Military Monday with John D. Gresham With Author RADM Dave Oliver, USN (Ret.)

Of all the human qualities that are desired by people here in America and around the world right now, there can be little doubt or question that leadership is at the top of that list. Diluted by decades of indifference and mediocrity since the days of the "Greatest Generation" that fought in World War II, leadership as become a quality as rare as 100-carat diamonds and honest politicians. Nevertheless, those of us with long memories do recall touchstone individuals who not only made a difference in their time, but changed the very world they were part of forever. One of these was a somewhat gnomish and often disliked naval officer who created a whole new technology and era literally through the force of his own will: Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, USN.

Today, Rickover remains something of an enigma to military historians and analysts almost 3 decades after his death. Arguably one of the most brilliant and powerful naval officers of his day, he never commanded great ships and fleets in battle. Able to make other officers and politicians sweat and fear for their professional lives, his actual job for most of his career was to build engines for submarines and surface ships. And while his nuclear engines changed the history of the world, at no time did he ever command a ship powered by one. To learn more about this important figure in U.S. history, join author, historian, journalist, game designer, and documentary filmmaker John D. Gresham (@Greshamj01) for Military Monday (#MilitaryMonday on the Writestream Radio Network (@Writestream)) at 1 PM EDT. His guest this week will be U.S. Naval Institute Press (@USNI_Books) author and career submariner RADM Dave Oliver, USN (Ret.). Oliver is the author of the new book AGAINST THE TIDE, a biographical study of Rickover and his unique leadership and management styles.