EP55 Preparing Army Leaders in Civil-Military Relations with Dr. Chris Gibson, President of Siena College

WPAOG Podcast

This episode features an interview with Dr. Chris Gibson, President of Siena College. Dr. Gibson is a scholar of leadership and politics, a decorated combat veteran, and a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Upon becoming the 12th president of Siena College in early 2020, Dr. Gibson led the COVID task force during unprecedented times. He is the first permanent lay leader in Siena’s history, and serves on the faculty as a professor of leadership. Prior, Dr. Gibson served district NY-19 in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms from 2011-2017. He is a 29-year decorated military veteran who rose to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army. Dr. Gibson commanded the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade in Haiti, served four combat tours in Iraq, and was part of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

In this episode, Dr. Gibson talks about the current state of civil-military relations, the controversial use of social media as a means for free speech, and the future for military nonpartisan norms.

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Key Quotes

“The military is an institution that supports a Democratic republic. So the way that we work here is we take elections, we count votes, and then we empower for a period of time until the next election. And that is the expectation as to, given whatever job they have, if they serve on the armed services committee or they serve as the president of the United States, they get authorities attendant to the Constitution. When the military acts partisan manner, it really then erodes trust. The military is expected to execute, as long as they're legal, orders of the duly elected officials. So when partisan behavior is performed, it actually calls into question just how the fealty of how well they'll execute and also perhaps even perceive more nefariously that they'll try to undermine what the orders are. So, it's not in the interest of the military to ever exhibit anything partisan, but to be a loyal officer of the United States.” - Dr. Chris Gibson

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Episode Timestamps

(03:34) Civilian control of the military

(07:33) Current state of civil-military relations

(14:20) Social media in the military

(18:50) Affirmative action in college admissions

(24:49) Nonpartisanship in the cadet corps

(32:05) The future for military nonpartisan norms

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Links

Dr. Chris Gibson’s Twitter

COL Heidi Demarest’s LinkedIn

West Point Association of Graduates