be the one who must speak truth to power.
Looming Storm is a case study that follows the early experiences of a young Junior Officer aboard ship. In a flashback, we see a poorly led ship, its wardroom and its crew. Slovenly sailors and messy quarters, rust and unaddressed leaks. Bad morale. The JO is challenged to do something about it, and he must consider who and how he deals with senior officers, and his sailors. This case study addresses your responsibilities as a JO when working in a poor command climate.
Tactical Interrogation is a case study where we consider balancing the rights and interests of three stake-holding groups: service members, their clients (i.e. inhabitants of the US), and non-clients (foreign enemy combatants and foreign non-combatants). Torture is grossly immoral when considered from any of these perspectives. Torturers tend to sustain moral and psychological injury. They are often found out and prosecuted, or at least, treated as pariahs by their fellow service or intelligence personnel.
Part 4 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley wrap up their discussion of the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict. In this final episode, Shaun and Alvin reminisce about the personal stories of the POWs and their wives. Their private experiences, and how they and their families were able to withstand the pressures and separations they all endured during the war, and how they have lived their lives since.
Part 3 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley continue to discuss the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict.
How did the US Code of Conduct apply to the American POWs? How did captivity, cooperation, and leadership lend itself to a reinterpretation of the code? What does BACKUS mean, and how did it impact the actions of the POWs? And what is the significance of the statement "Return with Honor"?
Colonel “J.P.” McDonough is the 89th Commandant of Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy. He is a career artillery officer and has held operational assignments in every level of command including Commander, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He has numerous deployments under his belt in the War on Terror as commanding officer of artillery units, and embedded training with the Afghan National Army. Besides Staff and Joint tours, he served as a modeling and simulation analyst for multiple simulation programs at the USMC Training and Education Command.
Colonel McDonough graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering in 1994. He earned a master’s degree in virtual environments, modeling and simulation from the Naval Postgraduate School, and graduated with distinction from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at National Defense University.
Part 2 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley talk about the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict. What did the North Vietnamese try to accomplish, and how did they go about it? The propaganda/media war, how it had worked in the 1st Indochina War with France, and how they used the same strategy during the US War. How the US government responded during the Johnson administration and then the Nixon administration. Finally, how the responses of the POWs and their wives contrasted and compared.
Dr. Baker earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and his Ph.D. from Wayne State University. Aside from teaching philosophy at the University and College levels, he also spent 3 years teaching writing and computer skills at the Methodist Children's Home Society group home in Detroit, Michigan. Beyond teaching at Navy, he coaches the Ethics Bowl team, and is a member of the team that produces our interactive ethics simulations, and interactive electronic ethics and leadership volumes such as Ethics for the Junior Officer.
Alvin Townley is a best-selling New York Times-reviewed author and Emmy-winning storyteller. Alvin graduated from Washington & Lee University, where he served on the university’s student government and honor council. He studied politics and economics in Europe before working in Congress, managing global strategy for an 85,000-person firm, and leading external affairs for a Grammy and Tony winning national arts center. He is a former Senior Fellow at the Naval Academy's Stockdale Center.
Douglas Rau is the Professor of Leadership Education within the Division of Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) at USNA. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and later transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer community. He was awarded his Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University. His research is in the field of public service motivation. He has served as a member of the VADM Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and supports Capstone Character Seminars at the Academy.
Douglas Rau is the Professor of Leadership Education within the Division of Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) at USNA. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and later transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer community. He was awarded his Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University. His research is in the field of public service motivation. He has served as a member of the VADM Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and supports Capstone Character Seminars at the Academy.
CAPT Franky serves as the Deputy Director for Ethics at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and is the Senior Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Representative at USNA. Most recently he served as the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula // Commanding Officer of Naval Special Warfare Unit THREE, responsible for the execution of the full spectrum, multi-domain, joint special operations, actions, and investments on the Arabian Peninsula. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and raised in Colombia, South America. He was commissioned through the Seaman to Admiral program and later attended the Naval Postgraduate School, earning a BS in Computer Science and conducting Master studies in Defense Analysis.
Mitt Regan is McDevitt Professor of Jurisprudence and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown University Law Center. He is a Senior Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. He is also Adjunct Faculty Member at the Center for Military and Security Law at the Australian National University College of Law, and an International Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Professional Service Firms. He is the author of Eat What You Kill: The Fall of a Wall Street Lawyer, and co-author of Confidence Games: Lawyers, Accountants, and the Tax Shelter Industry and Legal Ethics in Corporate Practice. Professor Regan served as law clerk to Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court, and then-Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Marc LiVecche is the McDonald Distinguished Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life at Providence. He is also a non-resident research fellow at the US Naval War College, in the College of Leadership and Ethics. His first book, The Good Kill: Just War & Moral Injury, was published in 2021 by Oxford University Press. He can be followed, or stalked, on twitter @mlivecche.
Ryan Bernacchi is a former TOPGUN instructor who served as a naval aviator and leader for 25 years. He has flown more than 4,000 hours in FA-18 Hornets and Super Hornets, as well as the F-16 Viper. He had made multiple deployments flying real world missions from the decks of our Navy’s aircraft carriers. Notably, CAPT Bernacchi served as the commanding officer for a Super Hornet Squadron, and was the Commanding Officer and Flight Leader (#1) of the Blue Angels. We met Ryan when he was the Deputy Commandant for Leadership and Character Development at the Naval Academy.
Alvin Townley is a Senior Fellow at the Stockdale Center. He is a best-selling New York Times-reviewed author and Emmy-winning storyteller. His stories are about leadership, legacy, and purpose. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University, and has studied economics in Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, and London before working in Congress, managing global strategy for a Fortune 100 firm, and leading external affairs for a national arts center.
Dr. Joe Thomas serves as the Director, VADM James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the US Naval Academy. A retired Marine, he served previously as the Class of 1961 Professor of Leadership Education at USNA and as Director, MajGen John A. Lejeune Leadership Institute at Marine Corps University. In addition he’s taught at the University of Notre Dame, University of Maryland, George Washington University and the National Outdoor Leadership School. He has published five books on the topics of leadership and ethics, along with numerous articles, book chapters, and research reports. Joe supported student research that led to the award of Rhodes, Mitchell, and Fulbright scholarships. Joe holds masters’ degrees from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and the US Army War College, a PhD from George Mason University, and a Certificate in Public Leadership from the Brookings Institute.
