Commanders-in-Chief USSOUTHCOM (1987-1991)

<p>This monograph examines the legacy that has been passed down from the personal recollections made by the Commanders-in-Chief U.S. Southern Command regarding planning and/or execution of full spectrum operations in Panama. The focus of this paper is on the thoughts and recollections of two dynamic leaders General Frederick Frank Woerner Jr. and Maxwell Reid Thurman. It examines their ideas and visions that subsequently shaped U.S. military operations in Panama 1989-1991. This paper concentrates on actual first person documentation -- taped archived interviews -- by the CINCs as opposed to inferential accounts made by others. A steadfast effort has been made to capture in their own words the considerations viewpoints and intent they had in shaping the planning and execution of U.S. military operations in Panama. This paper first looks at some of the key historical conditions that shaped the nature of the U.S. military presence in Panama. Second and thirdly it focuses on capturing and examining the backgrounds of and recollections made by Woerner and Thurman respectively. Implications and conclusions of the leadership experience are then scrutinized to identify lessons learned in order to enhance and contribute to the institutional body of literature regarding the full spectrum of U.S. military operations. The leadership and operational experiences of Woerner and Thurman support the papers conclusion that the commander's vision is paramount in shaping the planning and execution of military action across the full spectrum of operations. Their experiences are timeless resonating the cognitive and creative challenges leaders face in shaping and translating a vision into tangible action. In very different ways both CINCs practiced operational art by translating the strategic aim drawing on personal experience critically analyzing military operations across full spectrum operations and tackling complex evolving situations as interdependent. This study emphasi</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>