It is said in folklore circles that when a custom is too old for its origins to be remembered, a story is often devised to rationalize what would otherwise be baffling. John Thorn, Baseball in the Garden of Eden, pp.86-87.#criticalthinking and #redteaming make the baffling clear

Trust is the coin of the realm. When trust was in the room…good things happened. When trust was not in the room, good things did not happen. George Shultz #criticalthinking and #redteaming sustain trust and make good things happen

I am honored that Strategy Bridge interviewed me about my book, Raising the Bar, a history of the founding of the School of Advanced Military Studies Strategy Bridge Podcast webpage: thestrategybridge.org/the-po…

Lack of clarity in policy encourages a myopic focus on discrete decisions rather than on objectives and the concept for accomplishing those objectives. HR McMaster #criticalthinking and #redteaming promote clarity in policy and action

It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong. JM Keynes #criticalthinking and #redteaming assist in defining the path to roughly right

When my information changes, I alter my conclusions. What do you do, sir? JM Keynes #criticalthinking and #redteaming assess new information and refine conclusions

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. JM Keynes #criticalthinking and #redteaming assist in developing new ideas and breaking away from the outdated

Still, we know and we hear and we express only arguments, and by so doing, we forget the inconvenient complexities of history and of human nature. Ken Burns #criticalthinking and #redteaming consider the inconvenient and complex

To follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it. T. Jefferson #criticalthinking and #redteaming sustain truth and combat error

Franklin had “experienced many instances of being obliged by better information” to change his opinions. B. Franklin and J. Rosen #criticalthinking and #redteaming frame support for changing positions

The older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. B. Franklin #criticalthinking and #redteaming broaden perspective

Disinformation, conspiracies, and performative outrage are the most dangerous rot in the gardens of our institutions…impossible to eradicate if we refuse to hear the other side. Ian Bremmer #criticalthinking and #redteaming get us out of our bubbles

Present preparedness must not be sacrificed to an illusory future readiness. National emergencies cannot be foreseen and must be met by existing forces. The General Board of the Navy, January 1933 #criticalthinking and #redteaming guide readiness, now and into the future

Honored to be on The history Syndicate podcast. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

You cannot red team inside the “Fuehrer Bunker.” Greg Fontenot #criticalthinking and #redteaming require senior leader intellectual humility and acceptance

When subordinates are concerned about what they say to the commander, information, nuance, and trust are lost. K McKenzie #criticalthinking and #redteaming only work when supported and accepted by the senior leader

What has to be avoided, though, is a false positive-agreeing without understanding. K McKenzie #criticalthinking and #redteaming ensure broad understanding in decision making

Luck is the residue of design. Branch Rickey #criticalthinking and #redteaming support sound design efforts

In a large organization, unless the commander constantly emphasizes what’s important, friction and uncertainty will inevitably creep into the system. K. McKenzie #criticalthinking and #redteaming reduce friction and uncertainty

Operations is an art, informed by quantitative calculation, but ultimately based on qualitative judgment. K. McKenzie #criticalthinking and #redteaming test calculation and bring nuance into judgment