21st Century Sims: Innovation, Education, and Leadership for the Modern Era Paperback - 2015

From the rear cover

Our objective must not be 'safety first' in the sense of adherence to already tested practices and implements, but safety first in being the first to recognize, the first to experiment with, and the first to adopt improvements of distinct military value.--William S. Sims

For more than two decades William S. Sims was at the forefront of naval affairs. From the revolution in naval gunnery to his development of torpedo boat and destroyer operations, he was a central figure in preparing the U.S. Navy for World War I. During the war, he served as the senior naval commander in Europe and was instrumental in the establishment of the convoy system. Following the war his leadership as president of the Naval War College established the foundation of the creative and innovative Navy that developed the operating concepts for submarines and aircraft carriers leading up to World War II. Overshadowed by the memory of the World War II generation of strategic admirals, like Chester Nimitz and Raymond Spruance, he receives little attention from historians or professional naval officers. Despite the fact that he won a Pulitzer Prize for history and had a dramatic impact on the U.S. Navy, Sims' books and articles are often overlooked.

This book is a collection of Admiral Sims' written work, and it investigates his relevance in addressing the questions facing today's military personnel and policymakers. Armstrong's introductions and analysis of these essays links them directly to the issues of innovation, professional education, and leadership that are as important at the start of this century as they were at the start of the last.