History isn’t just about the past; it’s a guide for today! 

On this episode, we unravel the myths surrounding Pearl Harbor and what they teach us about current global tensions with returning guest, John Keuhn.

Dr. John T. Kuehn is Professor of Military History at the Army Command and General Staff College. He served in the US Navy as a naval flight officer flying in EP-3s and ES-3s, retiring in 2004. He has authored or co-authored seven books and was awarded a Vandevort Prize from the Society for Military History in 2023 for his article “Zumwalt, Holloway, and the Soviet Navy Threat Leadership in a Time of Strategic, Social, and Cultural Change.”

His latest book from is Strategy in Crisis (Naval Institute, 2023).

Summary

In this episode, Sal, Mark and guest John Kuehn discuss the historical significance of the Pearl Harbor attack, exploring its lessons for modern military strategy and the importance of public support in warfare. They analyze the complexities of the attack, the role of logistics in sustaining naval forces, and the geopolitical implications of sea lines of communication. The conversation also touches on the current state of the U.S. Navy and the strategic calculations of China in the context of potential conflict over Taiwan.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction and Context of Pearl Harbor
04:22: Understanding the Surprise Attack
10:41: Lessons from Pearl Harbor for Modern Warfare
17:27: The Role of Public Support in War
25:12: The Importance of Selling Naval Power
31:08: Logistics and Sustaining Naval Forces
39:42: Geopolitical Implications of Sea Lines of Communication
46:00: China’s Strategic Calculations and Modern Warfare
56:40: Conclusion and Future Considerations

One of our guests on Episode 3 of Midrats was Bryan McGrath, CDR, USN (Ret.). Over the years he’s returned often, and has even graced us with the pleasure of a few guest posts here.As he’s let people know for years, he was going to retire for good at 60. True to his word, he hung it up a few weeks ago.

Earlier this year before he got too focused on his figs and vines, I asked Bryan to come on for a broad-ranging conversation.

What a great hour.

A retired Naval Officer, Bryan spent 21 years on active duty including a tour in command of USS BULKELEY (DDG 84), a guided-missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. In command, he received the “Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award for Inspirational Leadership” from the Surface Navy Association and his ship earned the USS ARIZONA Memorial Trophy signifying its selection as the Fleet’s most combat-ready warship. His final duties ashore included serving as Team Lead and Primary Author of the US Navy’s 2007 Maritime Strategy “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower”.

Bryan was formerly the Deputy Director of the Hudson Institute Center for American Seapower. In this capacity, he helped develop the Surface Navy’s “Distributed Lethality” concept and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments’ 2017 Navy Alternate Fleet Architecture Study.

Bryan earned a BA in History from the University of Virginia in 1987, and an MA in Political Science (Congressional Studies) from The Catholic University of America. He is a graduate of the Naval War College.

He retired again in November 2025 after 13 years in defense consulting.

Show Links

• The End of the Road, Bryan McGrath
• In Praise of the Military-Industrial Complex, Bryan McGrath

Summary

In this episode of Midrats, hosts Sal and Mark welcome back Bryan McGrath to discuss his reflections on retirement, the changes in the naval environment over the years, and the importance of relationships in naval policy. They delve into the challenges facing shipbuilding and naval strategy, the need for diverse naval capabilities, and the influence of Congress on naval development. The conversation also touches on personnel and leadership in the Navy, learning from past naval conflicts, and the impact of historical events on naval leadership. Bryan shares insights on future directions for naval operations, praises recent naval performance, and emphasizes the role of technology in naval warfare. The episode concludes with a discussion on collaboration between industry and military and Bryan’s final thoughts on future advocacy in the naval sphere.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction and Guest Background
04:46: Reflections on Retirement and Career Path
07:35: Changes in Naval Environment Over the Years
11:17: The Importance of Relationships in Naval Policy
14:47: Challenges in Shipbuilding and Naval Strategy
18:03: The Need for Diverse Naval Capabilities
21:25: Congressional Influence on Naval Development
24:40: Personnel and Leadership in the Navy
28:14: Learning from Past Naval Conflicts
32:45: The Impact of Historical Events on Naval Leadership
36:08: Future Directions for Naval Operations
39:00: Praise for Naval Performance in Recent Operations
43:23: The Role of Technology in Naval Warfare
46:57: Collaboration Between Industry and Military
50:48: Final Thoughts and Future Advocacy

Summary

In this episode of Midrats, Sal and Mark discuss various aspects of national security, including military deployments, the influence of drug cartels, and the geopolitical dynamics in South America. They delve into the implications of China’s growing presence in the Western Hemisphere and the challenges posed by information warfare. The conversation also touches on the ethical considerations surrounding military orders and reflects on the representation of military experiences in media, particularly in relation to the Vietnam War.

