Best The U.S. Naval War College Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 13: Always Above: Space Force and the New Frontiers of an Increasingly Contested Warfighting Domain 26:54

3M ago26:54

26:54

Synopsis: The Space Force is the United States’s newest military service branch, established in 2019 to secure the nation’s interests in space. Organized within the Department of the Air Force, the Space Force joins a number of organizations within the Department of Defense operating within what is an increasingly contested warfighting domain. Join…

1
Episode 12: Rise of the Machines? Implications of New Tech On-And Off-The Battlefield 19:33

4M ago19:33

19:33

Synopsis: How have new technologies, such as autonomous drones and applying artificial intelligence, changed how strategists and policymakers view conflict in the 21st century? While they have had clear impacts in the tactical and operational levels of war, how game-changing are they when it comes to strategic objectives? Are we in thrall to "strat…

1
Episode 11: The China Challenge 35:21

4M ago35:21

35:21

Synopsis: The 2022 National Security Strategy identifies the People’s Republic of China as “the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it.” What is the nature of the threat China poses, and how is the United States adapting to meet …

1
Episode 10: The Interagency and the Indo-Pacific 20:09

4M ago20:09

20:09

Synopsis: The interagency process coordinates the development and implementation of national security policies across executive departments at all levels of the federal government. How does the Defense Department translate policy guidance into operational-level planning, and how do national security professionals in regional theaters coordinate wit…

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Episode 9: Africa 38:04

4M ago38:04

38:04

Synopsis: The African continent is often viewed through the prism of humanitarian crises, a region defined by famines and pandemics. This approach ignores Africa’s critical importance to the global economy, especially in the transition to “green” technologies; its role as an interconnector between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific basins; its role…

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Episode 8: U.S. Ambassador to Japan the Honorable Rahm Emanuel 1:00:14

5M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

The Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, visits the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) on board Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island Feb. 22, 2024. During the visit Amb. Emanuel met with NWC President Rear Adm. Pete Garvin before addressing students, staff, and faculty on U.S., Japanese relations. Ambassador Emanuel became the 31st U.S. Ambas…

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Episode 7: Using Force: The War in Iraq 26:59

5M ago26:59

26:59

More than 20 years since the United States launched its invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the origins of the war remain highly contested, both among scholars and policy practitioners alike. As tensions continue to flare in the region and thousands of U.S. troops continue to deploy to military bases within Iraq, understanding the history of U.S. invol…

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Episode 6: Contemplating the Unthinkable: Making Nuclear Deterrence Credible 26:45

6M ago26:45

26:45

U.S. national security ultimately rests on its nuclear capabilities to deter existential challenges to its existence, alongside the commitment to use such weapons if other forms of deterrence have failed. Join Professor Dana Struckman and Dr. Terence Roehrig to look at the challenges of nuclear deterrence and how this has evolved from the superpowe…

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Episode 5: Global Integration for an Interconnected Security Environment 12:54

6M ago12:54

12:54

The United States has interests all around the globe, and must be able to respond to crises and challenges in different regions without compromising the national interest. Lt. Col. Rebecca Russo joins us to unpack what "global integration" means for a U.S. military and its ability to defend peace and freedom throughout the world. About the Speaker:…

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Episode 4: Congress: Your Partner in National Security 18:19

7M ago18:19

18:19

For those serving in the military or civil service, Congress may appear to be a distant, mysterious other branch of government, yet Congress—through its powers to legislate, appropriate, confirm, and oversee—is part and parcel of the national security enterprise. In this episode, Professor Kathleen Walsh guides us through the roles of Congress and …

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Episode 3: Diplomacy and the State Department 29:00

7M ago29:00

29:00

The State Department is the oldest Cabinet-level agency in the United States, with over 250 U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide and 70 to 80 thousand employees, almost half of whom are U.S. citizens. The structure of the State Department and career tracks for our nation’s diplomats both at home and abroad can sometimes be opaque for understanding the f…

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Episode 2: Understanding Regions through Oceans 11:46

8M ago11:46

11:46

In a series of essays for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, two scholars at the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College call for a reconceptualization of the global map in the way strategists think about geography, bureaucracy, and national security. The Debrief sits down with Dr. Derek Reveron, chair of the National…

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Episode 1: Analytic Perspectives of Foreign Policy Decision-Making 33:19

8M ago33:19

33:19

How do foreign policy decisions get made in Washington? How do individual leaders, organizations, and domestic political processes influence the choices officials make in shaping national security policy? To help professionals make sense of this landscape, The Debrief surveys a range of analytic perspectives that inform these processes with Dr. Jes…

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Episode 32: Urban Warfare 1:00:53

