I started my new job as Professor of Strategic Futures at the US Army War College
last week. So far, it has been a fairly predictable, if seemingly
unending, series of orientations, mandatory trainings, and security
briefings. I don't mind. To paraphrase Matthew, "What did I go into the Army to see? A man running without a PT belt?"
What I have been impressed with is the extraordinary depth of knowledge and genuine collegiality of the faculty. It is an interesting feeling to be constantly surrounded by world class experts in virtually any domain.
Equally impressive is the emphasis on innovation and experimentation. I am surrounded by an example of this right now. I am writing this post on one of a number of open access commercial network machines in the War College library. In the back of the room, a professor is leading an after action review of an exercise built around Compass Games' South China Sea war game (BTW, if you think it odd that the Army would have students play a scenario which is largely naval in nature, you are missing my point about innovation and experimentation).
Scattered throughout the rest of the library are recently acquired, odd-shaped pieces of furniture designed to create collaborative spaces, quiet spaces, and resting spaces (among others). Forms soliciting feedback suggest that the library is working hard to figure out what kind of spaces its patrons want, and what kind of furniture and equipment would best support those needs. In the very rear of the building, there is a room undergoing a massive reconstruction. No telling what is about to go in there, but it is clear evidence that the institution is not standing still.
I will continue to write here on Sources and Methods, of course. I also hope to get a few things published on the War College's own online journal, The War Room (Check it out if you haven't. It's very cool). Other than that, I look forward to pursuing some of my old lines of research and adding a few new ones as well.
For those of you who want to contact me, you can call me in my office at 717-245-4665, email me at kristan dot j dot wheaton dot civ at mail dot mil or, as always, email me at kris dot wheaton at gmail dot com. You can also message me on LinkedIn.
What I have been impressed with is the extraordinary depth of knowledge and genuine collegiality of the faculty. It is an interesting feeling to be constantly surrounded by world class experts in virtually any domain.
Equally impressive is the emphasis on innovation and experimentation. I am surrounded by an example of this right now. I am writing this post on one of a number of open access commercial network machines in the War College library. In the back of the room, a professor is leading an after action review of an exercise built around Compass Games' South China Sea war game (BTW, if you think it odd that the Army would have students play a scenario which is largely naval in nature, you are missing my point about innovation and experimentation).
Scattered throughout the rest of the library are recently acquired, odd-shaped pieces of furniture designed to create collaborative spaces, quiet spaces, and resting spaces (among others). Forms soliciting feedback suggest that the library is working hard to figure out what kind of spaces its patrons want, and what kind of furniture and equipment would best support those needs. In the very rear of the building, there is a room undergoing a massive reconstruction. No telling what is about to go in there, but it is clear evidence that the institution is not standing still.
I will continue to write here on Sources and Methods, of course. I also hope to get a few things published on the War College's own online journal, The War Room (Check it out if you haven't. It's very cool). Other than that, I look forward to pursuing some of my old lines of research and adding a few new ones as well.
For those of you who want to contact me, you can call me in my office at 717-245-4665, email me at kristan dot j dot wheaton dot civ at mail dot mil or, as always, email me at kris dot wheaton at gmail dot com. You can also message me on LinkedIn.
3 comments:
Many congratulations Prof!
I am so excited for you! Congratulations, Kris!
Kristan,
I knew one of your predecessors, Kent Butts, and I hope that your impact will be as great as his was for the College.
Yours,
Brian Smith
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