Ethics and the Naval Warrior

New Show: Radio Stockdale

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 07:42:38 -0500

Note: all episodes of Ethics and the Naval Warrior have been copied to a new show, "Radio Stockdale". Search on your podcast player for "Radio Stockdale" and hit Subscribe. Hear all of your old Ethics and the Naval Warrior episodes, and many new episodes on Ethics, Character and Leadership on "Radio Stockdale". No new episodes will be posted on this show starting November 1, 2021.

Just War - Dr. Roger Herbert

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Character - Dr. Mike Good

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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 - Dr. Marcus Hedahl

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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 - Dr. Marcus Hedahl

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

NE203 Overview - Dr. Chris Eberle

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 07:53:02 -0400

Every Midshipman at the Naval Academy takes a course in ethics during their Youngster (Sophomore) year. The course, "Ethics and Moral Reasoning for the Naval Leader", serves as one of the building blocks for Leadership, Character, Ethics and Law, and is a requirement to graduate and be commissioned in the naval service. The course has undergone a major change this year. In this series, we'll be discussing the changes with some of the Professors who led the conversation and building of this new course. 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.

Just War: Moral & Legal Implications

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 11:01:15 -0400

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.

Special Edition 2nd and 3rd Amendment

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Federalism, State's Rights and the Role of the 14th

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Judicial Procedure

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Criminal Self Incrimination

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Search, Seizure and Admissibility

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Freedom of Religion

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Freedoms of Expression

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:02:41 -0400

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?

Historical Context

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

The Oath of Office

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Academy Architecture

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Drones

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 01:00:00 -0400

The term “Drone” usually refers to any unpiloted aircraft. But there is more to the story. Sometimes referred to as “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (UAVs), these craft can carry out an impressive range of tasks, ranging from military operations to package delivery. They can be as large as an aircraft or as small as the palm of your hand. 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.

Brittle Fracture

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 24 May 2021 01:00:00 -0400

Brittle Fracture: ENCORE presentation (11:25) Captain TR Buchanan, USN Episode #052 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.

Design Thinking

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 17 May 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Saint Augustine

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 10 May 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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 Augusitne'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.

Ancient Mariners

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 03 May 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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?

Complex Leadership in Education

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Interrogation and Torture

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Montford Point Marines

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Ethics and Resilience: ENCORE presentation

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.).

Practicing Trauma Self Care

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Pre-Trauma Inoculation

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 01:00:00 -0400

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.

Just War (dash 2)

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 01:00:00 -0500

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.

Just War (part 1)

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 01:00:00 -0500

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.

Humility (dash 2)

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 01:00:00 -0500

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.

Humility (part 1)

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:05:00 -0500

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.

Grounding a Naval Aviator: ENCORE presentation

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:03:00 -0500

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.

Private Military Contractors

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:01:00 -0500

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.

Finish Strong

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 01:00:00 -0500

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.

Perseverance

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 22:33:59 -0500

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.

Cross-Cultural Competence: ENCORE presentation

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 01:00:00 -0500

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 deeper appreciation for the complexity of culture, and the need to be cross-culturally competent, in order to be a successful leader.

Political Separation: ENCORE presentation with Mr. Brian Kamoie

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 15:26:59 -0500

This is an encore presentation of Political Separation. 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”.

Latin America and Immigration

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 22:33:16 -0400

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.

Leadership in Space

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 01:00:00 -0400

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 is not sharing the same risk that you do on board the station? How has Calculus III helped you on the ISS?

Midshipmen Attributes

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 23:58:00 -0400

What are the attributes that a graduate of the Naval Academy must possess when he or she graduates? What is the Fleet and the Fleet Marine Force looking for in a graduate? Can you choose the attributes you want, or do you need to embrace them all?

Trustworthy

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Sun, 27 Sep 2020 14:05:00 -0400

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 on one of the most dangerous work environments on the planet?

Cognitive Bias

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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

Innovation

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Black Lives Matter

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0400

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.

Encore: What Does Honor Mean?

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Brittle Fracture

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0400

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.

Rugby

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Deployments

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Groundhog Day

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 10:00:00 -0400

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.

The Power of Listening

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0400

VADM Sean Buck 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".

Moral Injury

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Mission Command

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Military Justice

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 25 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Stoicism

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 18 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

The Plague

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 11 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Cross Cultural Competence

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 04 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Emotional Intelligence

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Unmanned Systems

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Sleep

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

The Politics of Crisis Response

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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”.

Moral Courage

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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”.

Speaking Truth to Power

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Lethal Force

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Stockdale, the Stoic

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Resilience

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

What Does Honor Mean?

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Code of the Warrior

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Stockdale Paradox

Stockdale Center - Michael Sears — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 08:00:00 -0400

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.