Hard copies of "Orchestrating Power" are in the wild! I hear those that pre-ordered should be getting them soon. You only have a month left to pre-order and get your copies before the official release date: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

“China’s present purge is remarkable. By some measures it is the largest since the era of Mao Zedong. The party expelled nine generals this month, taking the total to at least 22 since he came to power. His 3 immediate predecessors failed to remove a single brass hat.” economist.com/china/2025/1...

“The military buildup in the region is the largest unrelated to disaster relief since 1994, when the United States sent two aircraft carriers and more than 20,000 troops to Haiti to take part in ‘Operation Uphold Democracy.’” www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...

My running list of fellowships and other opportunities has been updated, including a veteran fellowship recently highlighted by Jason Galui - the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program at the Bush Presidential Center. nathankfinney.com/fellowships-...

“Finney tells an important story w/ excellent, razor-sharp focus. ‘Orchestrating Power’ reveals the key intermediary role CoDs played in the mobilization for WWI.” - Jennifer Keene, ‘Doughboys, the Great War, & the Remaking of America’ Pre-order now! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

And the final set of photos…more traditional ballet. Such a talented, awesome young woman! All the hard work she’s put in (especially the last two years) is evident! Super proud ballet dad 😍🩰

Tranche 1 of our dancer’s recent senior photo shoot. These are the more contemporary dance poses…waiting to get the traditional ballet pics. So proud of our amazing athlete!

“Orchestrating Power makes an original, deeply researched historical contribution to the field of American political development.” - Professor Elisabeth Clemens, author of ‘Civic Gifts’ (pre-order 40% discount: 09FORTY) www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

First IUS conference…and I felt very much at home. So great to see many friends and mentors…and give a quick talk on a book chapter that’ll be coming out October 2026!

We should really spend more time on teaching the English Civil Wars as they relate to the American Revolution.

FYI! The awesome @nathankfinney.com's awesome book "Orchestrating Power" has an awesome cover! Find more about (and maybe pre-order...) his upcoming addition to the #Battlegrounds series at the @cornellupress.bsky.social book page: cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501783777/orchestrating-power/

I just received my first copy of the book!

Orchestrating Power: The American Associational State in the First World War” has an official publication date of December 15, 2025! Please pre-order a copy (40% discount: 09FORTY) & consider asking your local or university library to order a copy! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...

Thanks to Susie Colbourn for the invitation to drive up & support a great group of students from across the Triangle—Duke, UNC, NC State, and NC Central—for a Bridging the Gap, Duke Program in American Grand Strategy, & TISS Foundations of International Relations Success & Training (FIRST) workshop.

A stunner sunset in the Blue Ridge Mountains tonight

Only five more days to apply to join the great Board of Directors at @milwritersguild.bsky.social. Members interested in shaping the organization should self-nominate at the form below!

“you have little time you must give testimony be courageous when the mind deceives you” - Zbigniew Herbert

Maintenance week as the half marathon gets closer…beautiful day around Bragg. Almost to autumn…

One of Tilly’s key arguments in Politics of Collective Violence is that there’s no such thing as “a” civil war. What we call civil wars are aggregations of lots of different kinds of violence, at different scales, and involving different dynamics.

We have 4 board seats coming open - including to replace me as President. I hope some of our great members that have the time and drive to support the community nominate themselves!

Check out a set of published works from MWG members, including some of our newest members! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/mwg-member...

In case you want to be verified here… bsky.social/about/blog/0...

Solid 10 miles along the Cape Fear River today. Pace was slower than desired, but putting the work in. Half marathon in October is calling…

Energizing first Board of Advisors meeting today for the Military Writers Guild! Such an amazing group of writers and leaders to help us bring the organization to the next level. Look forward to working with them in the coming years!

Great to drop into the alma mater and participate in the great events hosted by the Duke American Gand Strategy Program! Some sage words and a few candid comments by former Chairman General CG Brown…

I’ve been learning from James Greer for almost 20 years…and yet listening to his analysis here I learned a ton. This is a must listen for any professional… podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... isg

I have two poems coming out in this collection of poems on the end of the so-called Forever Wars. It is available for preorder today, purchase tomorrow. Be on the look out for: - “Salty” - “Five-Star Google Reviews of the Green Beans Cafe at Kandahar Airfield” www.amazon.com/So-Long-Anth...

“Now a mix of factors have created an opening for a new strategic arrangement in the South Atlantic…Argentina wants Britain to loosen its restrictions on arms purchases. Britain wants discreet acceptance of its role in the rest of the South Atlantic.” www.economist.com/the-americas...

“Lily, a millennial in Shanghai, got into debt when her employer, stopped paying her wages because of its own cashflow difficulties. To help, she is dabbling in “debt IP”—when people turn stories of ruin into a means of generating cash as online influencers.” economist.com/china/2025/0...

Latest issue of the British Journal for Military History is live! bjmh.gold.ac.uk/index.php/bj...

Some great additions to the Military Writers Guild summer reading list by @childersaw.bsky.social and Jon Silk! www.militarywritersguild.org/collaboration

We recently asked @milwritersguild.bsky.social members to provide thoughts on what they read this summer. Here's a quick list - we welcome ideas from others! www.militarywritersguild.org/collaboration

“Ukraine’s defense startup ecosystem cannot be seen as a strategic alternative to mature state systems. It falls short when it comes to mass production, architectural compatibility, export viability, and resilience. It is suitable for short-term mobilization — but not for systemic competition.”

Meet new Board of Advisors member, Anthony Barrows! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/board-of-a...

Introducing new Board of Advisors member, GEN Xavier Brunson! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/board-of-a...

Our first winner for the 2025 MWG Writing Competition, Ryan Pallas! Ryan won for his piece, “Beyond the Rifleman." Learn more about Ryan and access “Beyond the Rifleman” at the link below! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/2025-mwg-w...

Introducing new Board of Advisors member, Matt Gallagher! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/board-of-a...

Introducing Board of Advisors member, Debbie Gershenowitz! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/board-of-a...

Introducing Board of Advisors member, Andrea Goldstein! milwritersguild.substack.com/p/board-of-a...

So glad @chrisgingram.bsky.social revived this podcast. It’s going to be great to listen to him talk with @milwritersguild.bsky.social members about their work and lives!

The Pen and the Sword podcast is now up! Check out episode 1, “Writing as a Community with Nathan Finney” at the link below. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t....

Gorgeous morning for a run along the Cape Fear River…

Not going to lie, I'm super excited & humbled by the amazing people that were willing to support @milwritersguild.bsky.social as advisors. Amazing leaders & insightful content creators. (I'm just providing continuity for the next leadership team) www.militarywritersguild.org/advisors

Great evening tonight connecting with other Army strategists here on Fort Bragg. A talented crew across a handful of commands. All doing great work on behalf of the nation!

Nashville!

What a fun conversation I had with Tino Perez.

The jobs are there, the pay is strong, but America’s next generation isn’t flocking to shipbuilding. What should come next? warontherocks.com/20...

Biblioburro! www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pod...

Since it’s almost time for the anniversary of Gettysburg, here’s a piece of speculative fiction on what would have happened if Lincoln *hadn’t* refused the offer of elephants from the King of Siam angrystaffofficer.com/2019/08/12/i...