Dr. Clementine Fujimura is the Director of Area Studies at USNA. As the sole anthropologist at the Naval Academy, Professor Fujimura has served the Naval Academy community extensively since 1993, supporting the mission in creating adaptable, successful officers who will lead a diverse Navy and Marine Corps at home and abroad. She has published widely on the subject of marginalized youth groups in Russia, as well as military culture in the United States and Germany. She has received the USNA 2021 Civilian Faculty Service Excellence Award, developing much of the coursework in Foreign Area Studies and currently teaches three of the essential classes, as well as language classes in German and Russian. She has supported the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, the Leadership Ethics and Law Department, and the International Programs Office.
LtGen Michael Groen, USMC, is the Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. In prior roles, LtGen Groen was assigned to the National Security Agency, and served as the Deputy Chief of Computer Network Operations. He served as the Director for Intelligence, Joint Staff (J2) in direct support of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Joint Staff. He has served in a variety of operational, ground, air, and naval units in Central America, the Western Pacific, the Philippines, the Balkans and Iraq.
Jovana Davidovic (PhD, University of Minnesota, 2011) is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Iowa, where she also holds a complimentary appointment at the Law School and the Center for Human Rights. Her research focuses on military ethics and philosophy of international law and has been published in venues such as Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Journal of Military Ethics, Ethics and International Affairs, Journal of Applied Ethics, and others. Davidovic has also worked extensively as an ethics consultant, most recently serving as the Chief Ethics Officer for BABL AI, an algorithmic bias auditing and ethics consultancy. She is a resident Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.
RADM Hugh Wyman Howard, USN, is a fourth generation Naval Officer and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a SEAL officer who commands Naval Special Warfare Command. He has commanded at all levels of Special Operations, including service as commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He holds several Masters degrees, plus a Professional Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is an Eagle Scout.
Professor Ken Reightler (CAPT, USN ret.) is a former NASA astronaut and pilot of two successful space shuttle missions including STS-60, the first U.S./Russian Joint Space Mission. He is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School and served two tours at the Naval Air Test Center as a test pilot, project officer and flight test instructor pilot. He is a 1973 graduate of the Naval Academy, and he is currently the Tig H. Krekel, Class of ’75, Distinguished Chair in Space Science at the Naval Academy. He enjoys racing Chesapeake Bay sailing log canoes each summer on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Dr. Joe Thomas currently serves as the Director, Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the US Naval Academy. A retired Marine, he served previously as the Class of 1961 Professor of Leadership Education at USNA and as Director, MajGen John A. Lejeune Leadership Institute at Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA. Joe holds masters’ degrees from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and the US Army War College, a PhD from George Mason University, and Certificate in Public Leadership from the Brookings Institute.
Captain Jason Rimmer is a third generation Sailor from Sherman, Texas. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and was designated a naval aviator, flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter throughout his career. CAPT Rimmer has commanded Amphibious Squadron EIGHT, and the BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group. He commanded Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR NINE (HSL-49), among numerous jobs afloat. He earned an MBA in 2004 from The George Washington University and is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College, earning the Douglas MacArthur Award for writing.
Captain Jason Rimmer is a third generation Sailor from Sherman, Texas. He was commissioned in 1995 and graduated with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He was designated a naval aviator in June 1997 and flew the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter throughout his career. Most recently, Captain Rimmer commanded Amphibious Squadron EIGHT and the BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG) from June 2020 to November 2021.
ADM Kurt Tidd, USN (ret.) last served as the Commander, United States Southern Command. Prior to that assignment, Tidd served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as the Director for Operations, Joint Staff (J-3), and as Commander, United States Naval Forces Southern Command and United States Fourth Fleet. He is a 1978 Naval Academy graduate, and holds a Masters in Political Science from the University of Bordeaux.
Carol Graser is a Senior Fellow at the Stockdale Center, leading the training for Company Officers and Senior Enlisted to use a coaching approach to develop leaders. Carol is certified in Leadership Coaching through the Georgetown Leadership Coaching Program. She earned a certificate in Brain Based Conversations from the Neuroleadership Institute. Previously, Carol was a leader in IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Merck pharmaceuticals.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being used in the Russo\Ukrainian War to devastating effect. In this encore presentation, we revisit the ideas and execution of Drones, in both war and peace. We discuss why learning about these now is worthwhile, how to get involved, and what may be the future of these vehicles. Jeff Voigt is a Naval Academy graduate, a former Surface Warfare Officer, and he's taught at the Academy and at OCS in Newport Rhode Island. He's a private pilot, a certificated UAV operator and a professional photographer.
Dr. Tony Pfaff is currently the Research Professor for Strategy, the Military Profession, and Ethics at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, Carlisle, PA. He is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council. A retired Army colonel and Foreign Area Officer (FAO) for the Middle East and North Africa, Dr. Pfaff recently served as Director for Iraq on the National Security Council Staff. Dr. Pfaff has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Economics from Washington and Lee University; a master’s degree in Philosophy from Stanford University, and a PhD from Georgetown University.
Jovana Davidovic (PhD, University of Minnesota, 2011) is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Iowa, where she also holds a complimentary appointment at the Law School and the Center for Human Rights. Her research focuses on military ethics and philosophy of international law and has been published in venues such as Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, Journal of Military Ethics, Ethics and International Affairs, Journal of Applied Ethics, and others. Davidovic has also worked extensively as an ethics consultant, most recently serving as the Chief Ethics Officer for BABL AI, an algorithmic bias auditing and ethics consultancy. She is a resident Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.
Creativity comes in many forms. It's the ability to solve problems, as well as the understanding and use of communication tools to convey information. Our guest has demonstrated both of those elements of creativity in his naval service. LT. Rylan Tuohy, USN, is a 2016 Applied Physics graduate of the Naval Academy, and he's earned a Master's Degree in Project Management from the University of Maryland. He has served as an officer in the Navy's Civil Engineering Corps and he has more than 15 million views of his work on YouTube.
We talk about how Rylan used creativity in his role in the SeaBees (Navy Construction Battalion), and beyond. We discuss are you "born with" a creativity function, or can you develop it? How does your ability to communicate and motivate as a leader play in the productions that you've created? Movies are a "team sport". How did your time in the Navy help you build those skills? You've taken some risks with your career path and with some of the choices that you made. Why and how did you take those risks?
