W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1992 An analysis of the National War College Thom H. Terwilliger College of William & Mary - School of Education Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Other Education Commons Recommended Citation Terwilliger, Thom H., "An analysis of the National War College" (1992). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539618414. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-dsf1-zf69 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 t "' AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Thom H. Terwilliger December 1992 AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE by Thom H. Terwilliger Approved December 1992 by #dhn R. Thelin, Ph.D. Chair of Doctoral Committee tames H. Yankovich, Ed.D. Armand J. Galfo, Ed.rf. DEDICATION In memory of my mother and friend, Barbara Holton Terwilliger, who was the inspiration for my success; and to Bethany Toshiko Bryson, my God-daughter who gives me happiness TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................... iii ABSTRACT ............................................ V Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ................................. 2 The Accreditation of Military War Colleges Hypothesis Research Questions Research Methodology Limitations of the study 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................. 16 Accreditation Military War Colleges Summary 3. ACCREDITATION................................. 36 Accreditation Defined History of Accreditation Accreditation Today Conclusions 4. THE NATIONAL WAR C O L L E G E .................... 78 Location and History of the National War College Evolution of the National War College Mission Organization and Administration i The National War College Curriculum Students and Faculty Conclusions 5. THE CASE STUDY 139 Introduction The Flexner Model The Selden and Porter Paradigm Dissenting Factors Associated with Accreditation 6. CONCLUSIONS 196 Implications of the Study Areas for Further Study PRIMARY SOURCES ................ 202 Published Works Journals and Publications Other Documents Interviews VITA 219 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many who have directly and indirectly inspired and supported the fulfillment of this work. First, I thank Vice Admiral J. A. Baldwin, president of National Defense University and Major General Gerald P. Stadler, commandant of the National War College, who allowed me to use the National War College as a case study for this dissertation. I also thank Lieutenant Colonel Tommie Cayton, director of Academic Programs, for his expertise and assistance throughout the project. I am grateful for the assistance and cooperation of the National Defense University Library archivist, Ms. Susan Lemke and the assistant archivist, Ms. Tina Lasko who provided support with the material in Chapter 4. I extend my appreciation to the many who provided research to me through interviews and other research avenues and extend a special note of gratitude to the Honorable Ike Skelton, Congressman from Missouri and Chair of the House Armed Services Committee Panel on Military Education. Special recognition is made to my colleagues at Langley Air Force Base and the Air staff without whose support this project would not have been possible. The project would not have been possible without the generous assistance and patience of Mrs. Diana L. Davis, my good friend who dedicated her time and interest in the project by typing and editing hours of interview transcripts. Finally, I take this opportunity to thank Professors James M. Yankovich and Armand Galfo, my dissertation committee members, for their assistance, time, and expertise in bringing the dissertation into fruition. Most importantly, I thank Chancellor Professor John R. Thelin for his guidance throughout my doctoral program as my faculty advisor, chair of my doctoral committee, and chair of this dissertation committee. His comments, suggestions, and guidance brought organization to my program and research project. AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE ABSTRACT The higher education's voluntary system of self- regulation is the accreditation process which recognizes institutions and their degrees with an established level of performance, integrity, and quality entitling them to the confidence of the educational community and the public they serve. The process forces institutions to answer questions about what constitutes a bona fide college in the United States. It is in the process of applying for accredited status that an institution must answer questions about its institutional mission and identity. It was hypothesized that if the National War College fits the model of a professional school and volunteers to seek accreditation, then the benefits of the accreditation process will provide for an enhanced program and successful accreditation will enhance the professional status of the National War College in the higher education community. In addition to the general hypothesis, the study considered how military professional military education fits into the community of higher education, whether v regional or specialized accreditation was more appropriate for the National War College, why accreditation was sought, and what external influences impacted accreditation* The accreditation process was examined through a qualitative case study on the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC. First, the research tested Alexander Flexner's model for a profession and then, the affect of accreditation and the accreditation process on free-standing institutions like the National War College was analyzed using the paradigm of William Selden and Barry Porter. It was found that the profession of arms resembled the Flexner model for a profession which includes six criteria: intellectual, learned, practical, have a communicable technique, emulate self-organization, and altruism is a motivating force. Further, the research showed that although the accreditation process was not without criticism, the benefits of establishing minimum standards, stimulating improvement, and assisting in the protection against deleterious forces are benefits that the National War College and professional military educational institutions can expect from accreditation. In addition, it was concluded that regional accreditation was the most appropriate method of vi recognition over specialized accreditation* In sum, it was found that professional military education had a legitimate niche in higher education. While this research provides a basis for understanding professional military education, more research will further assist academicians understand this widely misunderstood profession. Most importantly, it was shown that the accreditation process is applicable for federal** degree granting institutions which are atypical of most member institutions of accreditation bodies. THOM H. TERWILLIGER DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MART IN VIRGINIA vii AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Our contemporary society is characterized by a highly disaggregated and heterogeneous system of education.1 Accreditation is a voluntary process which recognizes institutions and their degrees with an established level