Editor's Page

Paul Merzlak, Editor-in-Chief
October 2015
When President Barack Obama announced the normalization of relations with longtime Cold War adversary Cuba last December, this seismic shift elicited a range of emotions. While some were against any ...

CEO Notes

By Peter H. Daly, VADM, USN (Ret.)
October 2015
There is still time for you to register for the 2015 History Conference, “Marine Corps Actions Shaping History,” scheduled for 14 October. Cohosted by the Naval Institute and the U.S ...

Comment & Discussion

October 2015
The Demise of the Cutterman(See B. Smicklas, pp. 28–33, August 2015 Proceedings)Captain Brendan C. McPherson, U.S. Coast Guard—Although things may not be as dire as Lieutenant ...
U.S. Navy (Justin R. DiNiro)

From the Deckplates - People, Not Programs

By Senior Chief Jim Murphy, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2015
In a recent social media post, I stated that leaders should focus on their people instead of their own legacy. I did so while sharing a previous article on mentoring ...
U.S. Navy (James E. Foehl)

Charting A Course - Welcome to the Race

By Captain Kevin Eyer, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2015
Think of your career as a cross-country race. Maybe you are a good runner; maybe you are a bad runner; maybe you are a reluctant runner. Nonetheless, like it or ...
All photos courtesy of the author

Cuba, the Coast Guard, and Chaos

By Lieutenant Commander Brian Smicklas, U.S. Coast Guard
October 2015
As relations between Cuba and the United States trend toward amiable, the Florida Straits maritime domain could become chaotic. The fuse has been lit, and an explosion of legitimate and ...
Darpa

Be Prepared for Maritime Drones

By Lieutenant Commander William J. Rogers, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)
October 2015
Although the United States is a world leader in the development and employment of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, there is a significant yet overlooked gap in the Navy’s and ...
U.S. Marine Corps

Taking the Offensive

By Lieutenant Colonel G. John David, U.S. Marine Corps
October 2015
The Joint Information Environment (JIE) provides a consolidated defense for the information age but does little for the offensive requirements of information dominance. The JIE will allow the Department of ...
RIO Novosti

The Black Sea and Beyond

By Stephen Blank
October 2015
Russia’s war in Ukraine continues and even escalates. As this conflcit overturns the entire structure of world politics it poses new military challenges to the United States, its allies, and ...
U.S. Navy (Frederick Martin)

The Perils of Energy Independence

By Lieutenant Commander Scott Bennie, U.S. Navy Reserve
October 2015
When it comes to weaning ourselves from foreign oil, the United States should be careful what it wishes for—especially in light of its potential impact on U.S. Pacific Command’s operations ...
U.S. Navy (Peter D. Lawlor)

Confessions of a Major Program Manager

By Captain Mark Vandroff, U.S. Navy
October 2015
I am a major program manager (MPM), and this is my confession.Face it: Everyone hates MPMs. For the budget-conscious officials in the Pentagon, our products are never cheap enough. For ...
U.S. Air Force (James Law)

Making Places, Not Bases a Reality

By Colonel Michael W. Pietrucha, U.S. Air Force Reserve
October 2015
The overseas basing structure isn’t what it used to be. Two major drawdowns, occurring after the end of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, have left the United States ...
Department of Defense

The Army's New Role in the Pacific Pivot

By Lieutenant Colonel Jason B. Nicholson, U.S. Army, and Joseph Trevithick
October 2015
The development of a modern amphibious doctrine is essential for Army operations in the Pacific.Despite surging conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, the United States remains committed to a reordering ...
Courtesy of Defense Entrepreneurs Forum

Special Report

October 2015
Ripples in a ‘Latent Talent Pool’By Lieutenant Commander Ben Kohlmann, U.S. Navy ReserveThe fledgling Defense Entrepreneurs Forum conjures the spirit that brought us the Naval Lyceum (1833) and the ...

Book Reviews

October 2015
Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex WorldGeneral Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army (Retired), with Tatum Collins, David Silverman, and Chris Fussell. Penguin Publishing Group, 2015. 290 ...
Courtesy of Authors

Professional Notes

October 2015
Offensive Cyber for the Tactical Maritime CommanderBy Lieutenant Commander Brian Evans, U.S. Navy, and Rick LanchantinThe carrier’s flight deck and hangar bay are awash in activity as preparations ...
U.S. Navy (Patrick Dionne)

U.S. Navy - Suppressing Surprise

By Norman Polmar
October 2015
During the several decades since the end of World War II, the U.S. Navy and other Western fleets suffered operational and technological “surprises” on an almost continuous basis. For the ...
Leo Van Ginderen Collection

Combat Fleets

By Eric Wertheim
October 2015
This summer Russia unveiled its new maritime doctrine, which contains plans for an increased emphasis on operations in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic regions, a permanent Russian naval presence in ...
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Lest We Forget - ‘Admiral’ Washington

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2015
On the night of 4 March 1776, Continental Army batteries positioned at Cambridge, just east of Boston, opened fire on the British-occupied city. It seemed a waste of precious ammunition ...

Naval Institute Foundation

October 2015
Join the Leaders!The Naval Institute is truly grateful for the generosity of all our amazing supporters. Our deepest thanks to the following individuals whose participation thus far in 2015 distinguishes ...
U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

From Our Archive

October 2015
‘Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this bloodClean from my hand? No, this my hand will ratherThe multitudinous seas incarnadine,Making the green one red.’William Shakespeare (1564–1616)In a timeless—and ...

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