Great Service Secretaries - Lessons Learned

Abstract

This paper is designed to help a new Service Secretary during the difficult transition period. It is based on the lives of two great men, Secretary of War Elihu Root and Secretary of the Army Frank Pace, Jr., who made extraordinary contributions to the Army. Twelve lessons learned are drawn from each man's experience. Because of the similarity of issues surrounding the role of the Service Secretary and the role of the corporate director, twelve lessons are drawn from business corporate governance. Three guiding principles for governance of the military are offered. Several contemporary issues: civilian control of the military, evolution of the Secretary's role, and several detractors are discussed. Exclusion of the Service Secretary from operational matters is challenged. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's amazing fast start is explained.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 08, 1992
Accession Number
ADA251132

Entities

People

  • Van B. Cunningham

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Congress
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Navy
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Political Systems
  • United States
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.