In this episode of RadioStockdale, host Michael Sears recounts his transformative journey from the Naval Academy to the Marine Corps, civilian life, and back to the Yard at the Stockdale Center. He highlights the enduring lessons of integrity, leadership, and ethical decision-making learned throughout his career. Through personal reflections and professional insights, he emphasizes the importance of character development and mentorship in shaping the next generation of leaders. In retirement, he is still reachable via email at michael@searsgroup.net.

Michael Sears was the Director of Leadership Innovation at the Boeing Leadership Innovation Laboratory, Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy. He spent 30 years in Silicon Valley's technology sector. Rising from various roles in both large corporations and startups, he eventually became a CEO and founded an Internet media company. Sears holds three U.S. patents for his innovative work and spent a decade as a Venture Capitalist. Prior to his tech career, he served as a Marine Officer, specializing in intelligence and reconnaissance. Sears holds a Bachelor's degree from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA and JD degree from Stanford University. His diverse background spans military service, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the tech industry.

Our guest is the Commandant of Midshipman, Col James Mcdonough, USMC. We discuss how the principles of character and resilience influenced the evolution of his leadership style, from Midshipman to Marine Colonel. We go on to talk about the changing landscape of technology in modern warfare, the evolving role of women in leadership positions, and the increasing emphasis on mental health at the Academy and in the military. We conclude with some final words from Col Mcdonough, looking towards the future, and how he envisions what his legacy will be at the Naval Academy.

Colonel “J.P.” McDonough is the 89th Commandant of Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy. He is a career artillery officer and has held operational assignments in every level of command including Commander, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He has numerous deployments under his belt in the War on Terror as commanding officer of artillery units, and embedded training with the Afghan National Army. Besides Staff and Joint tours, he served as a modeling and simulation analyst for multiple simulation programs at the USMC Training and Education Command.

Colonel McDonough graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering in 1994. He earned a master’s degree in virtual environments, modeling and simulation from the Naval Postgraduate School, and graduated with distinction from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at National Defense University.

How does the Naval Academy balance the potential educational benefits of generative AI with the need to maintain educational integrity and the development of critical thinking skills in Midshipmen? Given the nuanced approach to AI in classroom settings, what challenges have you faced in implementing and enforcing policies on the use of generative AI, and how have these been addressed? How has the introduction of generative AI impacted the pedagogical approaches within the Academy, especially concerning the emphasis on the writing process over the final product? Finally, with generative AI technologies evolving rapidly, what future plans does the Naval Academy have to continuously adapt its educational strategies to ensure that Midshipmen remain competitive and ethically grounded leaders in the age of AI?

Doctor Samara Firebaugh is the Academic Dean and Provost at the United States Naval Academy. In that role, she is responsible for the entire academic program for the 4,400-member Brigade of Midshipmen, oversees nearly 600 faculty members, and serves as the primary source of information and advice for the Superintendent regarding the education of midshipmen.

Professor Firebaugh graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 1995. She received her Masters and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997 and 2001, respectively, both also in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Firebaugh’s area of scholarship is microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and particularly in integrated sensors and micro robotics. She is the 2014 recipient of the Class of 1951 Civilian Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the 2012 recipient of the Raouf Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching.