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 a...
Sep 06, 2021•34 min•Ep. 75
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?
Aug 23, 2021•46 min•Ep. 74
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.
Aug 16, 2021•45 min•Ep. 73
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?
Aug 09, 2021•41 min•Ep. 72
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?
Aug 02, 2021•37 min•Ep. 71
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?
Jul 26, 2021•38 min•Ep. 70
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?
Jul 19, 2021•39 min•Ep. 69
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 ...
Jul 12, 2021•44 min•Ep. 68
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. Ho...
Jul 05, 2021•55 min•Ep. 67
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?
Jun 28, 2021•22 min•Ep. 66
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...
Jun 21, 2021•18 min•Ep. 65
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 Repre...
Jun 14, 2021•23 min•Ep. 64
The term “Drone” usually refers to any unpiloted aircraft. But there is more to the story. Sometimes referred to as “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" (UAVs)
Jun 07, 2021•14 min•Ep. 63
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.
May 24, 2021•12 min•Ep. 62
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,...
May 17, 2021•11 min•Ep. 61
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...
May 10, 2021•13 min•Ep. 60
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...
May 03, 2021•12 min•Ep. 59
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.
Apr 26, 2021•12 min•Ep. 58
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 ...
Apr 19, 2021•14 min•Ep. 57
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...
Apr 12, 2021•11 min•Ep. 56
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.].
Apr 05, 2021•10 min•Ep. 55
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 Californ...
Mar 29, 2021•14 min•Ep. 54
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.
Mar 22, 2021•14 min•Ep. 53
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 wel...
Mar 15, 2021•29 min•Ep. 52
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 ...
Mar 08, 2021•13 min•Ep. 51
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.
Mar 01, 2021•14 min•Ep. 50
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.
Feb 22, 2021•15 min•Ep. 49
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’...
Feb 15, 2021•16 min•Ep. 48
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.
Feb 08, 2021•30 min•Ep. 47
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 researc...
Feb 01, 2021•10 min•Ep. 46
