CT&J - Naval Warfare Studies Institute
About
The Critical Thinking and Judgment branch builds on the ideas, research, and work of thinkers such as CAPT Wayne Hughes, Gen Al Gray, Col John Boyd, Andrew Marshall, Herbert Simon, James March, and others. Applying interdisciplinary work on thinking, learning, and strategy to warfighters, warfighting, and leading warfighting organizations.
Wayne Hughes, recognized for his work on Naval tactics, emphasized the importance of not just "firing effectively first" but also "thinking effectively first" and the criticality of people in warfighting memorialized in his first cornerstone of Fleet Tactics "Sailors matter most."
General Gray, known as "the Education Commandant", stressed lifelong learning and the importance of education for critical thinking and judgment - not just for knowledge and analysis.
John Boyd, a relentless thinker who helped develop frameworks for understanding competition and conflict, provided intellectual foundations for the Marine Corps Maneuver Warfare movement in the 1990s and whose ideas continue to influence tactical-, operational-level planning and decision making.
Andrew Marshall, recognized for his work on long-term thinking and the competitive strategies in a national security context, advised more than four decades of Defense Secretaries.
Activities & Products
We do research in the areas of critical, innovative and strategic thinking; the art and science of interdisciplinary learning; strategy and futurizing; and leading strategic change in organizations, and related areas.
Courses and Certificates: Our educational offerings include courses in critical thinking for strategic leadership; strategic thinking and futurizing; and learning. While these are normally offered in quarter long formats, can be adapted to short course format as part of our mobile educational activities (contact us for more information)
For some write ups based on courses, see
We are also happy to engage with students interested in thesis work on the topics
Publications
Links to published papers:
- Cultivating Critical and Strategic Thinkers: Learning from the past, preparing for the future
- Maneuver-Warfare-for-the-Mind.pdf
- Lifelong Student-Centered Learning: A PME Paradigm for Honing Our Intellectual Edge | Center for International Maritime Security
- Leading Military Innovation, Past, and Present | Center for International Maritime Security
- Innovative Thinking: The Role of Professional Military Education | Center for International Maritime Security
- Sustaining Our Competitive Advantage | Marine Corps Gazette
- The fog of strategy: Some organizational perspectives on strategy and the strategic management challenges in the changing competitive environment | Comparative Strategy
Upcoming Events
- 18-21 Feb 2025 | Short Course | Critical Thinking for Strategic Leadership | USPACIFIC Fleet | Honolulu, HI (sign up here)
- Summer Quarter 2025 (Jul) | Critical Thinking for Strategic Leadership | NPS Campus | Monterey, CA
- Fall Quarter 2025 (Oct) | Maneuver Warfare for the Mind: Art and Science of Interdisciplinary Learning | NPS Campus | Monterey, CA
- Winter Quarter 2026 (Jan) | Strategic Thinking and Futurizing Strategy | NPS Campus | Monterey, CA
- Spring Quarter 2026 (Apr) | Thinking Effectively First: Wayne Hughes and Naval Tactics | NPS Campus | Monterey, CA