Self Promotion: An Interview On Becoming Trauma Informed

A brief primer on trauma and a link to an interview and paper on being trauma informed

The American Military Officer and the Constitution

My latest publication.

The Size of the House

Linking to a piece I wrote for The Conversation.

Twitter, Generals, and the Limits of Public Discourse

In the weeds of civil-military relations.

Democratic Health of Alabama

A link to my piece for the Pulaski Institution.

New York’s Gerrymandering Disarmament

When doing the right thing is the wrong thing.

Twitter and the Military Professional

The risks are real but the rewards are spectacular.

Trump’s Generals

My contribution to a continuing debate.

No to Austin

My latest for Defense One.

Biden’s Defense Secretary

My latest for Defense One.

Fear of a Black General?

My latest for Defense One.

Soldier-Scholar (Pick One)

My latest for War on the Rocks.

President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Domestic Enemies

My latest for Defense One.

Fort Benning honors the nation's fallen service members with a Memorial Day ceremony at the post's cemetery May 27. The 9 a.m. ceremony at the Main Post Cemetery went forward under bright but partly cloudy skies, with an audience of some 200 Soldiers and civilians seated outdoors. The ceremony included remarks by a speaker, and a wreath-laying in tribute to "all the nation's veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice." The wreath-laying was followed by the firing of a three-volley rifle salute and the playing of "Taps." (U.S. Army photos by Patrick Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs) Fort Benning honors the nation's fallen service members with a Memorial Day ceremony at the post's cemetery May 27. The 9 a.m. ceremony at the Main Post Cemetery went forward under bright but partly cloudy skies, with an audience of some 200 Soldiers and civilians seated outdoors. The ceremony included remarks by a speaker, and a wreath-laying in tribute to "all the nation's veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice." The wreath-laying was followed by the firing of a three-volley rifle salute and the playing of "Taps." (U.S. Army photos by Patrick Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)

Whose Deaths Should We Honor?

The line between “hero” and “victim” is blurry and rendered meaningless when the former is over-used

President Trump Visits St. John's Episcopal Church President Donald J. Trump walks from the White House Monday evening, June 1, 2020, to St. John’s Episcopal Church, known as the church of Presidents’s, that was damaged by fire during demonstrations in nearby LaFayette Square Sunday evening. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Trump Visits St. John's Episcopal Church President Donald J. Trump walks from the White House Monday evening, June 1, 2020, to St. John’s Episcopal Church, known as the church of Presidents’s, that was damaged by fire during demonstrations in nearby LaFayette Square Sunday evening. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Civil-Military Crisis?

My latest for Defense One has published.

Wargaming During a Pandemic

My latest at War on the Rocks.

Who Gets Honored?

Are those who die in our wars more deserving than those who die in our stores?

Pentagon Needs a New Pitch

Matt Bernius and I collaborated on an essay for Defense One.

Does the Military Really Need More Strategists?

My latest for War on the Rocks.

It’s Not the Military’s Job to Oppose Trump

My latest for The National Interest.

We Need Prudent Elder Statesmen

My latest for The National Interest is out.

Unequal Military Justice is Good Policy

In Defense One, Butch Bracknell and I explain “Why ‘Different Spanks for Different Ranks’ Are Often Justified.”

Congress is Powerless to Stop Presidential Strike on North Korea

My latest for RealClearDefense.

New ‘National Defense Strategy’ Not All That New

My latest for The National Interest takes a contrarian view on the new National Defense Strategy.

Who Suffers the Most from Government Shutdowns?

My latest for The National Interest has posted.

A Radically Different Security Strategy

My latest for The National Interest, “How Trump’s National Security Strategy Breaks with the Past,” has posted.

Mattis Right on NATO

My latest is out at RealClearDefense.

Normalizing Hysteria

Donald Trump is not Adolf Hitler. But that’s not the standard.

EU Leaders Must Keep Calm and Carry On

Early panic over the Brexit referendum was an overreaction. It’s time for statesmanship.

Too Many Generals?

My latest for The National Interest has posted.

Rigor in Professional Military Education

My latest for War on The Rocks, “Professional Military Education and the Rigor Problem, has posted.

Associated Press/Bob Daugherty, File - FILE - In this Jan. 12, 1991 file photo, Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf stands at ease with his tank troops during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. Schwarzkopf died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. He was 78. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File) l Associated Press/Bob Daugherty, File - FILE - In this Jan. 12, 1991 file photo, Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf stands at ease with his tank troops during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. Schwarzkopf died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. He was 78. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File) l

You’ve Thanked Us Plenty for Our Service

My latest for RealClearDefense, “The Forgotten Veterans of Desert Storm,” has posted. The headline belies the argument.

Defending of Crazy Talk

A controversial article arguing prominent war critics should be targeted as enemy combatants is worth discussing.

The Dangers of Relying on Airpower Alone

My latest for War on The Rocks, “The Inter-Service Wars Are Looking Like Calvinball,” has posted.

Joyner on Federal News Radio

I was on yesterday afternoon’s edition of Federal News Radio’s “In Depth” with Francis Rose discussing my recent piece in The National Interest on military retirement reform.

The Domestic Side of National Security

Another commentary on the National Security Strategy, this one at The Hill.

Obama’s National-Security Wish List

The first installment of my analysis of the National Security Strategy.

Obama’s Missed Opportunity

My latest for The National Interest, “Obama’s Paris Blunder: Part of a Much Bigger Problem,” has posted.

Hagel’s Dismissal A Reflection Of Contradictory Policy

The abrupt departure of Chuck Hagel says much more about Administration policy than it does about Chuck Hagel.

Obama’s Astrategic ISIS Strategy

The plan won’t achieve achieve its stated goals.

In Defense of Professional Military Education

My latest for RealClearDefense: “Senator Walsh’s Unrepresentative Black Mark on Professional Military Education”

Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, addresses a crowd of U.S. Marines and Sailors at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan Dec. 23. Amos expressed his admiration to the service members for their accomplishments and dedication to supporting the ongoing counterisurgency mission, especially while deployed during the holiday season. Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, addresses a crowd of U.S. Marines and Sailors at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan Dec. 23. Amos expressed his admiration to the service members for their accomplishments and dedication to supporting the ongoing counterisurgency mission, especially while deployed during the holiday season.

The Commandant Didn’t Say What Everyone Says He Said

My latest for War on the Rocks: “Don’t Believe Everything You Read in the Papers.”

Yes, Americans Care About Soccer Now

My latest for The Hill, “America Comes to Soccer,” has posted.

Sending Europe Mixed Messages

My latest for The National Interest, “Europe’s Free Ride on the American-Defense Gravy Train,” has posted.