The Strategic Leadership of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

This paper examines the strategic leadership of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz in World War II using the framework of the Navy Leadership Competency Model and chapter twelve of the U.S. Army’s Field Manual (FM) 6-22, Army Leadership. The Navy Leadership Competency Model offers five core competencies that apply to every level and position of leadership including accomplishing mission, leading people, leading change, working with people and resource stewardship. FM 6-22 mirrors the NLCM and adds in the important quality of dealing with adverse conditions, uncertainty and ambiguity. Admiral Nimitz was able to excel at all of these strategic leadership qualities to accomplish the incredible feat of leading the U.S. Navy from the devastation of Pearl Harbor to total victory over Japan in the Pacific.