Noted scholar Jeffrey Matthews (author of the 2019 book Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot, and others) delves into the criminal and unethical behavior of some of America’s most egregious military generals and admirals. Employing a case study approach with the primary objectives of “drawing wider public attention to the nature of bad leadership and to illuminate specific types of unethical and criminal conduct,” Matthew’s forthcoming book (October 2023) goes a mile deep scrutinizing the behavior of a handful of officers using seven types of criminal or unethical leadership: war crimes, insubordination, moral cowardice, toxic leadership, obstruction of justice, sex crimes, and public corruption. Each crime is specifically defined within the context of its use. And as each of these behaviors are the focus of individual chapters, so too is the essential spotlight on one or two (mostly) bad actors. The level and depth of research is comprehensive, yet this reader would have like to have seen a more balanced approach across many more actors in the case studies. As noted, the depth on the primary officers is deep and wide, but at the end of each chapter, readers find a handful of other officers whose behavior merits mention under the category but their stories are not equally developed. This is a minor point in a book that is destined to become required reading in military colleges at all levels any time the topic of ethics and wrongdoing is taught.
Brig. Gen. Chad T. Manske, USAF (Ret.) is Chairman at Daedalian Foundation and a strategy and logistics consultant. Previously, he was the 30th Commandant of the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. As the commandant, Brig. Gen. Manske was responsible for formulating academic policies, supervising curriculum planning, preparation and ensuring excellence in classroom teaching.