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. Midshipmen. focus should be on creating a feeling Fall 2013 Page 3 Midshipmen Win 2013 Ethics Essay Awards The annual Vice outside panel of readers then chooses the encounter Admiral William winners from among the finalists. in their P. Lawrence Ethics personal and Essay Awards Dinner The fall semester winner was Midshipman professional honored midshipman Brian Mihaljevich for his essay “Cyberspace and lives and cited authors of outstanding Civilians: How Are the Two Interconnected?” examples Fall semester winner Midn Spring semester winner ethics essays. The The spring semester winner was Midshipman from his Mihaljevich Midn Sullivan VADM Stockdale Andrew Sullivan for his essay “Extending personal Center for Ethical Leadership at USNA the Arm of War: An Ethical Examination of experience. coordinates the award and dinner, hosted on 9 ‘Targeted Killing.’” Both midshipmen received September by Admiral Miller and sponsored by a copy of Admiral Lawrence’s biography He urged midshipmen to delve into the USNA Class of 1981. The winning essays Tennessee Patriot, a plaque commemorating the the core values of honor, courage, and were written for the sophomore course “Ethics achievement, and a small stipend. commitment and read the details of and Moral Reasoning for the Naval Leader.” the core values charter for guidance. The essay finalists were: Andrew Jones, Joshua If junior officers do the right thing in Each midshipman writes a culminating essay Babb, Ashton McCombs, Kyle Waldorf, John ethically challenging situations in their on a military ethics topic. The essay must McAuliffe, Ian Eversman, and Michael Segalla. personal and professional lives, then they present and support arguments for both sides will have the opportunity to address the of a current military ethics issue. Instructors The featuredguest speaker was Vice Admiral more difficult, complex ethical issues at nominate the midshipmen with the best essays William R. Burke, USN (Ret.), former Deputy a policy level, including the topics that in their sections, and Leadership Education and Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems many of the midshipmen explored in Development Division faculty further evaluate and USNA Class of 1978. He focused on the their winning essays. the papers to identify a group of finalists. An daily ethical issues junior officers were likely to NOLS Comes Home to the Chesapeake Bay Since 2003, midshipmen have participated in all midshipmen have the financial means to The Stockdale Center funded the courses from the National Outdoor Leadership participate in the program. Eastern Shore/Chesapeake Bay School (NOLS) in Alaska, Wyoming, the Kayaking Leadership Expedition Pilot Yukon, and elsewhere. The NOLS courses allow Admiral Miller asked the Division of Course through the generosity of the midshipmen to hone the leadership skills they Leadership Education and Development Class of 1976. It debuted last year, and learn in the classroom and on the Yard. (LEAD) to explore an alternative with six midshipmen went on a three-week, no out-of-pocket costs, to broaden the 120-mile trip that included kayaking, NOLS has been called one of the most “unique opportunity for deserving midshipmen who camping, service learning, and and important summer experiential leadership would benefit from a NOLS course. LEAD leadership development. opportunity available” to midshipmen. faculty members, with assistance from NOLS, The midshipmen must pay the travel and developed a kayaking expedition on remote This leadership course is available this tuition costs out-of-pocket. As a result, not sections of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. summer and next year will become a regularly offered course. The Center Welcomes New Arrivals The Stockdale Center welcomes CDR Jason J. Dignity (Cambridge University Press, 2007) Princeton University before assuming Brianas as its new Deputy Director. He arrived and the forthcoming Torture, Power, and Law his current position as Lewis T. Booker this September from the USS THEODORE (Cambridge University Press). He holds a PhD Professor of Religion and Ethics at the ROOSEVELT (CVN 71). Serving multiple in philosophy from Yale University. University of Richmond. His most recent ship tours as a Surface Warfare Officer, he has book is Believing and Acting (Oxford, amphibious, expeditionary, aircraft carrier, This year’s Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale 2012), and he is writing a book on virtue forward deployed, and graduate education Center Fellows are Dr. Joseph E. Capizzi, Dr. and warfare while a Stockdale Fellow. experience in National Security Affairs. Scott Davis, and Dr. Jesse Kirkpatrick. Dr. Jesse Kirkpatrick taught courses in The Center also welcomes Dr. David Luban, Dr. Capizzi is Associate Professor of Moral just war theory and the history of political the Class of 1984 Distinguished Chair in Ethics Theology at the Catholic University of theory at the University of Maryland. for the Stockdale Center. He is Professor of America, where he teaches social and political Before joining the Center, he worked as a Law and Philosophy at Georgetown University, ethics. He has written, lectured, and published Social Science Research Analyst at Johns and previous positions include Professor of widely on just war theory, and is writing a book Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Philosophy at the University of Maryland, co- on the evolution of just war tradition while a Lab, where he focused on the analysis of director of the Center for Transnational Legal Stockdale Fellow. National Security, Asymmetric Warfare, Studies in London, and director of Georgetown’s and COIN. Dr. Kirkpatrick is currently Center on National Security and Law. Among Dr. Davis taught at Columbia University, working on a book on post-war moral his several books are Legal Ethics and Human the University of Southern California, and obligations (jus post bellum). Taking Stock Page 4

