3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course analyzes the civilian and military leadership of the principal departments and agencies of the government which are responsible for the nation's security. Attention will be placed upon the problems with which civilian (senior and mid-level political appointees, Civil Service) and military leaders are currently dealing, the processes through which they are selected and evaluated, culture and competence clashes, the inevitable tension in the civil-military relationship, and efforts to improve professionalism in a rapidly changing security environment. An important objective is to improve the critical thinking skills of the students and to inform them on the political, operational, budgetary, legal, and other factors which influence senior officials in the making of defense/homeland security strategies and policies and on the decision-making methodologies employed.