Show Links

• The Last 600 Meters
• Does Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D NH) really have your back?
• NORK labor to Russia to build drones
• Nauru President visits PRC
• Corbett, China, and Counterintelligence
• The Navy’s new unmanned acquisition office
• Tactical quantum
• Small Wars Journal on the Future Fight

Chapters

00:00: Welcome and Thanksgiving Reflections
02:11: Military Deployments and National Security
04:41: Venezuela and Drug Cartels
10:47: South America: Political Dynamics and Security
12:54: China’s Influence in the Western Hemisphere
20:31: Information Warfare and Disinformation
25:59: China’s Global Relationships and Military Strategy
30:03: The Role of Smaller Nations in Global Security
35:05: Technological Challenges in Modern Warfare
48:25: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Military Orders
01:00:34: Reflections on Vietnam and Military Representation

For a decade and a half, since President Obama’s Pacific Pivot speech, there has been a rising tide in the conversation about the need to fix the US Navy’s shortfall to meet the challenge of the People’s Republic of China.Faced with systemic and cascading failures in everything from surface ship design to maintenance, and distractions as frivolous as Great Green Fleets at sea and as serious as the Islamic State ashore, navalists have been waiting for serious action on the waterfront to match the rising tide of the strategic situation.

Rhetorically at least, the second Trump administration came in saying all the right things to give hope that, at last, we would turn into the wind.

Are we?

Returning to the Midrats Podcast is Chris Servello, CDR, USN (Ret.), cofounder of Provision Advisors PR Consultancy. 

Summary

In this episode of Midrats, Mark, Sal, and Chris Servello discuss the current state of the U.S. Navy, focusing on leadership challenges, the importance of communication, and the need for innovation in naval strategy and technology. They explore the cultural issues within the Navy that hinder progress and the necessity for reform in acquisition processes. The conversation also touches on the role of allied navies and the importance of domestic shipbuilding capabilities in maintaining American sea power.

Takeaways

• The Navy is at a critical juncture in reclaiming its sea power.
• Leadership changes are necessary to address the Navy’s challenges.
• Communication with Congress and the public is vital for naval support.
• Cultural issues within the Navy contribute to a lack of innovation.
• The Navy must learn from allied navies and their practices.
• Acquisition processes need significant reform to be effective.
• Risk-taking and creativity are essential for naval success.
• Domestic shipbuilding capabilities must be prioritized over outsourcing.
• The current political climate affects national security discussions.
• The Navy’s future depends on effective leadership and strategic planning.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction
05:04: Reflections on Naval Strategy and Leadership
09:51: Challenges in Navy Leadership and Administration
14:47: Comparative Analysis of Military Services
19:50: The Importance of Communication and Public Engagement
24:51: Innovations in Naval Technology and Acquisition Reform
30:07: Concluding Thoughts on Naval Future and Leadership
32:18: Navigating Leadership Challenges in the Navy
34:28: The State of American Sea Power
36:42: Balancing Domestic and Foreign Shipbuilding
40:52: The Future of Naval Strategy and Technology
45:18: The Role of Congress in Naval Affairs
48:32: Innovating Beyond Traditional Naval Constructs
51:43: Cultural Barriers to Risk and Innovation
56:40: Reviving Experimentation in Naval Programs
01:00:07: Learning from Global Naval Practices

How are naval shipbuilding, commercial shipbuilding, and commercial shipping linked together to create a healthy and effective national seapower ecosystem?

What did the 1990s “Last Supper” get wrong, and what can be done to correct the error?Our guest this week is Hunter Stires, founder and CEO of The Maritime Strategy Group, returning to Midrats to discuss this and more.

We will be using as a starting point for our discussion the recent article that he co-wrote with Steve Brock at CIMSEC, Maritime Statecraft and its Future.

Summary

In this conversation with Sal and Mark, Hunter Stires discusses the interconnectedness of naval shipbuilding, commercial shipping, and the broader maritime strategy of the United States. He emphasizes the historical context of U.S. maritime power, the importance of bipartisan support for revitalizing the shipbuilding industry, and the role of allies like South Korea in enhancing U.S. capabilities. The discussion also touches on workforce challenges, the need for competition in the shipbuilding sector, and the strategic imperative of maintaining a robust maritime ecosystem.

Showlinks

• Maritime Statecraft and its Future, by Steve Brock and Hunter Stires
• The Neptune Factor: Alfred Thayer Mahan and the Concept of Sea Power, by Nicholas A. Lambert
• The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, by Alfred Thayer Mahan
• Shipbuilding, Shareholders, and National Asynchronization, by CDR Salamander
• Shareholder Interests Are at Odds with Navy Needs, by Martin Bollinger
• Episode 736: Anduril and the Promise of Autonomous Systems - with Chris Brose, by CDR Salamander & Mark Tempest

Takeaways

• The U.S. maritime ecosystem is interconnected and requires a holistic approach.
• Bipartisan support is crucial for revitalizing the shipbuilding industry.
• Historical lessons from figures like Mahan are relevant today.
• South Korea’s investment in U.S. shipbuilding symbolizes a strong partnership.
• Workforce challenges in shipbuilding can be addressed through better pay and training.
• Outsourcing shipbuilding undermines U.S. strategic interests.
• Competition in the shipbuilding sector leads to innovation and efficiency.
• The U.S. must leverage its allies for technological advancements in shipbuilding.
• A maritime revival is possible with the right political will and strategy.
• Investment in shipbuilding is essential for national security.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction to Maritime Strategy and Ecosystem
02:05: The Interconnection of Naval and Commercial Shipbuilding
07:06: Historical Context: Lessons from Mahan and the Past
14:40: Bipartisan Support for Maritime Revival
18:16: The Role of South Korea in U.S. Shipbuilding
31:00: Challenges in U.S. Shipbuilding and Workforce
41:50: Future Directions and Strategic Partnerships

Hunter Stires served as the Maritime...