Douglas E. Stephens

Captain Stephens is a retired Medical Service Corps Officer, a life member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and recently retired after over 39 years in the Navy.

Articles by Douglas E. Stephens

Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf II presented the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN, on 9 July 1975. Stockdale’s lessons on leadership remain essential today.

The Stockdale Discussion

By Captain Douglas E. Stephens, U.S. Navy (Retired)

July 2024

A reflection on leadership through Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale's principles.

Leadership Lessons from Trial by Fire

By Captain Doug Stephens, U.S. Navy

February 2022

In Admiral James Stockdale’s writings, a commanding officer finds the building blocks of leadership.

Humility and selflessness are essential leadership characteristics for naval officers and can be as simple as pitching in on a work detail.

Put Your Sailors First

By Captain Douglas E. Stephens, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy

October 2020

Humility and selflessness are essential leadership characteristics for naval officers and can be as simple as pitching in on a work detail.

Lead Like Stockdale

By Captain Douglas E. Stephens, U.S. Navy

July 2018

Learning from ADM James Stockdale

Nobody Asked Me, But...We Must Transform Leadership, Too

By Lieutenant Commander Doug Stephens, MSC, U.S. Navy

October 2006

"The relationship between officers and enlisted men should in no sense be that of superior and inferior." -Lieutenant General John A. Lejuene, U.S. Marine Corps The Navy has taken significant ...

Deployment Tips for Carrier Medical Departments

By Lieutenant Douglas E. Stephens, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy

February 2003

Although preparing carrier medical departments for deployment is nothing new, I suspect there is little documentation other than after-action and cruise reports. Based on the experience of the USS Carl ...