One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
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One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
Living and working in groups is both a blessing and a curse. Too often, groups are in the news for all the wrong reasons: conformity, polarization, prejudice, conflict, and general mass stupidity. The secret is understanding how to work with the invisible forces of group dynamics instead of being mindlessly pushed around by them.
In this interview, Dr. Colin Fisher shares his research on what leaders need to know and do in order to get their teams to perform up to their potential. He also shares how conformity can be used as an asset and competition can be detrimental to the way groups and teams operate. Because one of the methods of creating group cohesion is to create an “out” group, Dr. Fisher finishes with a conversation about ways in which the division plaguing many countries can be repaired.
Dr. Fisher received his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University, and previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Boston University’s School of Management. Prior to his Ph.D. he studied improvisation in the arts at New York University (M.A.) and jazz trumpet at New England Conservatory of Music (B.Mus.). In his prior career as a jazz trumpet player, Colin was a long-time member of the Grammy-nominated Either/Orchestra, with whom he toured extensively and recorded several critically acclaimed albums.
Originally from Redmond, Washington in the USA, he now lives in Northeast London with his wife and two children. He can sometimes be found performing at jazz jams throughout London.
12 Geniuses Podcast
One of the world’s most enduring organizations, the United States Marine Corps, celebrates its 250th birthday on November 10th, 2025. The Marines have deep, rich tradition and, remarkably, the Marine Corps has been able to innovate while reinventing itself over the course of its history.
In this interview, Col. Ben Davenport (Ret.) discusses what makes the Marine Corps unique. He shares why he believes the Marine Corps is so resilient and has maintained its relevance throughout its history. Ben also discusses what leaders in business can learn from the Marine Corps culture, discipline, and approach to leading through uncertainty. Ben also looks into the future while sharing what he believes the next 25 to 50 years will look like for the Marines. In a sign that “imitation is the sincerest form of flatter,” Ben finishes the conversation by talking about how other countries have attempted to pattern portions of their militaries after the United States Marine Corps.
Ben Davenport retired from active duty following 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Naval Aviator, an operational planner, and an Olmsted Scholar. He graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering; Masters of Art in International Law and Chinese Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Fudan University, People’s Republic of China; Masters of Art in Operational Studies from Marine Corps University; Graduate from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), and Graduate from the Grand Strategy program with a Master of Strategic studies from Air University.
Ben is currently serving as the Deterrence Analyst and Strategic Advisor on China with NATO Allied Command Transformation, one of two Bi-Strategic Operational Commands within the NATO Alliance.
