Political and media pundits have labeled the current period of post Cold-War world order the Pax Americana, reminiscent of the Pax Romana that occurred from 27 BC- 180 AD, during the zenith of the Roman Empire. It is the view of many that since the U.S. is the sole superpower in the world, the next few decades or years will be a time of great growth and tranquility, under the leadership and protection of the United States of America. While the U.S. has a unique role and opportunity within the world, it does not possess the same ways and means of the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries. Many other parallels to the Roman Empire have again made their way in to the modern political lexicon. Dana Priest, a staff writer for the Washington Post, recently wrote a three article series in September 2000, declaring the U.S. Theater Commander-in-Chiefs (CINCs) to be the equivalent of Roman Proconsuls during the Roman Empire. Roman Proconsuls served as the Roman governor and commander-in-chief of the military forces within his designated province. The functions of the office underwent changes during the Republic and Imperial eras of Rome, but one thing never changed. Success meant that Roman influence and expansion would continue throughout the world, but his failure meant the diminishing of Roman power. The position of the modern-day U.S. Theater CINC seems to be similar to the Roman Proconsul. Given America's position in the post Cold-War world, these men are America's military, and sometimes, pseudo-political representatives to the world. Their success or failure could have significant consequences for America's position in the world. The ways and means today however, are much different than in the days of the Roman Empire. The purpose of this monograph is to examine the evolution of the Roman Proconsuls and compare them to modern-era U.S. Theater CINCs to determine what made them effective. It will then compare the global situation in the Roman world and today in order to answer the question: Are there similarities and differences between being an effective Roman Proconsul and an effective modern-era U.S. Theater CINC? This monograph concluded while there are some similarities between Proconsuls and CINCs on a personal level, there are many more differences within the governmental systems. If the U.S. is to maximize its power and influence in the coming years, the CINCs will have an important role to play. Operating within the current system, CINCs are maximizing their effectiveness. Any problems with maintaining U.S. influence in the world can not be blamed on the CINCs. The problems will occur in the U.S. national security establishment, which needs to be restructured in order to maximize its effectiveness. The combining of all the instruments of national power within the Proconsuls served Rome well. The U.S. system of civilian control of the military will prevent that from ever happening. What is needed, is a revitalization of the entire National Security Structure and Strategy, fully integrating all the instruments of national power for the benefit of the U.S. and the world. Only then can we expect to have and enjoy a Pax Americana.

ADA 391664 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.)