A profession; if we can keep it.

The weekend begins.

I think it's probably time for a deep #Profession rethink like post-Vietnam.

Polish and Dutch fighters, directed by Italian early warning aircraft, German air defenses on alert. Dutch PM: “I’m glad that Dutch F35 fighter jets were able to provide support. The Netherlands stands shoulder to shoulder with our NATO ally Poland.” Common defense working as designed.

🧵 worth reading on challenges facing academic journals

This is roughly equivalent to World War I conditions, with an extension of a few kilometers here or there. Supplies had to be brought up at night or by foot, MPs got good at noting artillery patterns to help move traffic along, and logistics governed the pace of everything

The weekend starts now. Everything just got better. This we’ll defend…

1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat. Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable. Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️

Why is it so hard to study war seriously in American academia? From Clausewitz to West Point’s new major, I dive into the fragmentation, disappearance, and possible revival of war as a subject of tactical, operational, and political thought. My Latest⬇️

An Army veteran, known in his community for the work he did trying to get people to safety after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, was arrested for his protests against ICE. The charge is alarming. Latest by @aglantz.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.” My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...

What looks like containment today may become a crisis tomorrow.

Huntington's theory of "objective civilian control," the separation of military and civilian spheres reinforced by an "apolitical" professional ethos, remains a lodestar for the American military. Yet its foundation is flawed and, as events in DC show, continues to do more harm than good. My latest⬇️

This is a good discussion to be had. I think its not quite as binary as this, but expected the military to solve it IS a potential threat to civ control. (See #OnObedience and linked article)

A terrorist targeted federal workers last week. There wasn’t much reporting on it. But I’m not finished thinking about it! 🧵 An anti-vaxxer fired more than 500 gunshots into CDC Atlanta, shattering 150 “blast-proof” windows on 6 buildings. Employees were pinned down in terror.

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....

My take is that senior officers are completely unprepared for this moment. When demo is healthy, there is little tension btw adhering to civilian control & serving democracy Faced w/ the manifest clash in principles these missions present, they are doing what's familiar--following orders.1/

I’m quoted in this story and would like to expand on what I’m talking about in terms of this not being how the NG has been used, historically. Though first I should note that Joe Nunn is right on all counts. I’m just adding a little historical context. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

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!

I had a great discussion with @nathankfinney.com about the military writing community, editing multi-author books, and informal professional networks. Check out the podcast, and stay tuned for more soon!

Excited to see #howthefewbecametheproud as one of the 4 recommended general histories by the Corps’ History Division in its new history of the Corps! Link to the book to download in the comments

I write serious history—via biography—for a non-academic audience. So I'd like to say something about Ken Burns's remark, something that also explains why AI can't write history. Pardon me for citing the example of one of my books, "Custer's Trials," on one of history's best-known figures. 1/12

"If history is going to be scientific, if the record of human action is going to be set down with the accuracy and faithfulness of detail which will allow its use as a measuring rod and guidepost for the future of nations, there must be set some standards of ethics in research and interpretation."

Army Europe chief unveils NATO eastern flank defense plan www.defensenews.com/land/2025/07...

Using Alt Text to provide the recipe needs to be normalized.

New doors; new opportunities. Excited to start the new job today in Austin, Texas. The future looks bright.

I missed this great thread about Marcia McNutt’s assertion that defending science from attacks is partisan. My conclusion is that there aren’t scenarios where it is a partisan political position to counter lies with the truth.

Money for parades but not for mental health treatment of soldiers and their families. www.stripes.com/theaters/eur...

As Arendt reminds us, denationalization has long been essential for ejecting people entirely from the sphere of rights. In her own words: "one is almost tempted to measure the degree of totalitarian infection by the extent to which... governments use their sovereign right of denationalization."

Diva is not only an incredible writer, but also probably the most principled person I know. That’s a rare combination, and makes her writing truly compelling

Crikey, 25% of my book here👇

My latest piece in @goodauth.bsky.social about how targeting international students is bad not just for the U.S. economy & innovation, but also 🇺🇸 reputation globally. goodauthority.org/news/targeti...

Please take a moment and read this. Pauline doesn’t just teach ethical principles, she lives by them - even when it cost her a named Chair at the Naval War College. She’s a woman of character, through and through!

Integrity and courage from one of our best. The profession was improved by @queenofthinair.bsky.social’s scholarship and her example continues to inspire.

My story. Told my way with truth and as much grace I can muster. Thank you, Tom.

Now up on @lawfaremedia.org: my deep dive into the domestic and international law surrounding whether the Trump administration can join Israel’s war against Iran. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...

The Trump administration's plans to convert some 50,000 civil servants into at-will employees has some worried that essential government functions will be politicized.

Interesting testimony from Secretary of Defense after questioning by Senator Kelly. I don’t want to focus on Golden Dome. The outcome of that program is far from clear & controversial. But I want to talk about DoD testing & what it all means. A thread… youtu.be/3SaBT2jSEGs?...

Thoughtful critique of a must-read book for any military professional. The review highlights both the book’s limitations and its value in how we think about war.

Serving as a strategist at 21st Theater Sustainment Command has been an honor. Every day was a learning experience, improving how our #Army provides #logistics across #Europe, enabling allied support to #Ukraine, and working with our #NATO allies to deter Russsia. Onto the next challenge.

Happy Birthday to the United States Army; securing America’s freedom from monarchy and defending our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, for 250 years today. This We’ll Defend!!

This is insane

This is why we publish doctrine. This is also how we know nobody reads it.

Thanks to @defenseone.bsky.social for publishing my latest on the military’s norm of nonpartisanship and why Army leaders must uphold and teach this, now more than ever. www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...

Soldiers involved in Fort Bragg's Trumpalooza were screened for their political allegiance and the army allowed the sale of Trump merch on base - this is a #CivMilSky dumpster fire More evidence of military leaders falling in line www.military.com/daily-news/2...

The novel application of the Take Care clause as justification for active duty deployment should be pushed back.