August 18, 2023
U.S. Naval Power in the 21st Century is the culmination of a decade of theoretical and hands-on testing of a concept called naval statecraft. It is a framework suitable for our era, that leverages our nation’s strengths in navigating a dangerous decade that could rapidly become a violent peace or worse. Key in this approach is an active strategy with its theory of victory based on a Navy able both to field a war-winning fleet and compete aggressively in peace. This is easier said than done and requires reconceptualizing statecraft in its blending of military, economic, and technological trends. That said, there is a strong case that a maritime strategy is most appropriate and that there is an urgency to act as China and Russia rearrange the world to their ends. To succeed in this new era, a new model navy is needed to contest our rivals today, while setting the foundations for leveraging emerging technologies, so that the nation remains secure well into the future.
Brent Sadler had a 26-year Navy career with numerous operational tours on nuclear-powered submarines, as personal staff of senior Defense Department leaders, and as a military diplomat in Asia. As a senior research fellow, Brent’s focus is on maritime security and the technologies shaping our future maritime forces, especially the Navy.
Brent is a native of Springfield, Virginia, and a 1994 graduate with honors of the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Systems Engineering (robotics) and a minor in Japanese. As a 2004 Olmsted Scholar in Tokyo, Japan, he studied at Keio University, Jochi University, and the United Nations University. He has a M.A. from Jochi University and M.S. from National War College where he graduated with distinction in 2011 receiving several writing and research awards.