One of the most lauded military leaders in modern history, retired Navy Adm. William H. McRaven shared his own, personal lessons on leadership during the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 (NPS) latest Virtual Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture (SGL), held online Tuesday, June 23.
McRaven is well known in and beyond the Special Forces community, leading a number of high-profile operations including the capture of Saddam Hussein and the rescue of Richard Philips, captain of the Maersk Alabama. He developed and oversaw Operation Neptune Spear, leading to the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, and was runner up for 鈥淭IME鈥� magazine鈥檚 annual 鈥淧erson of the Year.鈥�
In a manner he seems to have perfected, McRaven shared lessons in leadership gleaned through his decades of experience through straightforward anecdotes 鈥� Moments in life where the world around him presented an opportunity to learn, and he took it.
McRaven has always been an avid supporter of education and demonstrated it throughout his career. During his time at NPS, he recognized a critical gap in the education offered to his Special Forces community, and designed a curriculum to close that gap, nurturing its approval through the academic structure. He succeeded and became the first graduate of that program back in 1993, now NPS鈥� Defense Analysis program. More than 1,600 students have since graduated from the legacy McRaven left on the university.
His passion for education continued after his active duty career, electing to serve as the Chancellor of the University of Texas system until 2018. And his advocacy for education continues, connecting the nation鈥檚 K-12 educational system directly to our future security and prosperity.
Virtual SECNAV Guest Lecture with Adm. William H. McRaven, USN (ret.)
McRaven鈥檚 full presentation and his Q&A with university students.
Virtual SGL Series:June 23, 2020
McRaven鈥檚 leadership lessons seemed straightforward, because he delivered them that way. He emphasized the role of critical thinking in being a member of the military, and in a leader. He stressed the importance of communication, and how much more important consistent communication becomes in times of crisis.
McRaven applauded the importance of teamwork, noting that no one 鈥減addles the boat鈥� by themselves. He stresses the criticality of physical and mental strength, to be prepared for hard work, toughness and intelligence.
He discussed listening 鈥� Noting how leaders must be able to hear what their people are saying, to reflect and be thoughtful. And he stressed knowing exactly where to get the pulse of your people. A great leader 鈥渄raws on surrounding expertise,鈥� he said. When decisions need to be made, and need to be made quickly. 鈥淜now who the experts are,鈥� and trust them, he said.
And he stressed, perhaps above all else, the role of character. As human beings, we will make mistakes, but if we strive to be 鈥渕oral, legal and ethical鈥� as leaders, he said, we will be in the best position to do the right thing.
McRaven shared anecdotes that seemed commonplace in experience, easily relatable no matter what service you hail from. He offered his time on the Benjamin Franklin class ballistic missile submarine, USS Simon Bolivar, as one such anecdote. He was a new NROTC recruit, and immediately took to the CO of the boat, Cmdr. John Weldon Koenig, a University of Texas alumnus just like McRaven.
What stayed with him, though, was how the CO carried himself on the sub, and the behavior and pride that translated to his crew of young Sailors.
鈥淭he commanding officer had a certain swagger about him, a certain ability to connect with the Sailors on the submarine,鈥� McRaven recalled. 鈥淗e had a great sense of humor. He could harass [the crew] and they鈥檇 harass him鈥�. There was this mutual back and forth, and that showed me what a great leader looked like.鈥�
Leaders have to be close enough to know what life is like for the men and women they lead, yet must understand that personal relationships cannot cloud judgement. Great leaders, he said, exist at a 鈥減rofessional distance.鈥� As a young officer, he would consistently think about how the decisions he made, or saw being made in the wardroom, would impact the men and women in the field.
He then answered several questions from a group of NPS students from the Defense Analysis program he created years prior covering a wide-range of topics, from his views on how technological advancement impacts combat to why communication matters.
In closing his remarks to an audience largely of NPS students, McRaven also stressed how he realized the importance of the education he received from NPS when he returned to the battlefield.
鈥淥ne of the things you might find when you leave the Postgraduate School 鈥� or wherever you might be going to school at this time 鈥� you will be amazed at how much smarter you are,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou may not appreciate it right now, I know I didn鈥檛 when I graduated from the 黑料吃瓜网.
鈥淏ut when I got back to the fleet, I realized I could see things that my contemporaries couldn鈥檛 because they hadn鈥檛 been taught how to think,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hey hadn鈥檛 been giving the critical thinking skills they needed, and that really makes a difference in your career and as a leader.鈥�
NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau expressed her gratitude for his time, thanking him for this 鈥榲irtual visit; with university students.
鈥淢cRaven鈥檚 career and indeed how he lives his life truly define the words 鈥榩atriot,鈥� 鈥榳arrior,鈥� 鈥榮cholar鈥� and 鈥榠ntellect,鈥欌�� Rondeau said.
Watch the complete on the NPS YouTube channel.