POTOMAC, Md. – Twenty-two flag officers and five senior executive service (SES) civilians recently convened at the Bolger Center in Potomac with U.S. Naval War College (NWC) Leadership and Ethics faculty for the inaugural two-star/SES Leader Development Course, known as “Partners in the Navy Profession.”
Using advanced adult learning methods appropriate for executive-level leaders, the course used disruptive engagement, peer interaction, facilitated discourse and directed reflection to elevate participants’ higher order thinking to further effective leadership in the increasingly complex environment.
NWC faculty comprised of both scholars and practitioners in the Leadership and Ethics Department engaged the group in discussions on culture, self-understanding, unconscious bias and critical thinking.
“If we, as a Navy, are going to solve complex problems and win the next generation wars, we will need to be more deliberate in the iterative development and growth of our leaders and human resources,” said Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson, one of the course participants. “This course has been a great first step in building that culture.”
During the course, participants heard from Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations (CNO); Honorable Richard V. Spencer, secretary of the Navy; retired Adm. Bill Gortney; and retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, former Navy chief of information and spokesperson for both the Department of Defense and Department of State.
Participants also heard from authors Bob Woodward, Gary Klein, Ori Brafman and Andy Fleming.
Additionally, each participant completed a Hogan self-assessment survey and received a two-hour individual debrief by Gene Andersen, NWC professor, to help students maximize the value of the course for their own development as leaders.
This one-week course was a test-bed course based upon NWC’s tasking to provide a learning experience that would challenge participants thinking as preparation for increasingly complex roles as senior leaders in the Navy.
It was also part of the CNO’s tasking per the Navy Leader Development Framework, which charges NWC as being responsible for leader development beyond major command.