LT Rylan Tuohy, USN, is a 2016 Applied Physics graduate of the Naval Academy, and has earned a Master's Degree in project management. He's been a Platoon Commander in Amphibious Construction Battalion ONE, a Construction Manager, Legal Officer, and most recently, the Assistant Operations Officer at Amphibious Construction Battalion ONE.
We conclude our discussion of various potential uses of neurocognitive science in military and intelligence operations, and sketch ethical issues, and angles of analysis that will arise as both allies and adversaries develop such tools, relating them to existing laws of war and conventions.
Is Neuroethics a “new ethics”, or is it a subdiscipline of ethics or bioethics? How does multi-nationality influence Neuroethics? What are the viable paths forward in guiding this ever more global engagement of the brain sciences in a variety of different applications, that appear to range from the medical to the military?
In this second of a three-part series, we continue our discussion of potential uses of neurocognitive science in military operations. In the United States, programs are examining ways that brain science can be employed to augment warfighters’ and intelligence operators’ performance, and alter adversaries’ capabilities with regards to key cognitive and physical tasks. Similar projects are being conducted by others around the world, by friends and potential foes.
We colloquially refer to "winning hearts and minds'', but might brain science enable us to "win hearts by affecting the mind?" What are the most cutting-edge developments and probable uses of brain science in such national security, intelligence and defense operations? In 20 years, what is on the horizon of possibility in the ways brain science might be used in such ways?
We talk with Dr. James Giordano, a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center and a Senior Fellow at the Stockdale Center. In this three-part series, we discuss what are some of the latest developments in brain science and technology related to military applications? These include brain scanning tools, directed energy, trans-cranial magnetic and electrical stimulation, and deep brain stimulation - all of which can be used in military and intelligence operations. How might differing values around the world address the development and use of these technologies? What are the relative costs and the burdens or risks associated with these possible values?
Dr. James Giordano is Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program, Scholar-in-Residence, leads the Sub-Program in Military Medical Ethics, and Co-director of the O’Neill-Pellegrino Program in Brain Science and Global Health Law and Policy in the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics. He is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center. He is also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Brain Science, Health Promotions and Ethics at the Coburg University of Applied Sciences. He served in the Navy as a Naval Aerospace Physiologist, and was the director of the aerospace training center at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. Dr. "G" is a Senior Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.
In this encore presentation, we talk about the difference between an opinion and a position? Does your brain know the difference? What kind of biases are at work when I procrastinate? Will I have the same biases when I am much older? Find out more from our conversation with Brad Bishop, PhD., Professor & Associate Dean of the School of Engineering and Weapons.
The Honor Series - Part 6 - Honor, Ethics, and Integrity - CAPT Herbert, USN (ret.) was a Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics, and the NE203 Course Director (Ethics and Moral Reasoning for the Naval Leader). We discuss, can a person be an ethical person and be honorable at the same time? How does integrity fit in with ethical behavior and being honorable? We ask, is there honor among thieves?
The Honor Series - Part 5 - The Fleet Connection - CDR Ledford is the Chair of Leadership, Ethics, and Law. In this episode, he discusses the status of Midshipmen in the naval tradition. There's the importance of the concept of "profession", and a Midshipman's place within that profession. What's the significance of the "Khaki" uniform, and its link to the Brigade Honor Concept and the Professional Naval Officer? Finally, we emphasize that committing to the Honor Concept starts on I-Day.
The Honor Series - Part 4 - Remediation and Coaching - CAPT Rick Rubel, USN, (ret.) was the officer tasked to develop the Honor Remediation Process at the Naval Academy. In this episode, we discuss the honor remediation program and processes. Why do we have remediation, and how does this fit the moral development program for Midshipmen? What are the keys to success and factors of failure? Finally, we discuss how do we prevent this from becoming a "second chance" program? He also discusses the newest program involving mentorship, with the midshipmen driven effort taking a proactive approach to developing honorable character habits. CAPT Rubel has also been a Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics and has served as the Course Director of the Core Ethics Course for 17 years.
The Honor Series - Part 3 - The Honor Process - CDR Jana Vavaseur is the Brigade Honor Officer. We discuss the mission of the Naval Academy and we understand where Honor fits into it's goal "To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically". Basically, how does the Honor Program add to that mission? What are the facts and some of the numbers related to honor, and honor violations? We discuss do we recruit honorable high school graduates, or do we develop honorable Midshipmen? Finally, we discuss the concept of Brittle Fracture, and that how that idea relates to Honor violations.
The Honor Series - Part 2 - Honor and Authenticity - MIDN Booker is the AC Y22 (Academic Year) Fall Brigade Commander. We discuss how honor relates to leadership. How does authenticity relate to honor, and is honor natural or is it something that can be developed? And if so, how do you "develop" honor? If honor/trust is lost, can it ever be restored again? And finally, what honor means to MIDN Booker.
The Honor Series - Part 1 - The Brigade Honor Concept - MIDN Collins is the Brigade Honor Advisor. We discuss how the Brigade Honor Program is midshipmen run, and the roles and responsibilities of Brigade Honor team. This involves the honor advisory staff, the honor investigations team, and the honor congress. She details the significance of the Honor Concept relative to an Honor Code. We then discuss what happens when someone is "put in the system". Finally, we discuss how the Brigade Honor program and the Honor Concept apply to the choices that Midshipmen make each day for themselves and for each other.
We're in conversation with Captain Tasya Lacy, USN. She and her future husband graduated from the Naval Academy in 1994. She provides a unique and detailed perspective on how they have worked together to craft Navy careers in a dual military situation. Captain Lacy speaks about broadening your perspective on where your skills and abilities can take you, and encourages taking on challenges to enhance your outcomes. As a team, she says that communication, supporting each other's career goals, mentorship, and making sure the family is taken care of while on deployment all factor into a successful dual career in the Navy.
Captain Lacy commanded Navy Operational Support Center Baltimore, near historic Fort McHenry, from August 2016 to July 2018. Currently, Lacy is assigned to the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve as Legislative Director.
We talk with Commander Leviticus Lewis, U.S. Navy (Ret), who now works with FEMA as a Program Manager for NASA's Planetary Defense Initiative. After retirement, Mr. Lewis has worked in the Pentagon serving both TSA and FEMA, with the FBI National Joint Terrorism Task Force and was at the Pentagon on 9/11.
Mr. Lewis talks about the most current efforts of the Planetary Defense initiative and the launch of the DART mission to test kinetic impact on an asteroid. Planetary defense encompasses all the capabilities needed to detect the possibility of a potential asteroid or comet impact with the earth, and then either prevent the impacts or mitigate the possible effects of an impact. He also comments on the global coordination and participation of international agencies on planetary defense.
