The Benefits of Military Experience in National Leadership

• Author: John Weaver
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12752
• Published date: 01 May 2017
• Date: 01 May 2017

326 Public Administration Review • May | June 2017

Public Administration Review,

Vol. 77, Iss. 3, pp. 326. © 2017 by

The American Society for Public Administration.

DOI: 10.1111/puar.12752.

John Weaver, D.P.A., retired Army

lieutenant colonel and retired Army civilian

from the intelligence community, is program

coordinator and assistant professor of

intelligence analysis at York College of

Pennsylvania.

Email: jweaver10@ycp.edu

Perspective

P resident Trump appears to like retired general

officers. They constitute a higher percentage

of his top appointments than of any other

president in recent memory. These include the

Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security;

one is his choice for National Security Advisor.

Many in Congress voiced concern over the possible

“militarization” of his administration. Others

brought to the public ’ s attention U.S. Code Title 10,

Section 113, requiring a waiver for a retired officer to

serve as Defense Secretary if the officer has not been

separated from service for at least seven years.

The status quo pathway for cabinet-level federal

service has been through elected office. Throughout

this nation ’ s history and prominently over the last

several decades, many former members of Congress

and other elected officials have been tapped by various

administrations to serve at the cabinet level. But

former elective service should not be the sole precursor

for “on ramping” to departmental or agency positions

at the federal level. The country deserves the very best

to lead these complex organizations and accordingly

should not draw from a limited pool of talent.

Enter the military officer. Over the last decade and a

half, the officer corps has had to straddle the military-

diplomatic continuum, been called upon to serve

in complex operating environments, and exercised

critical thinking in such areas as counterinsurgency,

counterterrorism, nation building, and humanitarian

relief missions. Often their task has required

simultaneous implementation of two or more such

responsibilities. Accordingly, the officer corps has

gained perspective into human terrain modeling and

understanding the importance of crisis de-escalation,

all while striving to win the war for the “hearts and

minds” of potential adversaries all over the world.

Who embodies the values that Americans want

in a leader? Officers do. More pointedly, these

professionals go beyond understanding key attributes

and traits: they have lived them. Their service

exemplifies loyalty, selflessness, dedication to duty,

and commitment to something greater than the

individual. They have proven these values day in and

day out, often under arduous conditions. They do so

in defense of our nation ’ s Constitution. They have laid

their lives on the line in order to do so.

Is the United States ready for a paradigm shift? Many

private sector organizations attest to the value of

military service and have advocated for the hiring

of veterans based on their ability to lead, manage,

and make sound decisions. Perhaps this is what the

president has seen as well and why he moved away

from some of the traditional sources for key leadership

positions. Public opinion polling supports his

decisions. An October 2016 Pew Research Center poll

showed that the American public trusts the military

as an institution above scientists; leaders of education,

religious, and business institutions; and the news

media. At the bottom of the list were elected officials.

Seventy-nine percent of American adults surveyed had

“a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the military

“to act in the best interest of the public,” while elected

officials secured only 27 percent of such responses.

Ironically, some of those in the category ranked dead

last in public trust were among the first to cast doubts

on appropriateness of the appointment to high public

office of those on top. The new administration ’ s tilt

in favor of former military leaders may be just what

is needed to shake up the Washington establishment.

This nation ’ s veterans have gained tremendous

experience while prosecuting the global war on

terror. Officers, in particular, have acquired valuable

management skills in dealing with crisis management

as well as longer-term challenges. Their experience,

values, and adeptness in public leadership have

prepared them to continue their service to this nation

as senior public servants. All of them have dedicated

most of their adult lives to supporting the defense of

the United States. It just makes sense that they are the

ones poised to truly help keep America great—only

this time in the civil sector.

John Weaver

York College of Pennsylvania

The Benefits of Military Experience in

National Leadership