The Honorable Michèle Flournoy, one of the most accomplished national security professionals working in the United States today, served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2009 to 2012 and co-founded the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is now the CEO of WestExec Advisors, where she helps make connections between the U.S. national security establishment and important industry partners. In this episode, Ms. Flournoy joins the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion of her career, the challenges of civilian leadership at the Pentagon, the military-industrial complex, and military politicization.

Credits:
Thomas Krasnican, host
Nick Paraiso, host
Haz Yano, producer
Alec MacMillen, engineer
Aishwarya Kumar, producer
Mary Martha Maclay, producer

Special thanks to Lieutenant Alberto Ramos.

This podcast is in no way intended to reflect the official positions of the Department of Defense or any other military entity.

Michèle Flournoy on Civil-Military Relations at the Pentagon

TYFYS is a conversation with practitioners, experts, and you about the relationship between the military and civilians. We explore scholarship and current policy debates, interview prominent thinkers and leaders, and engage our audience on vital issues of national security and civil-military relations. Brought to you by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, TYFYS reaches across the country and around the world to engage people in debates about the military, democracy, and security.

News

Government

Last week, President-elect Joe Biden made an historic announcement to name Lloyd Austin as his nominee for the position of Secretary of Defense. This nomination is unique for two reasons: First, because Austin would be only the third retired general to serve as Secretary of Defense since the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. Second: Austin would be the first Black American to serve as Secretary of Defense. Jim explores the civil-military implications of this nomination with Ambassador Eric Edelman, Dr. Kori Schake, and Mr. Bishop Garrison.

Mr. Austin Goes to Washington?

The relationship between the military and the media is not always an easy one. But, without the news media, the American public would have a far narrower understanding of what our military is doing in our name. As difficult as it sometimes may be for both parties involved, getting the relationship between the Defense Department and journalists right is essential for our democracy. In this episode, Alice and Jim speak with scholar Dr. Amanda Cronkhite, Washington Post National Security journalist Greg Jaffe, and Army Public Affairs Officer Colonel Myles Caggins to get their perspectives on what journalists and members of the military should do to get this relationship right more often.

The Military and the Media

On this Veterans' Day/ post-election episode of Thank You For Your Service, we talk to Loren DeJonge Schulman about the draft and the civilian national security workforce. Then Alice and Jim discuss the personnel churn at DoD and what the change in presidential administration might mean for civ-mil relations. And we leave you with a little something to get inspired.

Thank Them For Their Service

Whether we like it or not, the military's role in the election has become a topic of conversation this year. But military involvement in the election could mean a lot of things -- absentee voting by service members, veterans running for office, retired officer endorsements, or even the use of National Guard or active troops in the aftermath of a contested election. Alice and Jim talk with experts Don Inbody, Kori Schake, and Risa Brooks about some of the ways the military will, and hopefully won't, be involved in the 2020 Presidential election.

The Military and the Election

The U.S. military has struggled with racism throughout its history. This week, Alice and Jim talk to active duty military personnel, veterans, and a civilian expert about race, bias, and discrimination in the armed forces. Guests Bishop Garrison, Radha Iyengar-Plumb, Jada Johnson, James Johnson, Dana Pittard, and Daniel White talk about their personal experiences as well as recruiting, retention, promotion, and representation in the military.

Michèle Flournoy on Civil-Military Relations at the Pentagon

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