He wraps up our conversation with advice on having a career where you are challenged by your interests to pursue new avenues of knowledge, and how that has made all the difference to him.
We talk with Command Master Chief Britt Slabinski about doing the right thing when the decision becomes impossible. He relates how he invoked the 3CsPlus concept - courage, conviction, compassion and contribution. One is black and white, one is the underpinning of all, one is ever present and one has three rules. Listen to the podcast to find out which one is most important. Finally, where does the Boy Scout Oath play a part?
CMC Slabinski's operational assignments include SEAL Team FOUR, 1990 to 1993; Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), 1993 to 2006; and Command Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron TWO, 2006 to 2008. He was the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Joint Special Operations Command, Washington, DC Office, 2008 to 2010 and Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, 2010 to 2012
Slabinski has completed nine overseas deployments and 15 combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He retired in June 2014 as the Director of Naval Special Warfare Safety Assurance and Analysis Program after more than 25 years of service.
LtGen Gaskin also served as the Commanding General of the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC from June 2006 until July 2008. In addition to this role, he simultaneously served as the Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). During this tour, LtGen Gaskin led II MEF (FWD) during its year-long deployment to Al Anbar Province, Iraq as the Commanding General of Multinational Forces-West.
Gaskin also served with 3rd Force Service Support Group (Echo and Foxtrot Logistics Support Units); 3rd Marine Division (Division Command Center) in Okinawa, Japan; and with Combined Forces Command C/J-3, Seoul, South Korea as the Head of Ground Forces Branch.
Mr. Gaskin most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of La Porte Technology Defense (LAPORTECH). LAPORTECH is an engineering Technical Development Plan supplier with the capability to design, test, retrofit, and roll out new and existing specialty defense and commercial vehicles. Prior to this, Mr. Gaskin served as the Managing Director in Charge of Operation Management Complex of Global Bank in Irvine, CA.
A graduate of Savannah State University's NROTC Scholarship Program with a Bachelor of Science, he earned a Summa Cum Laude Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and completed the Senior Executive Seminar from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University. His military education includes the Amphibious Warfare School; Army Command and Staff College; Army War College; and the Combined/Joint Force Land Component Command Course.
We're in conversation with Ms. Deanne Criswell, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In this episode, we discuss how FEMA handles ethical dilemmas, and in its role in working with the Navy and Marine Corps in support of emergency management, humanitarian assistance, and climate change. We also discuss the connection points between FEMA and the national security network. Ms. Criswell has served in the Colorado Air National Guard, and has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar.
Ms. Deanne Criswell was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 22, 2021 as the 12th Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ms. Criswell is the first woman confirmed to serve as the Administrator, where she leads the nations efforts in helping people before, during, and after disasters. She brings with her an extensive career in emergency management with over 27 years of experience at all levels of government and the private sector.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Criswell served as the Commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department from 2019 to 2021, where she was responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all emergencies. One of her most significant accomplishments was leading the coordination of the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to include preventing the collapse of the healthcare system, making sure no New Yorker went hungry, establishing a first of its kind non-congregate sheltering program, and supporting the country’s largest mass fatality program.
Ms. Criswell began her career in emergency management in Aurora, Colorado, where she led strategic change in the city's emergency and disaster planning. During her tenure, Ms. Criswell coordinated transitional housing and family reunification efforts in response to receiving evacuees during the response to Hurricane Katrina. She previously served at FEMA as the leader of one of the Agency's National Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) and as a Federal Coordinating Officer. In this role, Ms. Criswell was the primary Federal representative responsible for leading the agency's response to and recovery from emergencies and major disasters, from severe flooding in North Dakota to hurricanes in South Carolina to fires in Colorado. She also spent two years as an executive in the private sector, providing exceptional technical expertise and the experience necessary to help her clients achieve their critical missions.
Ms. Criswell also proudly served 21 years in the Colorado Air National Guard. She is a veteran of two oversees tours to include as a fire officer in Kuwait immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 where she advised senior leadership on fire protection requirements for new and existing military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ms. Criswell holds a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado – Denver, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Christopher J. Cassidy was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2004 and is a veteran of three space flights, STS‐127, Expedition 35, and Expedition 63. During STS‐127, Cassidy served as a Mission Specialist and was the 500th person in history to fly into space. This mission delivered the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (JEM‐EF) and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section (ELM‐ES) to the station. For Expedition 35, Cassidy and the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano had their unplanned spacewalk to replace a pump controller box cut short when Parmitano had cooling water leak into his helmet. Cassidy, a U.S. Navy SEAL, has been deployed twice to the Mediterranean and twice to Afghanistan. He has been the recipient of Bronze Star with combat ‘V’ and Presidential Unit Citation for leading a nine‐day operation at the Zharwar Kili Cave on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. Cassidy recently served as Commander on the International Space Station for Expedition 63.
Reed Robert Bonadonna served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer and field historian, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He participated in the first Marine landings in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1982 and in Operation Iraqi Freedom-1 in 2003. He earned a PhD at Boston University. He recently retired as Director, Ethics and Character Development program at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He and his wife, Dr. Susan Bonadonna, MD, have three sons and reside in Larchmont, New York.
FACE IN THE MIRROR: An Ethics Code for the US Armed Services
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/ethics-code/
A Code of Ethics for the US Armed Services? A Counterpoint
https://www.usna.edu/Ethics/blog/2020/An_Ethics_Code_for_the_Armed_Forces_A_Counterpoint_to_Reed_Bonadonnas_Proposal.php
What are the essentials of Leadership Development? How does Competence, Character, and Connectedness play a part? How do you achieve those "C's" while serving in the organization, and on your own? ADM Richardson reveals what he would do differently as a Midshipman, if he could do it all over again. Admiral John Richardson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. He was the 31st Chief of Naval Operations.
Admiral John Richardson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. He holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and National Security Strategy from the National War College.
At sea, Richardson served on USS Parche (SSN 683), USS George C. Marshall (SSBN 654) and USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716). He commanded USS Honolulu (SSN 718) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Richardson also served as commodore of Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 12; commander, Submarine Group 8; commander, Submarine Allied Naval Forces South; deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet; chief of staff, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa; commander, Naval Submarine Forces, and director of Naval Reactors.
