100 Most Influential People in U.S. Defense

[Neil]

The U. S. defense community encompasses the best America has to offer: leadership, innovation, technology and vision. It's a combination that has helped ensure the U.S. has fielded the best-trained, best-equipped military force in the world for nearly a century.


But the U.S. military does not exist in a vacuum. The world's most powerful military operates under the civilian control of the president and his appointees and is funded through Congress; its size, shape and employment are determined by many influencers, both civilian and military. Some are elected; most are not. Some move in and out of government, alternating between stints in industry and think tanks, and others wield influence less visibly, sharing experience and wisdom behind closed doors.


This inaugural 100 Most Influential People in U.S. Defense list was compiled over five months by more than two dozen reporters and editors representing the world's biggest military newsroom and the award-winning staffs of Gannett Government Media's sector-leading publications: Defense News, Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times, Armed Forces Journal and Federal Times.


Any such list requires basic rules of the road. As we began this project, we settled on a few right away:


President Barack Obama is not on the list. As commander in chief, he is not influencing the debate, but more often than not, deciding.


As the ultimate "decider" — which is how his predecessor, President George W. Bush, defined the job of president — Obama is the target of influencers, so access to the president to discuss and pursue objectives in setting defense policy figured powerfully in our ranking.


Defense News - 100 Most Influential

 

[W.G.Ewald]

The U. S. defense community encompasses the best America has to offer: leadership, innovation, technology and vision. It's a combination that has helped ensure the U.S. has fielded the best-trained, best-equipped military force in the world for nearly a century.

Puffery, not a serious article. #s 2, 3, 16, 25, 55, 60, and 100 seriously taint the list. #60 is Bradley Manning!

This inaugural 100 Most Influential People in U.S. Defense list was compiled over five months by more than two dozen reporters and editors representing the world's biggest military newsroom and the award-winning staffs of Gannett Government Media's sector-leading publications: Defense News, Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times, Armed Forces Journal and Federal Times.

A pointless exercise, and those publications are dry, establishment suck-ups staffed by toadies.