In a previous post I mentioned the AFCEA/JFCOM Joint Warfighting Conference. I’ve e-mailed friends and associates more detailed thoughts on the significance of the conference. If you would like my views drop me a note and I’d be glad to share.
During the conference there were several very important messages for CTOs, including a few controversial points I’m still trying to think about how to diplomatically blog a bout. One topic I’d like to discuss now is encouragement from Admiral Stavridis, the four star USN commander of U.S. Southern Command. He strongly supports and encourages leaders to publish, and I think that is a message all CTOs should listen to.
A good summation of his call to publish is on the Signal Scape blog at:
Adm. Stavridis: Think, Read, Write and Publish
Here is a quote from that entry:
“Adm. James G. Stavridis, USN, commander, U.S. Southern Command, stepped away from the traditional IT conference speech after lunch today by talking about the need for everyone to think, read, write and publish. While it may be necessary during the 21st century to launch Tomahawk missiles, Adm. Stavridis proposed that it will be just as important for members of the military to launch some ideas.
Citing a number of military and government leaders who started their careers by being published in specialized journals such as Proceedings, Adm. Stavridis encouraged everyone in the audience to follow their lead. He also pointed out that many of those who created concepts such as maritime strategy made it a point to read, write and be published.”
He went on to say that govies should: “Get out there in the blogs. I’ll see you in the blogosphere,” he stated. He also emphasized that writing doesn’t have to be long articles. Anyone can start by writing a short response in a blog. “Start small and think big.”
I am really glad to see people who think like Admiral Stavridis make it to the top of our military. I published for much of my career and was very lucky to have bosses that allowed and encouraged that. I have to thank Admiral Wilson, for example, for encouraging me to publish “Time For a Joint Ship” in US Naval Institute Proceedings (Jan 1994). I remember others at the time telling me they frowned on folks who wrote. One senior O-6 who would later be promoted to General told me “If you have time to write an article you must not be doing your job.” Wilson was great topcover. That article allowed me to interact with several on advanced joint topics. A couple years later and article on “Intuitive Intelligence” in Defense Intelligence Journal (Fall 1997) generated a dialog with several senior intelligence professionals in OSD and also resulted in an unexpected phonecall from then Director of Naval Intelligence Admiral Jacoby. I followed that with articles on history and Information Warfare that I directly credit with landing me one of the greatest opportunities to contribute in my career (at JTF-CND), so I really appreciate the encouragement and support for writing through the years.
Now everyone in the government has a guy like Admiral Stavridis lending his support to them, and he is supportive of folks interacting in new media like blogs. Although I have never met him in person, I know he must be a GREAT leader. We need more like him.
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