His staff assignments include duty in the attack submarine division on the Chief of Naval Operations staff; naval aide to the President; prospective commanding officer instructor for Commander, Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet; assistant deputy director for Regional Operations on the Joint Staff; and director of Strategy and Policy at U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Richardson served on teams that have been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Navy “E” Ribbon. He was awarded the Vice Admiral Stockdale Award for his time in command of USS Honolulu.
Admiral John Richardson was the 31st Chief of Naval Operations.
Under what conditions is the state morally justified in waging war? What are the moral responsibilities of those called upon to fight their nation's wars? This podcast introduces just war theory, a scholarly tradition that has evolved over the course of millennia as an ethical guide for the statesmen and combatants who must grapple with these difficult and enormously consequential questions.
A discussion on character, the moral virtues most relevant to aspiring military officers, and how NE203 is structured to help midshipmen learn how to develop their characters.
Moral deliberation involves the filtering and weighing (whether consciously or unconsciously) of relevant moral principles and concepts in order to determine a course of action. In this episode, we consider the novel way that NE203 teaches Moral Deliberation in order to shift our focus from theory to practice.
Moral perception is awareness of the morally relevant features of the world. Many things can get in the way of perceiving the morally salient features of a given situation, our history, our culture, our biases--even being in a hurry. In this Episode, we talk about how we consider this important aspect of morality.
This podcast introduces the main reasons that counted in favor of the thorough revision of NE203 and summarizes the most important changes made to that course.
The conduct of war is subject to both moral and legal rules – for example, rules about who is a legitimate target, and who is not. What is the relationship between those moral and legal rules? Should we change the law of war so that its content mirrors the true morality of war? David Lefkowitz is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Richmond. He is the author of a book – Philosophy and International Law: A Critical Introduction - as well as numerous articles and book chapters on topics including the moral conduct of war, secession, and civil disobedience. During the 2016-2017 academic year, he served as a Fellow at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.
What does resilience and response mean in federal service, both civilian and the naval service. Why is it so important on the world stage for the USA to demonstrate its ability to respond to disasters in an effective manner? Is there a great power struggle to provide that aid? What should a young naval officer be thinking about today with regard to disaster support in the near future? Ms. Caitlin Durkovich is the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Resilience and Response at the White House National Security Council. As the Senior Director, she is responsible for the advancement of policies and programs that enhances the resilience of the United States, and strengthens the U.S. posture to physical and cyber threats to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
What are your rights as they are shaped by the 2nd and the 3rd Amendment? What are the colonial Origins and Interpretations of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms? What were Intentions of the Founders, and how and when were they changed? How has the Supreme Court interpreted this right today? Is there a connection between the original intent, and the rights and rulings today?
How did the Founders handle Federalism and State's Rights - that perpetually delicate balance? How does the 14th Amendment address these issues? Our constitution and our way of life remain a great experiment – it is our responsibility as naval officers, and as Americans to understand exactly what the Constitution guarantees to all citizens, and to prove that we truly are all created equal.
What does judicial procedure look like as an accused citizen? What does the right to a speedy trial mean? Are there any limitations to your right to counsel? What is bail, and what is to be considered excessive? Do you know the difference between a jury and a grand jury? Lastly, how are we to understand what “cruel and unusual” really means?
What is the process of being taken into police custody? What happens to you, either as a citizen or a military member once you have been arrested? Everyone has heard of Miranda Rights – do you know where it comes from? What are 31 Bravo Rights? Finally, what is meant by Due Process?
We look at the 4th Amendment. What does the right to privacy mean, and what rights do we have as American citizens to protection from an unreasonable search and seizure? What is the difference between “reasonable” and “unreasonable?” What rights do government actors have, both with and without a warrant? Moreover, how are we to understand what is admissible and what isn’t in a court of law?
We examine Freedom of Religion, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This Episode is in two parts - created by Madison and his peers: the Establishment Clause, and the Exercise Clause. We ask: what factors led the United States to embrace these concepts? Have we ever been a truly secular nation? How has the relationship between government and religion changed over time? And lastly, how are we to understand freedom of religion as members of the military?
We focus on four of the freedoms guaranteed by the 1st Amendment: Press, Petition, Assembly, and Speech. How are we to understand these freedoms both as citizens, and Naval Officers? What limitations exist to those guaranteed rights? Why is it acceptable for ordinary citizens to burn a flag or wear black armbands protesting war in public schools? When does the government have the right to infringe upon some of those rights, if ever? How are we supposed to understand freedom of expression in the digital age, in particular, social media?
The federal government in the early days of the nation was weak and ineffective. Citizens actually rebelled against the power of the central government by taking up arms. President George Washington knew that he needed to do something. What started as a discussion in Annapolis, ended with a new Constitution. How did the addition of the Bill of Rights impact the ratification of the Constitution? And with these rights, how is Good Order and Discipline in the military and naval service impacted. How did the Captain's ability to prescribe "Bread and Water" punishment and restricted political speech in the service interplay with a citizen sailor's rights regarding Cruel and Unusual Punishment and Free Speech?
What is the genesis of an Oath of Office that we take when we join the Naval service? Where does General Washington come in and what was his impact on an Oath? What does the Constitution say about an Oath of Office? What does "well and faithfully mean"? Why is this oath different for enlistment?
How does the language of architecture reflect the culture of the Naval Academy? Why does the Yard look the way it does? How do the historic buildings and the siting of them influence the new buildings like Wesley Brown and Hopper Hall? Why is naming so important to the character and ideals for what the Naval Academy's mission is? Sara Phillips is the Architect of the Naval Academy. She is a registered architect in the State of Maryland and has served as the Deputy for Facilities and Construction at the Naval Academy since 2006. Prior to that, she was involved in the design of the Memorial Hall, the Rotunda and Smoke Hall, as well as the construction manager for the Robert Crown Sailing Center and the Jewish Chapel and Levy Center.
How should a junior officer get prepared to work in an international world of partnerships and alliances. How did the Academy and its Moral-Mental-Physical mission prepare this Admiral for a life in the Fleet and beyond? How does gratitude play a part? Vice Admiral John Christenson, USN (ret.) is a graduate of the Naval Academy. He served as a Surface Warfare Officer, including numerous commands at sea. Ashore, he was the President of the Naval War College, and he served as the US Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee in Brussels.
