Mr. Y suggests a National Strategic Narrative

A couple of O-6's are shy ... Who'da thunk it? At least they're using an effective template from 1946 ...

The Bottom Billion

Paul Collier - The Bottom Billion (Amazon)
Recommended by someone worth the attention

Design Applied to Military Operations

Practical Application of Complexity Theory to Military Operations

Grant Martin, MAJ, SF

A lot has been written recently about design. This explanation makes sense to me.

Deserving of Combat Pay?

The original article, I Didn't Deserve My Combat Pay, and it's follow up response to criticisms, On Combat Pays and Imminent Dangers: Our Response to the Responses to “I Didn’t Deserve My Combat Pay”, is worth a read.

Darpa Conflicts of Interest

Darpa Conflicts of Interest

The solution is so obvious. Just produce more people with:
-highly developed technical skills
-who are committed to national interests
-are willing to sacrifice a shot at wealth and fame
-will give up lifestyle options necessary to receive clearances.
It's so easy. All you have have to do is convince those college students that a comfortable life, without true wealth, is worth all that extra effort learning a significant amount more than those all those theories and arguments.

Predator Vision

Computer Vision Advancement
The state of the art. Very impressive. Very relevant.

Creating Shared Value

The Big Idea: Creating Shared Value  
by Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer; Harvard Business Review, January 2011

"Shared Value involves creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges. Businesses must reconnect company success with social progress. Shared value is not social responsibility, philanthropy, or even sustainability, but a new way to achieve economic success"

An example of the information revolution impacting business thinking. Love it.

Leadership: Military, Business

Solitude and Leadership

William Deresiewicz, a lecture delivered to the plebe class at USMA in October 2009

An important aspect of Commanders. Exploitable for the attachment.

What’s The Most Difficult CEO Skill? Managing Your Own Psychology
A technology business leader struggles with leadership.
This received a lot of attention in a Silicon Valley / Startup forum. It was hailed as insightful, but it seems obvious to me. I find it interesting to see another industry/community struggle with something other industries/communities have already understood. DOD sends the right messages for leadership development; it's up to the student to receive it.

Dark Networks

A Theory of Dark Network Design

Ian S. Davis, Carrie L. Worth, Douglas W. Zimmerman, NPS Thesis, December 2010

I think these concepts are important for anyone working in COIN/CT type missions. Especially if you are at all involved in targeting at the tactical level. There are a number of good relevant FMs, but I see value in reading ideas that have not been through the doctrinal washing machine.

Conducting Track II Peace Making

US Institute of Peace: Conducting Track II Peace Making
Another perspective on integrating development work. It's a non-SWCS perspective on CA work. Very relevant to a team leader.