An Analysis of Technological Fetishism's Impact on the Modern U.S. Navy's Capability to Support U.S. National Defense Strategic Ends

Abstract

Through case study analysis, this thesis will explore how contemporary U.S. Navy institutional policy aligned with technological fetishism prevalent in American strategic culture contributed to the conditions that resulted in disastrous and avertible incidents at sea. Specifically, these incidents include the 2017 USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain collisions with civilian ships in international waters, the mine countermeasures warship USS Guardian grounding in sovereign Philippine coastal waters and the belligerent missile attacks against the guided missile destroyer USS Mason. In addition to examining root causes, contributing factors, legal implications and strategic impacts this thesis demonstrates how the lessons identified from the aforementioned case studies involving U.S. Navy warships can inform United States Department of Defense (DOD) institutional leaders in leveraging poised technological-based approaches informed by history toward the accomplishment of U.S. strategic ends.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 15, 2020
Accession Number
AD1135755

Entities

People

  • Kelvin E. James

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Arleigh Burke Class
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Case Studies
  • Department Of Defense
  • Destroyers
  • Governments
  • Guided Missiles
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
  • Uss Fitzgerald
  • Uss Mason
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.