The term “Drone” usually refers to any unpiloted aircraft. But there is more to the story. Sometimes referred to as “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (UAVs)
Can a person crack under the pressures that life brings? What are the physics of Brittle Fracture and how does it relate to personal character and integrity? How can you prepare for the stresses of a naval career? Captain TR Buchanan is the 88th Commandant of Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy. A nuclear trained engineer, CAPT Buchanan has commanded the USS ALBANY and was Commodore of Submarine Squadron TWENTY.
What is design thinking and why should we be interested in it? What is the process like? Is it different from traditional brainstorming? Are there real world examples of the Design Thinking approach that worked in the field? Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski is a Fellow at the Stockdale Center, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Master’s program in Homeland Security at Rider University in New Jersey. Her research has been well published on civil wars/insurgencies, international conflict, foreign policy, and creativity/innovation.
Who is Augustine and why should we care about what he had to say? What are the experiences in Augustine's life that shaped his thought and writing? Given how long ago Augustine lived, is there anything about his thinking that still affects us today? How did the philosophy of his time, both Stoic and Platonic, affect Augustine's beliefs? How did Augustine understand ethics? Can we discern a leadership philosophy in Augustine's writings? Captain Joe Mcinerney is also former Chair of the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at Navy. He earned a doctoral degree in systematic theology from the Catholic University of America and is the author of the book The Greatness of Humility: St. Augustine on Moral Excellence.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo is the all-time winningest coach in Navy Football history. His teams have had 10 winning seasons, and they beat Notre Dame . . . 3 times. He is in his 14th season as the Head Coach at the Naval Academy, and his 24th season in Annapolis overall. How does the "Why" of what you do inform the "What" and the "How"? How does your personal history beyond football relate to the sea? As an American of Polynesian descent, how does your upbringing and culture, especially with seagoing traditions, serve you as a leader at the Naval Academy?
What's it like to be a Leader in an Academic setting? What can Midshipmen teach, and learn from Professors? How is the Naval Academy Museum supporting the new Wargaming Initiative at Navy? Dr. Claude Berube is a writer, an historian, a professor at the Naval Academy, and a Reserve Naval Intelligence officer. Currently, he is the Director of the Naval Academy Museum.
What is torture, what works and want doesn't work? Is an irregular combatant different from a criminal suspect? What does privilege mean in this context? As a junior officer, how should you expect to be touched by these issues? Dr. Michael Skerker is a professor in the Leadership, Ethics, and Law department at the Naval Academy. His academic interests include professional ethics, just war theory, moral pluralism, theological ethics, and militant jihadism. He has numerous publications, including his most recent book, The Moral Status of Combatants: A New Theory of Just War.
The Brigade is experiencing something that no other Midshipmen have encountered in the last 100 years. Persistence and Resilience are critical to get through it. How does the history of the Montford Point Marines inform that persistence? Those first African American Marines were locked in and locked down. What lessons can we learn from them. Carl Sharperson is a Naval Academy graduate, and a former Marine Corps pilot. After the Corps, he worked in industry, including a stint as Vice President of an International Sporting Goods company. He is the author of the book, Sharp Leadership: Overcome Adversity to Lead with Authenticity.
This is an Encore presentation. Beyond practice makes perfect, you've got resilience. Making the most of an opportunity to do the right thing even for what might be a mundane opportunity sets up the ability to be resilient in the face of adversity or hard choices. Learn the importance of getting your resilience muscles strong both morally and mentally with Mr. Brad Snyder LT USN [ret.].
Can Journaling play a part in Pre-Trauma self care? As a leader, what are your responsibilities to ensure your people are practicing self-care? And, how can you as a leader "teach" self-care techniques? Dan Luna is a retired Navy Seal. He has instructed at the Naval Academy, where he was voted by the Class of 2017 to be an Honorary Graduate. He is currently the co-founder of 3LX Consulting. Dan is working on his doctorate in Organization Change and Leadership from University of Southern California.
What is Pre-Trauma? How does it relate to Resilience and Grit? What does Inoculation have to do with Pre-Trauma? How do you know when to think about self-care? Dan Luna is a retired Navy Seal. He has instructed at the Naval Academy, where he was voted by the Class of 2017 to be an Honorary Graduate. He is currently the co-founder of 3LX Consulting. Dan is working on his doctorate in Organization Change and Leadership from University of Southern California.
What should junior leaders do to shape the future of the Naval Service and truly be foundational to institutional excellence. What is the connection with Competence, Courage and Compassion? When it comes to Courage, is it about physical, moral, or both? What is an inspirational leader? LtGen John Wissler, USMC (ret.) began his career as a combat engineer, commanding at every echelon. As a General officer, he was CG, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander, Marine Corps Forces, Japan; as well as Commander, US Marine Corps Forces Command and Commanding General, FMF Atlantic.
This is a continuation of our discussion on Just War, including the consideration of Moral Injury. Is a "spiritual wound" different from Moral Injury? Can I suffer a Moral Injury even if I am miles away from the kinetic act? Do I have to have a traditional religious foundation in order to suffer a Moral Injury? Dr. Marc LiVecche is a Resident Fellow at the Stockdale Center. He helped found Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy, for which he is executive editor. His first book, The Good Kill: Just War & Moral Injury, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
What is the Just War tradition? How is this scholarship particularly relevant to Midshipmen? Do you consider the Just War tradition a Moral guide or framework? How does a study of Just War protect against Moral Injury? Dr. Marc LiVecche is a Resident Fellow at the Stockdale Center. His first book, The Good Kill: Just War & Moral Injury, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.
How do we become a Humble leader? What do you need to do in yourself in order to move in that direction, away from arrogance, and toward humility? Do the words of the ancients help? How did it help VADM Stockdale as a POW and as a leader? Colonel Athens, USMC (ret.) is the former Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and the Naval Academy’s first Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership.
What is Humility, and why is it an essential element of a leader’s “Toolkit”? Can you be Humble and Bold at the same time? What is the impact on individuals,teams and organizations when a lack of humility is present? Is there a way that leaders can assess whether they have the requisite humility to lead effectively? How can we become more humble . . . or is that even possible? Colonel Athens, USMC (ret.) is the former Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and the Naval Academy’s first Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership.
Why is it so hard to "ground" a pilot? What is the ultimate responsibility of a leader? What does it mean to "embrace your mistakes"? RADM Lawrence Chambers is the 2nd African American USNA graduate, and the first to make Flag Rank. Among many accomplishments, he was the commanding officer of the USS Midway during Operation Frequent Wind.