1y ago1:00:53

1:00:53

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts David Stone, Timothy Hoyt and Nicholas Sarantakes to explore the question, "When does it makes strategic sense to fight in a city?" We begin by discussing our theorist's opinion about the theory behind the issue, in particular why fighting in cites might or might not make sense from a strategic perspective. We the…

1
Episode 33: Karl Von Clausewitz 46:53

1y ago46:53

46:53

In this episode, Jon O’Gorman hosts Vanya Bellinger in discussing the author of "On War." First, we discuss if Clausewitz was a product or a critic of the Prussian military reform movement. We then move to the importantance of studying Clausewitz's experience as an officer and military practitioner to understand his theory. We talk about Clausewitz…

1
Episode 34: The CNO Fellows – Admiral Barrera 43:43

1y ago43:43

43:43

In this episode Jon O’Gorman talks with Admiral Guillermo Barrera (ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations for the Columbian Navy. Admiral Barrera discusses his time as a naval officer, his time as a former student at the U.S. Naval War College, and his role now as a “CNO Fellow” and senior mentor here. We speak about how his study of strategy as a…

1
Episode 35: Air Power and Air Power Theory 1:01:52

1y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts Andrew Stigler, Timothy Shultz, and Phil Haun in a discussion about airpower. They begin by looking at the theorical basis of airpower and the thoughts of Giulio Douhet and John Warden. Next, they move to the other theorists on use of airpower and theory of victory of airpower alone. They question if the U.S Airfo…

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Episode 31: The China-Taiwan Challenge 1:01:24

1y ago1:01:24

1:01:24

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts members of the U.S. Naval War College faculty who are subject matter experts on China, Taiwan and U.S policy making; First, from the Strategy and Policy Department, Andrew “Dex” Wilson, second Paul J. Smith from the National Security Affairs Department, lastly, Colin Jackson, Chair of the Strategic and Operational…

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Episode 30: Coercion: Deterrence and Compellence 1:06:58

1y ago1:06:58

1:06:58

This week Jon O’Gorman and Daniel Post host two outside guests to talk about coercion theory. First, Dr. Reid Pauly, Dean’s Assistant Professor of Nuclear Security and Policy, Watson Institute, Brown University, and Assistant Professor of Political Science and Brigadier General Greg Bowen, U.S. Army (Ret), former Deputy Director of Operations, U.S.…

1
Episode 29: Russia's War in Ukraine 1:08:14

1y ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This week we discuss contemporary strategic challenges by looking at the Ukrainian War. Jon O'Gorman brings together David Stone, a Russian historian, Timothy Hoyt, a political scientist; and a member of the National Security Affairs Department and senior State department representative to the U.S. Naval War College: Walter Braunohler. Walter was i…

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Episode 28: Naval Theorists: Mahan and Corbett 1:06:20

1y ago1:06:20

1:06:20

In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts James Holmes, Kevin McCranie and new this week from the Joint Military Operations Department, Milan Vego. They begin by discussing the perspectives of Mahan and Corbett and what makes them different. They move to commonly held misconceptions on each of their theories. The guests bat around the points of agreement …

1
Episode 27 : Insurgent Groups of South Asia 54:45

1y ago54:45

54:45

In this episode Jon O'Gorman interviews Dr. Kolby Hanson about his field work interviewing insurgents in South Asia such as the Tamil tigers of Sri Lanka and Nagaland in India. We discuss the concept of the Maoist insurgent playbook and if these groups follow a Maoist model. Additionally, we talk about how governments in the region managed dealing …

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Episode 26: A Return to Great Power Competition 1:04:41

1+ y ago1:04:41

1:04:41

In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Andrew "Dex" Wilson, Timothy Hoyt, James Holmes, and David Stone in talking about the modern challenges for the U.S. in the political and strategic realms. We begin by talking about what there is to think about in strategic culture and concepts to aid us going forward or "retrospect and prospect' as A.T. Mahan cal…

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Episode 25: Part 3: ISIS 1:41:01

1+ y ago1:41:01

1:41:01

Episode three of the Endless Wars case study: ISIS - Operation Inherent Resolve. In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Patrick McCarthy, Michael Shaw, and Burak Kadercan. They discuss the rise of ISIS from the early insurgency days in Iraq to its formation of a caliphate. The veterans of the campaign discuss their roles then answer the question about …

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Episode 24: Part 2: Iraq 1:05:17

1+ y ago1:05:17

1:05:17

Episode two of the Endless Wars case study. In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Heidi Lane, Patrick McCarthy, Matthew Nischwitz, and Michael Shaw. We continue with our military professors who are veterans of the conflict, joined by regional subject matter expert Heidi Lane. They start the conversation talking about why opening a secondary theater in…

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Episode 23: Part 1: Afghanistan - The Endless Wars? 1:10:05

