News, Articles and Comment

Ed. The author considers the past century of technological innovation in the USN, its impact on the Service’s officer corps and naval leadership, and proposes several possible outcomes with regard to AI integration. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, December edition. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author contends it is a fallacy that a US war with China over Taiwan could be contained to the western Pacific, and proposes a three-pronged strategy to counter the PRC. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, November edition. A 10 minute read.

Ed. Churchill’s final volume of his war memoirs is titled Triumph and Tragedy: the theme of the volume is “how the great democracies triumphed and so were able to resume the follies which had so nearly cost them their life.” What did Churchill mean by tragedy? Was he referring to the incredible loss of life caused by the firestorms of Dresden and Tokyo or by the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Or was he lamenting the tragedy that, for most of Eastern Europe, he foresaw that one jackboot was to be replaced by another. As it wasn’t just the democracies that triumphed, the most successful victor of the Second World War was indeed Stalin claiming territories and spoils both in Europe and in Asia. Once again, we risk another tragedy as it looks increasingly likely the jackboots are on the rise.

Ed. The author contends that anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, launched from smaller, more cost-efficient and conventionaly-powered submarines, designed and built with Pacific allies in mind, would be an important step towards reaching revitalised maritime goals for the USN. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, October edition. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author, professor in the Department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, employs historical analogy and common sense to solidify the case for totally autonomous naval platforms. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, September edition. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author’s USNI prize-winning article on future icebreaker developmental possibilities for the US Coast Guard. Foreign purchases may be the best option for overcoming domestic capacity deficiencies. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, August edition. A 10 minute read.

Ed. The author examines the future of the USN’s naval strike, considering rapidly shifting technological and logistical realities. Originally published in the USNI’s Proceedings, July edition. A 15 minute read.