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The art of command : military leadership from George Washington to Colin Powell

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Are leaders born with the innate ability to inspire their followers, or are they formed over years of study and practice? What are the leadership differences among luminaries in American history such as George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Colin Powell? "The Art of Command: Military Leadership from George Washington to Colin Powell" answers these questions by providing biographical and topical portraits of exceptional leaders from all four branches of the United States armed forces. Harry S. Laver, Jeffrey J. Matthews, and the other contributors identify nine core characteristics of effective leadership, such as vision, charisma, and integrity, and apply them to significant figures in American military history. In doing so, they argue that leadership is a practiced and learned skill, developed through conscious effort and mentoring by superiors. Tracing the careers and character traits of nine legendary leaders, the authors provide a richly detailed critical analysis of each leader's personal development and leadership style. This historically grounded exploration provides a rare look into military command styles that transcends time, place, rank, and branch of service. In addition to Washington, Eisenhower, and Powell, the featured leaders include Ulysses S. Grant, whose willfulness and steadfast determination carried his troops through the Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Overland campaigns; George C. Marshall, whose institutional leadership enabled him to organize Americas' eight million troops during World War II and formulate the Marshall Plan for Europe's postwar reconstruction; Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, whose visionary leadership led to the development of America's modern air force; Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, whose personal charisma profoundly motivated and inspired his troops; Hyman G. Rickover, who led the U.S. Navy into the nuclear age; and Harold G. "Hal" Moore, whose adaptive leadership style earned him great acclaim as a battlefield leader in Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley. In examining the art and science of American military leadership from the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, "The Art of Command" spotlights the complex dynamics of effective leadership. The authors probe the human and social factors that affect leadership development, as well as the education, experience, and mentoring that shape a leader's career. This volume of timeless insights will be welcomed by military students and historians, as well as leaders from all walks of life.

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Summary Note

Are leaders born with the innate ability to inspire their followers, or are they formed over years of study and practice? What are the leadership differences among luminaries in American history such as George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Colin Powell? "The Art of Command: Military Leadership from George Washington to Colin Powell" answers these questions by providing biographical and topical portraits of exceptional leaders from all four branches of the United States armed forces. Harry S. Laver, Jeffrey J. Matthews, and the other contributors identify nine core characteristics of effective leadership, such as vision, charisma, and integrity, and apply them to significant figures in American military history. In doing so, they argue that leadership is a practiced and learned skill, developed through conscious effort and mentoring by superiors. Tracing the careers and character traits of nine legendary leaders, the authors provide a richly detailed critical analysis of each leader's personal development and leadership style. This historically grounded exploration provides a rare look into military command styles that transcends time, place, rank, and branch of service. In addition to Washington, Eisenhower, and Powell, the featured leaders include Ulysses S. Grant, whose willfulness and steadfast determination carried his troops through the Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Overland campaigns; George C. Marshall, whose institutional leadership enabled him to organize Americas' eight million troops during World War II and formulate the Marshall Plan for Europe's postwar reconstruction; Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, whose visionary leadership led to the development of America's modern air force; Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, whose personal charisma profoundly motivated and inspired his troops; Hyman G. Rickover, who led the U.S. Navy into the nuclear age; and Harold G. "Hal" Moore, whose adaptive leadership style earned him great acclaim as a battlefield leader in Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley. In examining the art and science of American military leadership from the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, "The Art of Command" spotlights the complex dynamics of effective leadership. The authors probe the human and social factors that affect leadership development, as well as the education, experience, and mentoring that shape a leader's career. This volume of timeless insights will be welcomed by military students and historians, as well as leaders from all walks of life.

Content Note

Foreword / Steven W. Boutelle -- Introduction: leadership for war and peace / Harry S. Laver and Jeffrey J. Matthews -- Integrity and leadership: George Washington / Caroline Cox -- Determination and leadership: Ulysses S. Grant / Harry S. Laver -- Institutional leadership: George C. Marshall / Larry I. Bland -- Cross-cultural leadership: Dwight D. Eisenhower / Kerry E. Irish -- Charismatic leadership: Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller / Jon T. Hoffman -- Visionary leadership: Henry H. "Hap" Arnold / Francois Le Roy and Drew Perkins -- Technology and leadership: Hyman G. Rickover / Thomas L. "Tim" Foster -- Adaptive leadership: Harold G. "Hal" Moore / H. R. McMaster -- Exemplary followership: Colin L. Powell / Jeffrey J. Matthews.