Operational and Strategic Leadership: What are the Distinctions
Abstract
This thesis studied senior military leadership. It identifies the distinctions between the qualities and skills necessary for successful operational leadership and those required for successful strategic leadership. This study begins with a summary of the existing literature regarding military leadership. Following sections examine the leadership of two operational commanders, Generals George S. Patton, and James Jimmy Doolittle. After identifying the qualities and skills that enabled these leaders successes, a similar investigation is conducted for Generals Ulysses S. Grant and David H. Petraeus. The qualities and skills that empowered these men are then compared to those that enabled Patton and Doolittle. The study finds that there are fewer distinctions in the qualities necessary at the two levels of war than in the skills. At the operational level, risk-taking contributed significantly to success, while this quality assisted little at the strategic level. Conversely, intellectual qualities were more prominent in successful strategic leaders. While many leadership qualities were common between operational and strategic leaders, there was more variance in the skills that most appropriately suited each level of command. Technical comprehension of forces capabilities and resource management were two skills that significantly impacted success at the operational level while not greatly affecting strategic performance. Conversely, written communication and political awareness contributed to strategic success while making little or no difference at the operational level. This topic is relevant to the military community as the past 15 years of war have seen their share of successful and unsuccessful strategic leaders. Military leaders must recognize that the characteristics responsible for past successes may not be relevant in future assignments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1030438
Entities
People
- Isaac S. Howard
Organizations
- Air University