Fall 2013 Empowering Leaders to Make Courageous Ethical Decisions
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Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership Fall 2013 Empowering Leaders to Make Courageous Ethical Decisions Inside this issue: Moral Courage speaker General Allen urges midshipmen to prepare themselves morally for Taking Stock commissioning and combat CEO of the U.S. Anti- Doping Agency draws lessons from the Lance Armstrong investigation General Allen Urges Moral Preparation for Combat Best-selling author dis- cusses the connection USNA prepares graduates morally, values and principles. General Allen between brain chemistry mentally, and physically to be advised midshipmen: “How you and leadership naval service leaders, and the focus handle a crisis will determine the on moral development is the confidence of your troops thereafter Two midshipmen win foundation. and the cohesion of the unit.” awards for outstanding ethics essays Moral preparation, General Allen General Allen ended on a asserted, drives the “privilege” of personal note as he reflected on The NOLS/Chesapeake receiving a commission because of his retirement and wondered General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.) talks program gives more mid- its exceptional nature. By giving who would protect his newborn with midshipmen after his lecture. shipmen opportunity for commissions, he told midshipmen, grandson. “You will,” he told the experiential leadership General John R. Allen, USMC the nation demonstrates confidence audience. He closed by reminding (Ret.), shared reflections on that its officers “have the moral them to make the most of their The Center welcomes leadership in combat with 3/C authority to give an order that time at the Academy, to prepare for new staff and this year’s midshipmen in the 2013 Moral may sacrifice a life or take one.” In the demands of their commission. Fellows Courage Lecture. The USNA combat, he continued, their values Class of 1964 sponsored the event, and very essence will be under This lecture, part of an ongoing Col. Art Athens reflects which was held on 30 September constant assault. Every moral failure series sponsored by the Stockdale on giving thanks in Alumni Hall Auditorium. of a combat unit can be traced to Center, was open to the entire a corresponding failure in moral USNA community. These lectures In his 38 years in the Marine leadership. Those failures can have are held to enrich the Academy’s intellectual life in the field of ethics Mark your calendar Corps, General Allen commanded far-reaching strategic implications, he explained, citing examples from and leadership and support the core for these upcoming at every level in the Marine Corps through Marine Expeditionary Afghanistan and Iraq. ethics course, “Ethics and Moral events: Brigade. He led all military Reasoning for the Naval Leader.” forces in Afghanistan as the General Allen noted that values 25 February 2014 Commander, International develop over time. As Aristotle Volgenau Luncheon Security Assistance Force, from 18 taught, “Character is a habit,” Did You Know? July 2011 to 10 February 2013. General Allen said. “It is not The Brigade has Midshipmen He also served as the only Marine something suddenly developed on a 19 March 2014 Fellows who promote ethical Commandant of Midshipmen at battlefield.” He posed the following Stutt Lecture leadership development and USNA. questions that midshipmen should ask themselves: “Do I deserve behavior by consulting on 12 April 2014 Center projects and advising General Allen began by setting the the privilege of a commission? Is 1st Annual Military Ethics the Brigade Commander. context of the long war against my character grounded on the Bowl at USNA They also spearhead projects Islamic extremism. He described commitment to do the right thing? to promote ethical learning, today’s difficult circumstances of Am I preparing myself every day to 24-25 April 2014 reach out to local community longer deployments, shrinking do my duty?” McCain Conference groups, and lead seminars about resources, and extended wars with ethical implications of current no peacetime between them. In combat, General Allen said, inspirational leadership helps troops challenges faced by USNA, the military, and the nation. A Class of 1976 graduate himself, resist the “base impulses of war.” Allen noted that the Academy’s He called for midshipmen to instill key role is to produce leaders. the people they will lead with their Taking Stock Page 2 Volgenau Luncheon Focuses on Integrity in Sports Travis Tygart, these experiences to offer advice about ethical The Volgenau Honor, Courage, the Chief leadership to the audience. Commitment Luncheon Seminar series Executive is part of the Stockdale Center’s mission He noted that having a clear mission statement to empower leaders to make courageous Officer of kept him on track and moving forward during ethical decisions. The audience hears the United crisis. The mission statement for USADA