1+ y ago1:10:05

1:10:05

For this next case we are going to have three segments (or parts) on each of the major theaters discussed in the case - Afghanistan, Iraq and ISIS. We are also going to leverage our military professors of the Strategy and Policy Department and their on-the-ground practitioner experience in these conflicts. In this part, Jon O'Gorman hosts Marc Gene…

1
Episode 22: The Indo-Pakistani War 59:00

1+ y ago59:00

59:00

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts David Stone and Timothy Hoyt as they discuss the conflicts between India and Pakistan from their partition in 1947 to the Kargil conflict in 1999. They talk about the other options that the British had to prevent the bloodletting of 1947 and the six-week partition. Then they talk about the Cold War as the backdrop…

1
Episode 21: The Cold War 1:00:03

1+ y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

In this Episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Michael Dennis and Daniel Post from the Strategy and Police Department and they discuss nuclear weapons in the context of the Cold War. They start by talking about nuclear diplomacy and its meaning in the Cold War. Next, they discuss how nuclear weapons change the calculus in the military to include wargaming the …

1
Episode 20: Indochina Wars 56:15

1+ y ago56:15

56:15

In this episode, Jon O'Gorman hosts David Stone and Kristin Mulready-Stone in talking about the Vietnamese Wars against the French, Americans and Chinese respectively. We look at the conflicts from a Red Team perspective and start by talking about French problems of colonial aims in Indochina. We look at Ho Chi Mihn and his perspective, nationalist…

1
Episode 19: The Rise of China and Korea 1:19:33

1+ y ago1:19:33

1:19:33

In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Andrew (Dex) Wilson, Nicholas Sarantakes, and Kristin Mulready-Stone to discuss China and Korea. They begin by discussing the warlord period of China as the stage setter for the Chinese civil war. They next move to the problems Chiang has in unifying the country vs. Mao and his easier path. They kick around the co…

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Episode 18: World War II and the Early Cold War 1:14:20

1+ y ago1:14:20

1:14:20

In this episode, Jon O’Gorman hosts Andrew Wilson, Michael Dennis, and Nicholas Sarantakes in a discussion about the grand strategy of the Second World War. They begin by talking about the Europe First strategy and what it meant for the United States on the home front: socially, economically, and politically. Next, they discuss how the Sino-Japanes…

1
Episode 17: The Interwar Period 1:01:13

1+ y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

In this session Jon O'Gorman hosts John Maurer, Jesse Tumblin, and David Stone as they discuss why the allies of the first Great War could not win the peace, thus sowing the seeds of the second. They talk about the strategic choices and problems Britain had in maintaining its empire as well as the problems of other European powers during the period…

1
Episode 16: World War I 59:40

1+ y ago59:40

59:40

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts Jesse Tumblin, David Stone, and James Holmes. They wrestle with the decision for war and what it means in this conflict. They also look at the naval theorists Corbett and Mahan whose theories are seen on full display in this case study. The concept of peripheral campaigns is discussed, specifically if Gallipoli co…

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Episode 15: Napoleon and the French Revolution 1:12:28

1+ y ago1:12:28

1:12:28

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts John Maurer, George Satterfield, and Vanya Bellinger to talk about the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon. They talk about the French revolution as an existential threat to the monarchies of Europe. Next, they speak about the problems Napoleon had with policy strategy match for his aims. The conversation t…

1
Episode 14: Peloponnesian War 1:06:18

1+ y ago1:06:18

1:06:18

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts John Maurer, Marc Genest, and Josh Hammond in talking about this ancient conflict. They start with the decision for war that Athens made and whether it is rational or not. Next, they look at the Athenian theory of victory and how they hoped to beat Sparta. They discuss the points in the conflict where opportunitie…

1
Episode 13: On Strategy 1:06:05

1+ y ago1:06:05

1:06:05

In this episode, Jon O’Gorman hosts Kevin McCranie, Timothy Hoyt, and Andrew ‘Dex’ Wilson. They explore questions of strategy by looking at the contemporary example of Russia in the Ukraine. They start by defining the terms of Grand Strategy and Strategy. Next, they explore the concept of geopolitics and what it means for the grand strategy of the …

1
Episode 12: The China Challenge 1:06:56

1+ y ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Jon O’Gorman hosts David Stone, Timothy Hoyt, and James Holmes to discuss contemporary challenges in the strategic environment. They discuss the challenges of China as a proper pacing threat, what challenges both China and the U.S. have over Taiwan and what our naval theorists, Mahan and Corbett might say about them. The discussion then shifts to U…

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Episode 11: AQAM (Global War on Terror) 1:07:13

1+ y ago1:07:13

1:07:13

In this episode Jon O’Gorman hosts Marc Genest, Heidi Lane, and Burack Kadercan to talk about the Global War on Terror campaign. We discuss why these conflicts were fought in the regions they were and how shifting priority from one theater to another had a negative overall impact. We also discuss how these conflicts gave rise to ISIS and the ramifi…