Historically, a soldier of fortune takes part in armed conflict for a profit motive. They are usually an outsider to the conflict, and not a member of any official military. In the world of today, what are private military and security companies, and what do they do? Why should we be interested in these companies? As a junior officer, how should you think about, and evaluate the reliability of these contractors? Dr. Elizabeth Radziszewski is a Resident Fellow at the Stockdale Center. Her research on civil wars/insurgencies, international conflict, and foreign policy has been published in numerous academic journals.
What does it mean to Finish Strong? What is it about being an American that suggests we are too impatient to finish a task before we go on to the next thing? Why do we think that we can control our environment, as opposed to work within it? What does it mean to move toward "commencement"? Dr. Joe Thomas currently serves as the Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the Naval Academy. He is a retired Marine officer, and he served previously as the Class of 1961 Professor Of Leadership Education, and as Director, MajGen John A. Lejeune Leadership Institute at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. Dr. Thomas earned a PhD from George Mason University.
How do you get through the Dark Ages? What does Perseverance have to do with it? Is there a framework to get through the day? What is the "long look"? What do you do if the future reward is a long way away? RDML Alan T. “Blues”Baker, USN [ret.] served as the 16th Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps and was the first graduate of the Naval Academy and former Surface Warfare Officer selected as a Chaplain Corps Flag Officer. He currently serves as the Director of Influencer Development at the Stockdale Center.
As we get ready to re-engage with the new semester, we thought it is timely to listen to an earlier presentation of Ethics and Cross-Cultural Competence, with Naval Academy professor Dr. Clementine Fujimura. Now is the perfect time to build a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our American culture, and your place in it. Build a better understanding of your need to be cross-culturally competent, in order to be a successful leader.
This is an encore presentation of The Politics of Crisis Response. In these uncertain times, it is important that junior officers understand their roles within the politics of governmental affairs. What are you responsible for when communicating with your leadership, policymakers, and the public? Mr. Brian Kamoie served as Associate Administrator for Mission Support at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He discusses the need to tell the truth and maintain credibility, and understand how to “stay in your lane”.
The demands placed upon naval officers to show courage comes in many forms. When guns are blazing and missiles firing; when you climb a rope ladder to board a suspect ship; all of those require courage. But moral courage, the courage to do the right thing day in and day out, is just as hard. And frankly, it's where most of your courageous leadership will be displayed.
Who are the Department of Defense senior civilian leaders? We talk today with former Acting Deputy Secretary Christine Fox who has served in several administrations, and has been the second in command at the DOD. She has been the most senior female official in the history of the Department. Why is it important for a naval officer to understand the civilian-military relationship? Where is the "line" - Where do the civilian leaders "take over" from the Admirals and Generals? What is meant by the phrase, civilian authorities have the "right to be wrong"?
This is the story of a young officer, reporting aboard his first duty station, and an accident that ensued on his watch. Why is it important to embrace responsibility, for your actions, and the actions of your team? How do you balance the creative engineering initiative of your sailors and Marines with the classroom work you learn in school? When does it make sense to stop work, and reset the direction and focus of your unit's task? How can you have the courage to ask questions and seek help in order to fulfill your unit's mission?
What is the significance to immigration to the United States? Is immigration today any different than it was 100 years ago? Is America Full? As we "pivot" to Asia, might we see great powers competition in Latin America? Dr. Sharika Crawford is an expert on Latin America, and its interrelationship with the United States.
Are leadership principles any different in Space? What's it like to be the commander of the International Space Station? Ground control is an integral part of your team. How do you build trust with a crew that doesn't share the same risk that you do on-board the station? How has Calculus III helped you on the ISS?
What are the Attributes that a graduate of the Naval Academy must possess when he or she graduates? What is the Fleet and the FMF looking for in a graduate? Can you pick the ones you want, or do you need to embrace them all?
ADM Mike Mullen is a retired Navy Admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2007. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968. We discuss: What are your responsibilities as a junior officer to the future of the Naval Service? Do senior officers really want to hear your opinion, and how should you best offer it? How does the civil unrest of the 1960's inform your leadership attitude in the 2020's?
Roger Mosby is the President and CEO of the Boy Scouts of America. Roger has had a long career in servant leadership. It all began as a sailor, serving in a squadron on the USS Ranger. We talk about Trustworthiness and Loyalty - what it means in the Navy, and what it means to Boy Scouts. How can you trust your co-workers in one of the most dangerous work environments on the planet.
What's the difference between an opinion and a position? Does your brain know the difference? What kind of biases are at work when I procrastinate? Will I have the same biases when I am much older? Find out more from our conversation with Brad Bishop, PhD., Professor of Weapons, Robotics, and Control Engineering.
A close encounter between two ships on the ocean is a humbling experience. The Commanding Officer (CO), and the Officer of the Deck (OOD), learn when to take charge and when to trust each other. Communication and just the right amount of confidence, ensures success and safety.
When perfect isn't always best. Balancing perfection and time management in a high pressure situation. Tommy Martinez, USNA Class of 1978 was a U.S. Marine Fire Direction Officer, plotting fires for his artillery battery. He and his team had to move at night, set up, and do geometry, all within range of an Iraqi counter battery fire. He talks about what he would do differently one night during Desert Storm.
Innovation, is it just for Silicon valley start-ups? Mr. Ray Kwong, discusses the intersection of risk tolerance, innovation, and the military. Mr. Kwong is a Naval Academy graduate, served as an E-warfare officer and retired as a Commander. He is Chairman of the Board for Triton Services and is President and CEO of EPIC Optics.
Making an assumption about another's life transition led to an uncomfortable parting when Dr. Clementine Fujimura was an academic Department Chair at the U. S. Naval Academy. Dr. Fujimura discusses a situation she would have handled quite differently regarding a colleague. She also talks about how to be a more effective leader with any age group.
What's the difference, Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter? Captain Timika Lindsay, USNA Chief Diversity Officer and USNA grad, clarifies the difference. CAPT Lindsay holds an MS in Information Technology Management.
Can I be an Ethical person and be Honorable at the same time? What is the interplay of both words? We ask is there Honor among thieves? Dr. Herbert is a retired Navy SEAL and holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Political Theory.
Why is it so hard to ground a pilot? What is the ultimate responsibility of a leader? What does it mean to "embrace your mistakes"? RADM Lawrence Chambers is the 2nd African American USNA graduate, and the first to make Flag Rank. Among many accomplishments, he was the commanding officer of the USS Midway during Operation Frequent Wind.
