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Developing Strategic Leaders for the 21st Century
Title: Developing Strategic Leaders for the 21st Century
Date: February, 2008
Author: Jeffrey D. McCausland
Institution: Strategic Studies Institute
Bibliographic Entry: McCausland, Jeffrey D. “Developing Strategic Leaders for the 21st Century.” February, 2008. Strategic Studies Institute. http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=839 (Accessed July 2, 2008).
Electronic Link: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=839
Key Words: leadership, national security, civilian leaders, national security environment, development programs, national security professional program, strategic leaders, human capital
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
As the title suggests, this monograph stresses the importance of developing civilian leaders capable of meeting American national security needs. The author contends that the contemporary security environment requires a heavy investment in human capital in government and private sector agencies dealing with national security. The article reviews the development programs of Department of Defense, Department of State, and Central Intelligence Agency.
9-11 triggered a change in American national security policy resulting in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US is threatened more by terrorists and the failed states that harbor them than any hostile peer competitor. The scope of national security challenges has expanded and the US must have the leadership and knowledgebase necessary to implement a strategy which uses all of the instruments of national power. The author stresses that training and education must be tailored for this new environment to better prepare civilian leaders. These leaders “must be able to balance the pressing requirements of management with the critical need to provide their organizations, and the collective effort, leadership.” The author concludes that new development programs are necessary to accomplish these tasks and proposes a National Security Professional Program to meet American needs.
Name of Researcher: Nathan Brown
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: July 16, 2008