A Comparative Analysis of the Military Leadership Styles of Ernest J. King and Chester W. Nimitz

In a constantly changing world threatened by the likelihood of terrorist acts, the American people need military leaders who clearly demonstrate an understanding of American core values, and who are both competent and morally focused. In order to produce military leaders who meet these qualifications and who can successfully meet the future challenges America faces, it is important to develop and refine those leaders early and help them understand how to create and refine a successful leadership style. The process of developing leadership styles, however, is not easy and it requires a prodigious amount of determination, time, and planning from prospective future leaders. It also requires military training institutions to align their
curriculums to promote leadership, as well as, to provide guidance and mentoring in order to help develop these future leaders. One way to help develop leaders is to show them examples of both successful and flawed military leadership styles. World War II leaders Admirals Ernest J. King and Chester W. Nimitz provide contrasting examples of naval leadership.