The Director’s Cut On 19 May 1967, hand, pumped it hard, and said, “I guess Lieutenant Commander it worked!” Charlie Plumb was on his 75th combat mission over I remember vividly Captain Plumb telling Vietnam when an antiair that story to the Brigade a number of years Did You Know? missile downed his F4 ago. That evening, I began to think about • TheGold Star Children Phantom. This 1964 Naval all the individuals who had “packed my organization screened its Academy graduate would parachute” and provided me with guidance documentary at USNA on 14 spend the next six years as a and encouragement through the years. Colonel Arthur J. Athens, November. This film takes an prisoner of war in Hanoi. Since then, I have used the Thanksgiving USMCR (Ret.) intimate look at American children holiday to reach out and thank my “para- who have lost a parent to war. Years after his return, Captain Plumb was eating chute packers.” in a Kansas City restaurant when a fellow diner • The Center’s interactive simulation approached his table and exclaimed, “You’re As the Director of the Stockdale Center, I The Fumble develops college Captain Plumb!” The former POW acknowledged am also very aware of those who “pack the athletes’ ethical decision-making his identity and the animated man said, “You Center’s parachute” . . . the Center Staff, skills. The NCAA’sChampion flew fighters in Vietnam. You were on the aircraft the Resident Fellows, our Senior Fellows, Magazine highlights this carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down. You our contractors, the USNA Foundation, simulation, indicating the wide parachuted into enemy hands and spent six years and the USNA Classes, individual donors, exposure enjoyed by this product. as a POW.” and corporations who, through their gen- (After accessing the link, double erous partnership, enable us to accomplish click on the magazine cover and Plumb responded, “How in the world did you our mission “to empower leaders to make proceed to page 23.) know all that?” The man flashed a wide grin courageous ethical decisions.” To all those and replied, “Because I packed your parachute!” “parachute packers,” I say THANK YOU Plumb was speechless and stood up to thank the and God bless you! Sailor who had done his job well to insure the pilot’s survival. The former Sailor grabbed Plumb’s

The Stockdale Center is supported by appropriated funds through the U.S. About the Stockdale Center Naval Academy and by For over a century and a half, the U.S. Naval Academy has served as a beacon of generous private contributions raised moral and ethical leadership to the nation and to the world—producing leaders of by the U.S. Naval Academy uncompromising character, who have fought our wars with honor and have gone on to Foundation. For more information serve as positive role models on a global stage. about supporting the Stockdale Center, please contact Captain Rusty In response to an ever-changing world and the cry to enhance the development of ethical Yeiser, USN (Ret.), the Naval Acad- leaders, the Secretary of the Navy established the Center for the Study of Professional emy Foundation Director of Develop- Military Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998. Building on the Academy’s track ment Operations at 410-295-4100 or record of developing some of the nation’s finest leaders, the Navy chartered the Center [email protected]. to reach out to not only the Naval Academy, but also to the wider audience of the Navy, Marine Corps, and the nation at large. Over the years, the vision has expanded to transforming ethical leadership development worldwide. In 2006, the Center was given VADM JAMES B. STOCKDALE a new name: The Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. The CENTER FOR ETHICAL Center has continued to refocus and refine its mission, which is to empower leaders to LEADERSHIP make courageous ethical decisions.

VADM Stockdale—a member of the Class of 1947, a prisoner of war for 7½ years (4 of United States Naval Academy 112 Cooper Road which were in solitary confinement), a recipient of the Medal of Honor, and a life-long Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5022 student of leadership, philosophy, and ethics—embodied the selfless and courageous leadership sought in midshipmen, officers, and national leaders. Phone: 410-293-6085 Fax: 410-293-6081 An officer and a gentleman in every sense, VADM Stockdale’s accomplishments are View our latest recorded lectures online well documented. A man of introspection as well as action, VADM Stockdale reflected at our website www.usna.edu/ethics on Vietnam and military service, distilling from his experiences hard-won ideas about Take part in the ongoing conversation truth and honor. The author of countless articles and books, VADM Stockdale wrote a on our Facebook page column for the Naval War College Review while he was the president there. His column, appropriately enough, was called, “Taking Stock.”