Author: jstfly21

Pondering many things from National Strategy, Family, God, politics…mountain biking, education, Star Wars, Batman, aircraft, cars, policy, history, the decline of empire…good food, fitness, surfing, hiking, outdoors, rock climbing, kayaking, the 49ers, The Clash, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, but where would one go to find such things?
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Cognitive Warfare and the Legacy of John Boyd: Destruction, Creation, and the Battle for Orientation: DeMarco Banter

In the evolving landscape of twenty-first-century conflict, traditional domains of warfare—land, sea, air, space, and even cyber—are now accompanied by a more elusive and insidious front: the human mind. Dubbed "cognitive warfare," this emerging domain does not target physical infrastructure or conventional forces, but the very frameworks individuals and societies use to perceive, interpret, and …

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Strategic Firepower and the Logic of Genius — DeMarco Banter

I’ve always been fascinated by great minds—those rare individuals who think across boundaries, lead with insight, and shape the world in ways most of us are still catching up to. Leaders, strategists, polymaths—they tend to emerge at critical moments in history, and their influence often transcends the disciplines they touch. Over the past few years, …

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CRUCIBLES, NOT COMFORT, SHAPE FUTURE MILITARY LEADERS: WAR on THE ROCKS

Grateful to the War on the Rocks team for publishing my piece on leadership development and the critical role of crucibles. You can read the opening below—and check out the full article on their site. A follow-up podcast conversation is coming soon. Stay tuned. A few years ago, a young U.S. military officer asked me a pointed …

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Staring into the Abyss: Nietzsche, National Identity, and Leadership in an Age of Unraveling:  DeMarco Banter (Part 1 of 3 Leadership in the Abyss)

Friedrich Nietzsche warned us: “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” It was a 19th-century philosophical warning about moral corruption and existential danger. Today, it reads like a headline. Nietzsche’s famous quote appears in …

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The Lizard King and the Edgewalker: Leadership, Myth, and the Art of Strategic Disruption: DeMarco Banter

"I am the Lizard King. I can do anything." — Jim Morrison Jim Morrison was not a conventional leader. He was a poet-shaman, a provocateur, and a performer who unraveled boundaries rather than enforcing them. But in an age defined by complexity, ambiguity, and accelerating change, Morrison’s self-styled persona—the Lizard King—offers more than artistic flair. …

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The Emperor of History: Palpatine, Power, and the Fall of Republics: May the Fourth Be With You–DeMarco Banter

| May the 4th Celebration, 2025 A Galaxy Far, Far Away—and Closer Than We Think Maybe I read too much into Star Wars--but every year on May the 4th, fans around the world come together to celebrate one of the most powerful myths of the modern era: Star Wars. It is more than just a film …

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The Soundtrack to a World in Decline: The Police and DeMarco Banter (“Ωmegaman,” “Spirits in the Material World,” and “Invisible Sun”)

A New Wave Dystopia In the early 1980s, The Police crafted a sound that blended punk, reggae, and new wave into anthems that were more than just catchy melodies. Beneath the radio-friendly hits lay deeper, darker themes—alienation, war, political decay, and the struggle for meaning in an increasingly mechanized world. Three songs in particular—“Ωmegaman,” “Spirits …

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Cohesion in the Crucible: Why Great Bands (and Teams) Fall Apart After Success: DeMarco Banter

The paradox is as old as artistry itself: groups that are forged in the fires of struggle often dissolve in the warmth of success. This truth spans domains—from military units to start-ups, from revolutionary movements to legendary rock bands. The tighter the early fight, the stronger the bond. But when the fight is over, cohesion …

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Proto-Anarchy: Origins, Evolution, and Its Role in Leadership, Innovation, and Strategy: DeMarco Banter

Introduction I was reading a book the other day and the topic of proto-anarchy was mentioned.  Of course, I was like—what?  So I had to look it up—ponder what does this mean for leadership, innovation, and strategy.  The concept of anarchy has long been associated with chaos and disorder, yet its philosophical roots suggest a …

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Command Chairs and Core Drives: What Starship Captains Taught Me About Leadership: DeMarco Banter

When I first took the job standing a new leadership department at the Air Command and Staff College, I knew I wanted to do more than just structure a syllabus or write a set of learning objectives. I wanted to build something with soul. Something that would help mid-career officers not just check boxes on …

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