How Commanders Win Wars

How did George Washington overcome virtually every material disadvantage to defeat the British during the Revolutionary War? How did Ulysses S. Grant turn the tides of the Civil War in the Union’s favor in the crucial year of 1864? How did Dwight Eisenhower manage the overwhelming personal burden of leading the Allied invasion of Europe? The answers to these questions share remarkable continuities, and together they offer a picture into the requirements of successful supreme command at war—and offer lessons that will shape the outcomes of America’s future wars. To explore them, John Amble is joined on this episode by retired Lieutenant Colonel Matt Cavanaugh, author of the book Who Wins Wars: Lessons in Leadership, Power, and Supreme Command from Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower. The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974. Chapters (00:00:04) - What Makes Strategic Leadership So Successful (00:00:45) - Discussion about Supreme Command (00:02:05) - Matt Wilkie on Supreme Command (00:02:36) - From Third Base to Home (00:04:50) - Defending the Supreme Commander (00:09:00) - The Strategic Decisions of Great Generals (00:19:55) - George Washington and Military Decisions (00:30:31) - Empathy in the Supreme Command (00:42:36) - In the Army: The Need for Mentorship (00:45:40) - Supreme Command: AI Never Replacing Human Judgment (00:48:24) - What Right Looks Like in 4 Words (00:51:22) - Who Wins Wars: The History Podcast