Practical Wisdom

For Aristotle, wisdom was not just an abstract idea. Aristotle called this different kind of wisdom, “prudence”, and we discuss another translation, “practical wisdom....

USS Quail, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape

Perseverance is a strength within the virtue category of courage. Courage describes strengths that help you exercise your will and face adversity. The story of the USS...

The Flat Spin and Resilience

What does leadership have to do with your gut, and taking risks? What goes through your head (and gut) when you need to get back to task, after you had a major failure...

Returned With Honor Program

The Returned with Honor program recognizes the sacrifice of the Vietnam Era POWs and their families. We’ve been celebrating these men and women on the Yard in several ...

Obedience

What is obedience and is it a virtue or a good thing? Is compliance different from obedience? Why is it necessary to involve a group in the practice of obedience? Paul...

Risk and Ingenuity

We approach failure a certain way as naval officers. We don’t like it. But what is failure? How important is understanding, and embracing Risk? What is an appropriate ...

Care Ethics

Homecoming50: Personal Stories

Part 4 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley wrap up their discussion of the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict. In th...

Homecoming50: US Code of Conduct

Part 3 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley continue to discuss the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict. How did th...

Honorable Living

The Commandant of Midshipmen discusses the idea of Honorable Living, and why it is so important. Is it just about the honor concept in the classroom, or does it relate...

Homecoming50: Propoganda

Part 2 of 4. Dr. Shaun Baker and Senior Fellow Alvin Townley talk about the use of the US POWs as propaganda tools during the Vietnam conflict. What did the North Vie...

Homecoming50: Research and Memoirs

We are five months away from an historic anniversary; the return of the first of the Vietnam Era POWs. Dr. Shaun Baker and former Senior Fellow Alvin Townley talk abou...

The Switchman: Moral Deliberation

We revisit the Stockdale Interactive scenario "The Switchman", and discuss the Moral Deliberation Roadmap. What is your obligation to treat people with Dignity and Res...

The Switchman: Explained

The Switchman is an interactive scenario case study of the classic ethical dilemma the Trolley Problem. It is used in Plebe Leadership, and Youngster Ethics classes. I...

Ethical Leadership and the Warfighter

CAPT Franky serves as the Deputy Director for Ethics at the Stockdale Center, and is the Senior Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Representative at the USNA. We talk about t...

Drone Strikes

The US Military has been using unmanned vehicles for kinetic strikes for well over a decade. And recently, we've all seen the devastating effect of these so-called dro...

Top Gun, the Ethics of CAPT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Every now and then, we get a chance to expand our apeture here at the Stockdale Center. With the Summer release of Top Gun Maverick, we have just that chance. Our gues...

The Legacy of the Homecoming of Vietnam Era POWs

Almost fifty years ago, hundreds of U.S. prisoners of war returned home from more than eight years of brutal captivity in North Vietnam. What brought them home? Extrao...

ENCORE: The Stockdale Paradox

How did a first century philosopher named Epictetus guide VADM James Stockdale through seven and one half years as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam? What does it mea...

Cultural Connection and Empathy

How and why does Empathy matter? What about Mindfulness? What comes first, empathy or self-awareness? We discuss the importance of how a culture organizes its time and...

Artificial Intelligence is a Joint Mission

We are at an inflection point in warfare, just as significant as the introduction of gunpowder or the airplane. The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) is tran...

When can I blame the Artificial Intelligence?

What is the Responsibility Gap with respect to Artificial Intelligence? Should you always trust an AI weapon system to make the right call? Why is it important to have...

Adaptability and Naval Special Warfare

What are the challenges faced by the United States and its allies when facing irregular statecraft and operations in the gray zone? How do US "frogmen" shift back to t...

Leadership and Log Canoes

How can the Chesapeake Bay teach leadership lessons? Professor Ken Reightler is a former Astronaut and Test Pilot. He has worked with some of the most advanced systems...

Empathy and Leadership

We discuss Empathy, and its place in Leadership. Is being empathetic incompatible with the military? How can empathy for others be an enabling factor of effective lead...

Humanitarian Operations

We continue our discussion with CAPT Jason Rimmer, US Navy. In this episode, we talk about the important role that the Navy\Marine Corps team has in support of Humanit...

The Leadership Education and Development Division, USNA

The Leadership Education and Development Division (LEAD) prepares Midshipmen for combat and operational leader roles through a four-year immersion program at the Naval...

Mission Command 2

Why does it appear that Russian forces are slow to respond to changes on the battlefield? And why do Ukrainian forces seem so much more agile? Perhaps it involves the ...

Coaching

We're in conversation with Carol Graser, a leadership coaching expert who is leading the training for Company Officers and Senior Enlisted in the use of coaching techn...

Encore: Drones

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being used in the Russo\Ukrainian War to devastating effect. In this encore presentation, we revisit the ideas and execution of Drones, in...