Radio Stockdale

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 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.

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.

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.

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”.

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 is not sharing 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?

Roger Mosby is the President and CEO of the Boy Scouts of America. Roger 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.

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, 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.

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.

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 graduate, and she is the Director of the Center for Experiential Leadership Development at the Naval Academy.

What would you do without repercussions? How would you live in a world of no consequences? Dr. Shaun Baker 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 Buck 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". Further, he relates how he uses that skill throughout every day.

What is Moral Injury and what generated its recent concerns. How does it happen, and can it be treated? Dr. Ed Barrett is the Stockdale Center's Director of Strategy and Research. He holds a PhD in Political Theory from the University of Chicago. Ed is a retired Air Force Colonel with over 4000 hours of flight time.

How does a junior officer accomplish her mission in a dynamic environment, where communication with higher headquarters might be difficult or impossible? ADM Tidd was the Combatant Commander of the U.S. Southern Command. He is a 1978 Navy graduate, and holds a Masters in Political Science from the University of Bordeaux.

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. He is a graduate of the Naval Academy, and he earned his law degree at Boston College Law School.

What does it mean to be obsessed with future happiness? Can you learn from both? Dr. Marcus Hedahl is a physicist, a computer simulation expert, and he holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Georgetown University. He is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Naval Academy, and a Fellow at the Stockdale Center.

How can we tolerate the unknown? Is patience weak? What can we learn from earlier pandemics? Dr. Joe Thomas is the Director of the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership, and holds a PhD. from George Mason University.

Build a deeper appreciation for the complexity of culture, and the need to be cross-culturally competent, in order to be a successful leader. Clementine Fujimura (PhD) is a Cultural Anthropologist at the Academy. She has published on topics on Russian society and military anthropology.

We discuss how emotions can lead us to act ethically. How can junior officers cultivate the kind of emotions that help them lead ethically? Mitt Regan is a professor at Georgetown Law School and a senior fellow at the Stockdale Center. He works on the law and ethics of war, military ethics, and human rights law.

What are the implications of going to the fight with unmanned and autonomous systems? What does it mean to be "in the loop" and "on the loop"? When will machines take over the final decision on weapons launch? Rear Adm. Manazir commanded Carrier Strike Group 8 and he served as OPNAV N9, on the staff of the CNO.

How important is sleep to good decision making? How can you tell if your performance is impacted by lack of sleep? How can you guard against the negative impact of sleep deprivation? Capt. Bernacchi is the Deputy Commandant for Leadership and Character Development, as well as the Director - LEAD Division.

What is your responsibility as the situation commander during a crisis event? How do you balance doing your job in a potentially "political" environment. How important is "telling the truth"? Brian Kamoie is the Department of Homeland Security Distinguished Chair of Leadership at the Stockdale Center.

What is the connection between Moral Courage, Physical Courage and Martial Courage? How does taking "shortcuts" lead to diminishing your Moral Courage? How do you build Moral Courage? Andrew is an active duty Navy Commander and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology.

Trust is the glue that binds society. Trusted leaders must have candor, competence and care. How do you balance the right amount of Trust? David Luban is a Philosopher and Professor of Law, whose interests include ethics and national security.

draft

How can you "tell it like it is", and survive? Can leaders ensure free flowing ideas? Colonel Athens earned an MS in Information Systems, from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was the Stockdale Center Director, and a White House Fellow.

When is it "right" to use lethal force? How have you squared your profession with the force you've sometimes had to use? Among many roles, LTG John Wissler, (ret) was Commanding General, FMF Atlantic.

Where do Stoics come from and what does it mean to be Stoic? Why should I understand what it means? How can a Midshipman be a Stoic? Joe is a retired Marine Corps LtCol and holds a PhD. from George Mason University.

How does Resilience promote an Ethical person? How can one do Resilience Reps? What is the opportunity cost of doing Reps for Resilience? Bradley is a retired US Navy EOD officer, and Paralympic Gold Medalist.

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.

What does it mean to be a Warrior? Where does violence play in being a Warrior? Must you embrace and espouse a specific code, and what happens if you break that code. Andrew is an active duty Navy Commander and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology.

Why is Stockdale's story so on-point right now? What does it mean to be the "defining moment of one's life"? Should I look for insurmountable challenges? Joe is a retired Marine Corps LtCol and holds a PhD. from George Mason University.