Description
Book SynopsisGold Stripe on a Jackass is a conceptually rich description of one naval officer''s career journey. Author Stephen B. Sloane began his career in Annapolis, where the commandment of obedience holds sway, and finished in Berkeley, a place where questioning authority is woven deeply into the cultural fabric. Sloane rejects the conventional role of corporate, government, and military ideals by demonstrating that efficiency can be attained without sacrificing morality. He maintains that the person who dons the gold stripe of authority should reject the role of jackass and strive for moral efficiency by regarding the expenditure of human life as a cost rather than the utilization of a tangible resource. Inspired by Admiral James Bond Stockdale''s experience as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam, Sloane asserts that a man''s ethical posture and philosophical outlook can enable him and others to survive even the direst conditions with honor. Gold Stripe on a Jackass provides readers with a guide
Trade ReviewStephen Sloane puts his many years of military experience under the microscope of a scholar's intellect to pin down the essence of an ideal morality—a morality that transcends ubiquitous societal, political, and organizational constraints. In our time, we suffer the effects of self-serving decision criteria that pollute the ethical foundations of our military, government, and business sectors. Sloane shows us why we need to redefine our concept of leadership to include the consideration of questioning authority by speaking truth to power. -- Lawrence Korb, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense
Dr. Sloane is one of those rare academics with the gift of producing a "read" that is both entertaining and edifying. His point of view on organizational processes is sorely needed at a time when having aimed at "front line empowerment," we've remained in a "because I'm the boss" reality. Dr. Sloane, a military leader tried in fray, brings a refreshing perspective on how managers can actually accomplish what they need to despite restrictions. -- G. Miki Hayden, former editor, Creative Management
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Part 2 Part I: Naval Academy Days Chapter 3 1 A Salty Chief Chapter 4 2 Sensemaking Chapter 5 3 A Mixed Marriage Chapter 6 4 The Golden Rule Chapter 7 5 A Million Laughs Chapter 8 6 A Final Exam Part 9 Part II: Wings of Gold Chapter 10 7 Airborn Chapter 11 8 A Big Half Stripe Chapter 12 9 Keeping the Jackass From Busting His Ass Chapter 13 10 Bishop's Revenge Chapter 14 11 Deployed to the Med Chapter 15 12 Using My Discretion Part 16 Part III: Neither a Young Stud nor an Old Fud Chapter 17 13 You Can't Win Chapter 18 14 Going to War; Barco Redux Chapter 19 15 Safety is Paramount —or Is It? Part 20 Part IV: At Sea Chapter 21 16 Becoming a Black Shoe and a Carrier Pilot Chapter 22 17 Cheating the Computer; The Creative Rebel Chapter 23 18 A Great Need for Refreshing Chapter 24 19 Welcome to Jamaica; Have a Nice Day Part 25 Part V: My Own Command Chapter 26 20 A Mid-Career Disappointment Chapter 27 21 A Command Tour: Fun and Rum in the Sun Chapter 28 22 You're Fired! Chapter 29 23 Hoe Does Not Like Me . . . At All! Chapter 30 24 A Hard Landing Made Easy Chapter 31 25 One More Flight Part 32 Part VI: War College Chapter 33 26 Can a Jackass Think? Chapter 34 27 A Letter To The Editor Part 35 Part VII: Berkeley Chapter 36 28 The Golden Bear Meets Golden Stripes Chapter 37 29 The Military-Academic Partnership Chapter 38 30 The Bare Facts Chapter 39 Part VIII: After All Is Done, Something Needs to Be Said Chapter 40 31 The Road to Understanding Chapter 41 32 Moral Efficiency Chapter 42 Reference Chapter 43 Index