LtGen John Wissler, USMC ret. reflects on what training and support he would have provided to the Marines and Sailors of the provisional Mortuary Affairs unit following the Second Battle of Fallujah. LtGen Wissler is a 1978 graduate of the Naval Academy. Among many roles in his more than 30 years in the USMC, he was the Commanding General, FMF Atlantic.
Can a person crack under the pressures that life brings? What are the physics of Brittle Fracture and how does it relate to personal character and integrity? How can you prepare for the stresses of a naval career? Captain TR Buchanan is the 88th Commandant of Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy. A nuclear trained engineer, CAPT Buchanan has commanded the USS ALBANY and was Commodore of Submarine Squadron TWENTY.
What makes Rugby unique? Is it the songs, the beer? How did Rugby sportsmanship become such an important part of the play, and what does Rugby teach you about resilience? Major Ryan Curry, USMC (ret.) served as a Marine for 24 years, starting in Parris Island and progressing to become a test pilot. He has over 10 years of playing experience in Rugby.
How can we stay focused and on mission while we are deployed? Can you really be isolated in a crowd of people? And what lessons should you hold on to once you are back in the "world". COL MJ Pallotta, USMC, is a 1994 Academy graduate, and she is the Director of the Center for Experiential Leadership Development at the U.S. Naval Academy.
What would you do without repercussions? How would you live in a world of no consequences? Dr. Shaun Baker is a philosopher at the Stockdale Center, and specializes in philosophy at the movies. He breaks down Aristotelian concepts in the movie “Groundhog Day”, focusing on what true happiness means. He holds his PhD from Wayne State University and coaches the ethics debate team at the Naval Academy.
VADM Sean Buck, Superintendent of the US Naval Academy, talks about the Power of Listening. He tells us that "hearing is physics, listening is leadership". “The best leaders in the world are the best listeners." "Listening allows a commander to leverage the diversity within his team". He describes how he uses his listening skills throughout every day.
What is Moral Injury and how does it differ from PTSD? Dr. Ed Barrett is the Stockdale Center's Director of Strategy and Research and he discusses how moral injury can happen, how it is diagnosed, and the three major steps of treatment.
Wise advice on communicating up and down the command structure. We discuss the two key elements of mission command as a leadership philosophy - trust and intent. ADM Tidd was the Combatant Commander of the U.S. Southern Command.
What is Justice? Is it about fairness? How do you learn to be a just leader? Col. Christopher Shaw is a former Marine Infantry Officer, and now serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
What does it mean to be obsessed with future happiness? Dr. Marcus Hedahl, an Associate Professor of Philosophy, explains how to incorporate the stoic mindset in your daily life, and develop a perspective that will be useful in your military career.
Patience is a virtue - by being able to focus on the long term we can get through the current pandemic with a firm disposition to do good. Dr. Joe Thomas discusses earlier pandemics and how the course of human history and culture were affected.
We discuss the how and why to building a deeper appreciation for the complexity and variety of cultures and the need for everyone to be cross-culturally competent. Being curious and gaining perspective about others' culture can make you a more effective and ethical leader. Clementine Fujimura (PhD) is a professor of Cultural Anthropology at USNA.
Acting ethically and making ethical decisions requires an awareness of others. How can midshipmen and junior officers cultivate the kind of emotions that help them lead ethically? Professor Mitt Regan outlines what constitutes emotional intelligence and how to incorporate it in your daily life.
The utilization of unmanned systems (e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles) is proliferating exponentially. There are many ethical decisions around the rules of engagement. Where do you start building the foundation for that? What does it mean to be "in the loop" and "on the loop"? RADM Mike Manazir touches on examples that detail these considerations.
Did you know that lack of quality sleep can impact your ethical decision-making ability? CAPT Ryan Bernacchi discusses the dangerous impact of chronic fatigue and suggests ways to proactively and effectively manage your mission when you are not at your best.
What is your responsibility as the situation commander during a crisis event? If you are a junior officer who must deal with a crisis response, what are you responsible for when communicating with your leadership, policymakers, and the public? Brian Kamoie, JD, discusses the need to tell the truth and maintain credibility, and understand how to “stay in your lane”.
Taking a risk while knowing the consequences because you know it’s the right thing do helps build moral courage. How does taking "shortcuts" lead to diminishing your moral courage? Andrew Ledford discusses how habitually taking small shortcuts erodes your moral courage while living ethically even when no one is looking builds moral courage. Andrew Ledford is an active duty Navy Commander and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology.
Trust is the glue that binds a society. Trusted leaders must have candor, competence and care. Professor David Luban discusses the “just right” conditions for developing and maintaining trust, and the concept of “having your back”.
Creating a climate that values active listening is the responsibility of an ethical leader. Speaking truth to power especially when there’s an ethical dilemma is the responsibility of the follower. COL Art Athens shares his views and a few stories about speaking truth to power.
How does a naval warrior judge whether to apply lethal force, and in what amount? LtGen John Wissler USMC (Ret.) discusses proportionality, rules of engagement and squaring with your self.
One way of being able to embody a stoic mindset means being able to focus on what is under your control and not obsess about what you can't change. It also means learning through experience and sometimes that means learning through suffering, and reframing that experience. Dr. Joe Thomas discusses ADM Stockdale's return with honor principle in light of stoicism.
Beyond practice makes perfect, you've got resilience. Making the most of an opportunity to do the right thing even for what might be a mundane opportunity sets up the ability to be resilient in the face of adversity or hard choices. Learn the importance of getting your resilience muscles strong both morally and mentally with Mr. Brad Snyder.
Ethics, integrity, honor. Are they same? They all deal with how you live your values personally and in your community of choice. Honor is both a verb and a noun. Find out the difference listening to Dr. Roger Herbert.
We explore that concept of a warrior and the importance of a warrior code. It's important to note that what is acceptable warrior code in one society may be unacceptable in another society. CMDR Andrew Ledford discusses a variety of types of warriors.
Dr. Joseph J. Thomas is the Director, Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and former Class of ’61 Chair and Distinguished Professor of Leadership Education and ADM Jay Johnson Research Professor in Leadership and Ethics. He is also a past Director, John A. Lejeune Leadership Institute, Marine Corps University. Joe’s education includes an M.S.Sc. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, a M.S.S. from the US Army War College, a Ph.D. from George Mason University, and Certificate in Public Leadership from the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.