Ethics and the Naval Warrior

Acting ethically and making ethical decisions requires an awareness of others. How can midshipmen and junior officers cultivate the kind of emotions that help them lead ethically? Professor Mitt Regan outlines what constitutes emotional intelligence and how to incorporate it in your daily life.

The utilization of unmanned systems (e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles) is proliferating exponentially. There are many ethical decisions around the rules of engagement. Where do you start building the foundation for that? What does it mean to be "in the loop" and "on the loop"? RADM Mike Manazir touches on examples that detail these considerations.

Did you know that lack of quality sleep can impact your ethical decision-making ability? CAPT Ryan Bernacchi discusses the dangerous impact of chronic fatigue and suggests ways to proactively and effectively manage your mission when you are not at your best.

What is your responsibility as the situation commander during a crisis event? If you are a junior officer who must deal with a crisis response, what are you responsible for when communicating with your leadership, policymakers, and the public? Brian Kamoie, JD, discusses the need to tell the truth and maintain credibility, and understand how to “stay in your lane”.

What is your responsibility as the situation commander during a crisis event? If you are a junior officer who must deal with a crisis response, what are you responsible for when communicating with your leadership, policymakers, and the public? Brian Kamoie, JD, discusses the need to tell the truth and maintain credibility, and understand how to “stay in your lane”.

Taking a risk while knowing the consequences because you know it’s the right thing do helps build moral courage. How does taking "shortcuts" lead to diminishing your moral courage? Andrew Ledford discusses how habitually taking small shortcuts erodes your moral courage while living ethically even when no one is looking builds moral courage. Andrew Ledford is an active duty Navy Commander and holds a Ph.D. in Sociology.

Trust is the glue that binds a society. Trusted leaders must have candor, competence and care. Professor David Luban discusses the “just right” conditions for developing and maintaining trust, and the concept of “having your back”.

Creating a climate that values active listening is the responsibility of an ethical leader. Speaking truth to power especially when there’s an ethical dilemma is the responsibility of the follower. COL Art Athens shares his views and a few stories about speaking truth to power.

How does a naval warrior judge whether to apply lethal force, and in what amount? LtGen John Wissler USMC (Ret.) discusses proportionality, rules of engagement and squaring with your self.

One way of being able to embody a stoic mindset means being able to focus on what is under your control and not obsess about what you can't change. It also means learning through experience and sometimes that means learning through suffering, and reframing that experience. Dr. Joe Thomas discusses ADM Stockdale's return with honor principle in light of stoicism.