Only the most able : moving beyond politics in the selection of national security leaders / Stephen M. Duncan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Duncan, Stephen M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National security--United States.

National security.

United States--Officials and employees--Selection and appointment.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (297 p.)

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, c2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Stephen M. Duncan draws on a lifetime of military, public service, executive, and legal experience to argue with unusual insight and candor why the quality and performance of senior political appointees who are charged even in part with the nation's security must be improved, and offers specific recommendations on how this can be accomplished. This timely book will appeal to Americans of all political persuasions, as well as those with particular interests in political and military history.

Contents:

Contents; Introduction; 1 The Power to Appoint Civilian Leaders; 2 The Professionalism of Military Leaders Prior to 1972; 3 Personnel Is Policy; 4 Politics and Unqualified Civilian Leaders; 5 The Professionalism of Military Leaders from 1972 to September 11, 2001; 6 Civilian Leaders Who Can Get Things Done; 7 Professionalism in the Era of Wars of a Different Kind; 8 Trust and Clashes of Culture and Competence; 9 Politics in the Middle of War; 10 The "Professionalization" of Amateur Appointees; Conclusion; Notes; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

1-283-65882-8

1-4422-2023-6

OCLC:

819379509