1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910821065303321

Autore

Sims William Sowden <1858-1936, >

Titolo

21st century Sims : innovation, education, and leadership for the modern era / / edited by Benjamin F. Armstrong

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Annapolis, Maryland : , : Naval Institute Press, , 2015

©2015

ISBN

1-61251-809-5

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (177 p.)

Classificazione

HIS027150HIS027000HIS027130

Disciplina

359.0092

Soggetti

Admirals - United States

Naval art and science - Technological innovations

Naval gunnery - History

Leadership - United States

Naval art and science - United States - History - 20th century

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction: the gun doctor -- Professional debate and military innovation -- A proper military mindset -- Preparing for command and preparing for war -- The forces of the status quo -- The peace dividend and the professional -- A century-old promotion system -- Conclusion: mentorship from a century ago.

Sommario/riassunto

"For more than two decades at the beginning of the 20th century William S. Sims was at the forefront of naval affairs. From the revolution in naval gunnery that he led as a junior officer, to his advocacy for the Dreadnaught style all-big-gun battleship, to his development of torpedo boat and destroyer operations, he was a central figure in helping to prepare the U.S. Navy for World War I. During the war he served as the senior naval commander in Europe and was instrumental in the establishment of the convoy system that won the Battle of the Atlantic. Following the war his leadership as President of the Naval War College established the foundations of the creative and innovative Navy that would develop the operating concepts for submarines and aircraft carriers which would lead to success in World War II.  Despite his dramatic impact on the U.S. Navy in the first half of the 20th century,



Sims is a relatively unknown figure today.  Overshadowed in our memory by the World War II generation of strategic Admirals, like Chester Nimitz and Raymond Spruance, he receives little attention from historians or professional naval officers.  Despite the fact that he won a Pulitzer Prize for history, hardly anyone reads the books or articles he left as his legacy.  This collection of six essays written by Sims illustrates why his thinking and leadership are relevant to the challenges faced in the 21st century. From the perils of military conservatism, to the responsibilities of the professional officer, to military downsizing and reform, he helped lay the foundations of the modern Navy. Armstrong's introductions and analysis of these essays links them directly to the issues of innovation, professional education, and leadership that are as important at the start of this century as they were at the start of the last"--