Developing the Naval Mind

Throughout the history of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, leading officers and strategists have advocated for formal colleges and schools for naval officers but have also made the case that true naval professionalism requires a career-long dedication to learning and to self-improvement. This was the impetus behind the very founding of the U.S. Naval Institute by officers who believed that the Navy's lack of support for their education meant they needed to create their own organization for self-study and cooperative learning. Naval luminaries like admirals William Sims and Ernest King continued to campaign for self-study and the personal pursuit of professional knowledge during the twentieth century, distributing lists of suggested books for officers to read and promoting their ideas widely through speeches and published works.

While recommending that officers read broadly in pursuit of individual knowledge is an important part of creating a truly educated and professional Fleet and Fleet Marine Force, it is also important for leaders in the sea services to offer mentorship and create opportunities for discourse that encourages group learning. Developing the Naval Mind serves as a how-to manual and syllabus for leaders to create and lead wardroom, ready room, and work center discussion groups across the fleet to create a more educated and professionally engaged Navy and Marine Corps.

Author: Benjamin F. Armstrong, John Freymann
Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
Published: 11/15/2021
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781682476031

About the Author
Benjamin BJ Armstrong is a permanent military professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. He is a Volgenau Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Naval Academy. After spending the first half of his career as a Search and Rescue and Special Warfare helicopter pilot, he earned his PhD in War Studies with King's College, London before becoming a naval educator.

John Freymann is a permanent military professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. After spending the first half of his career as a Surface Warfare Officer, he earned his PhD in the history of Christianity from the University of Chicago before becoming a naval educator.