One of America's greatest naturalists and explorers is Major John Wesley Powell. His work includes the following: leadership of the initial expeditions to the Grand Canyon; leadership of the United States Geological Survey, Bureaus of Reclamation, and Ethnology; and founding member of the National Geographic Society. His landmark study on arid lands formed the blueprints for the development of the West. The Powell Expedition's epic journey is a popular subject; however, there exists a void in understanding Powell's leadership of the last great discovery in North America--the Colorado's canyon system. Major Powell was an experienced leader who employed his knowledge of leadership to lead his expedition where a lesser experienced person would likely have failed. He understood military leadership by way of study, observation, and practice. The study investigates Powell's background and Civil War experience for their developmental effect on his leadership during the 1869 expedition, and on the relevancy of his influence for modern military leaders. The study concludes that while some of Powell's actions diverge from the principles embodied by modern Army leadership doctrine, the American military leader can learn a great deal from Powell's successful leadership and its harmony with current leadership practices.

ADA 312822 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)