is “to accomplished leaders from diverse States Anti- preserve the integrity of competition, inspire professional backgrounds talk about Travis Tygart talks with an Doping Agency true sport, and protect the rights of clean the core values of honor, courage, and audience member. (USADA), was athletes.” His commitment to those principles commitment. The goal is to instruct, the featured made the decision to pursue the investigation, in inspire, and challenge future leaders. The speaker on 8 October 2013, in the his words, “easy.” Center limits the audience to a small Stockdale Center’s seminar series, group to encourage interaction and meaningful dialogue among midshipmen, the Volgenau Honor, Courage, One of the cyclists who came forward with information did so because he trusted Tygart staff, faculty, and athletic coaches and Commitment Luncheon. The and USADA, not the sport itself. Tygart directors. generosity of Dr. Ernst Volgenau explained that creating a culture of trust is a (USNA Class of 1955) and Sara leader’s job. Being prepared and staying on- Volgenau makes these seminars possible. course in the pressure that followed—ranging What People Are Saying from jeopardized funding to personal death After hearing featured speaker Travis Tygart, whom Time Magazine called threats—is also a leader’s responsibility. Tygart from USADA: one of the 100 most influential people in the world, described the challenges Tygart commented that the athletes who “I think this type of talk was excellent of exposing Lance Armstrong’s use of cheated shared a common failing: they had because it tied in sports (mids love performance-enhancing drugs. He faced not prepared for the moment of decision. He being active) and morality as well. It tremendous public, political, and legal urged the audience to think through how they was upbeat and kept us engaged.” pressure to abandon the investigation. will handle personal and professional ethical —Midn 2/C Anthony Prochilo, USN Instead, he persevered to bring it to a dilemmas and to surround themselves with successful conclusion. Tygart drew on people who can help them decide to do the right thing. Inspirational Leaders Create Environment of Safety of safety and belonging in people. When Given these ancient cultural impulses and brain people feel safe, they cooperate and work well chemistry, Sinek contended that would-be together. When they do not, they invest time leaders have a choice to make. “You can stab your and energy protecting themselves from each way up,” he continued, and “in times of stress, other, weakening the organization and making it no one will come to your aid.” Good leaders vulnerable to outside dangers. A leader’s job is to invest time and energy to help others, creating an create a “circle of safety.” environment of safety and trust. Simon Sinek addresses the audience. Sinek noted our age-old desire to cooperate for Sinek summoned the image of a selfless leader Author Simon O. Sinek, known for survival dates back to life in tribes. The human leaping onto a grenade to save others. The his online TED Talks and book about brain then reinforces this behavior by releasing point, he said, “is not whether you would throw inpirational leadership called Start with two chemicals: serotonin and oxytocin. Brains yourself on top of the grenade. The question Why, appeared at USNA on 23 October release serotonin when the community publicly is whether others believe you would.” Sinek as part of the Center’s ongoing efforts recognizes certain people as valuable. Serotonin concluded by speaking to all leaders: “If I don’t to “Influence the Influencers” through a makes people feel good, inspiring them to work believe you would, my guard goes up, and I’ll seminar series. harder for the community. The brain releases protect myself from you. If I do believe, then I oxytocin during times of shared hardship, will do whatever it takes to see that your vision These seminars engage faculty, staff, human contact, and acts of kindness. It benefits and intent is followed, and I’ll do so with pride.” and coaches who have the most all parties involved. direct influence on the Brigade of The USNA Class of 1987 and Mr. Tim Midshipmen. By investing in the The brain releases these two chemicals, Sinek Sullivan enable the Stockdale Center to sponsor development of these “influencers,” the explained, because “it is trying desperately to get “Influence the Influencer” events. These events hope is these events will lead to more us to look out for each other.” Leaders are the remain an integral part of the Stockdale Center’s productive, meaningful interaction with people that others trust to sacrifice their energy, mission to invest in the staff, faculty, and the midshipmen. time, and lives for the good of the group. In coaches who have the most direct impact on turn, followers will volunteer their “blood, sweat, the leadership development of the Brigade of Sinek explained that an organization’s and tears” to see the leader’s vision carried out.