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Episode 10: Gulf War 1990-1991 1:09:15

1+ y ago1:09:15

1:09:15

In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Michael Dennis, Burack Kadercan, and Anand Toprani. They discuss oil in the Middle East as the driver of this war, why it effects the strategic calculus of the region and our viewpoints towards it from a policy perspective and as an after effect of the Carter doctrine. The conversation then moves to the problems w…

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Episode 9: Vietnam War 1:07:15

1+ y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

In this episode Jon O'Gorman hosts Timothy Hoyt, John Garofano, and David Stone. They talk about civil-military relations in the Vietnam conflict and why the decision was made to escalate in the war from just an advisory mission. They discuss Red team strategy and Vietnamese nationalism as a motive force. The conversation also covers the problems o…

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Episode 8: Korean War 1:04:21

1+ y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

This week Jon O'Gorman hosts John Garofano, Nicholas Sarantakes and Marc Genest as they discuss the larger context of the Korean War. The panel discusses Communist strategy and strategic aims, why a bold aggressive attack vs. a protracted insurgency as in other places in the world in the 1940s-50s, and how President Truman faced domestic and intern…

1
Episode 7: World War II in the Pacific 1:20:02

1+ y ago1:20:02

1:20:02

This week Jon O’Gorman asks James Holmes, Nicholas Sarantakes, and Michael Dennis their opinions on topics ranging from the Japanese decision for war, the role of technology in war, and the choice to use multiple sequential and cumulative campaigns. The discussion shifts towards today's multiple drives in a resource-constrained environment and what…

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Episode 6: World War II in Europe 1:03:14

1+ y ago1:03:14

1:03:14

In this episode, Jon O’Gorman asks James Holmes, George Satterfield and Nicholas Sarantakes about the European theater of the Second World War. The issues they discuss range from how the war starts in its proximate and underlying causes to how the interwar period enabled the start of the war because the peace of the First War was not enforced. They…

1
Episode 5: World War I 1:09:45

1+ y ago1:09:45

1:09:45

In this episode Jon O'Gorman talks with guests John Maurer, James Holmes and David Stone about several topics. We start with the causes of World War I and how it is easy to start a war but not stop one. We speak about the concept of peripheral strategies and if those type of cumulative campaigns can win against a continental opponent. We then look …

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Episode 4: Russo-Japanese War 1:04:27

1+ y ago1:04:27

1:04:27

This week Jon O'Gorman asks James Holmes, Kevin McCranie, and David Stone about the Russo-Japanese war. We discuss the naval implications of this war, why countries are risk adverse when it comes to fleets and how both Mahan and Corbett see the conflict. We also look at implications of Tsushima and the Russians vs. Japanese strategic and geographic…

1
Episode 3: American Revolution 1:08:06

1+ y ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Jon O’Gorman hosts John Maurer, George Satterfield and Marc Genest as they debate how the British might have prevented the American rebellion and how they could have crushed it once it started. Also, once the nature of the war changed with France coming in, what options did the British have then? Contemporary parallels to Afghanistan are drawn abou…

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Episode 2: Peloponnesian War 1:02:29

1+ y ago1:02:29

1:02:29

In this week's episode, Jon O'Gorman asks guests Michael Pavkovic, Marc Genest and Josh Hammond about the true causes of the Peloponnesian War, why the war was so difficult to bring to an end, and the failed Peace of Nicias. We end by talking about the Thucydides Trap and its relevance on the contemporary environment.…

1
Episode 1: Theorists 1:12:27

1+ y ago1:12:27

1:12:27

In this week's episode on the Theorists, Jon O'Gorman asks John Maurer, Timothy Hoyt, and Andrew "Dex" Wilson about the attributes of Clausewitz. Sun Tzu and Mao. We debate their views on strategy, where they agree/disagree or rhyme, and their thoughts on Civil-Military relations. We also bring this into the contemporary realm and debate what some …

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What's Money, Eh? (w/ David Dick and Robert Gressis) 1:21:57

3y ago1:21:57

1:21:57

David Dick (of the University of Calgary) and Robert Gressis talk about the differences between American and Canadian universities (as usual, the Canadians use funny words); what it's like to teach in a business school (David often has to sprinkle ethics on papers); David's research in the philosophy of money (does the nature of money constrain wha…

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Foreign Policy, Authoritarianism, and Teaching at the US Naval War College (w/ Yvonne Chiu) 1:11:09

3y ago1:11:09

1:11:09

In this episode of Everyday Philosophers, Robert Gressis (California State University, Northridge) interviews Yvonne Chui (US Naval War College) about what it's like to teach at a military institution (no, you can't make your students do push-ups) and her research on the unsustainability of soft authoritarianism. 0:03:29 The US Naval War College: “…

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