Modern War Institute
Modern War Institute
Modern War Institute at West Point
How Commanders Win Wars
52 minutes Posted Aug 5, 2026 at 4:22 pm.
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Discussion about Supreme Command
Matt Wilkie on Supreme Command
From Third Base to Home
Defending the Supreme Commander
The Strategic Decisions of Great Generals
George Washington and Military Decisions
Empathy in the Supreme Command
In the Army: The Need for Mentorship
Supreme Command: AI Never Replacing Human Judgment
What Right Looks Like in 4 Words
Who Wins Wars: The History Podcast
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Show notes
How did George Washington overcome virtually every material disadvantage to defeat the British during the Revolutionary War? How did Ulysses S. Grant turn the tides of the Civil War in the Union’s favor in the crucial year of 1864? How did Dwight Eisenhower manage the overwhelming personal burden of leading the Allied invasion of Europe? The answers to these questions share remarkable continuities, and together they offer a picture into the requirements of successful supreme command at war—and offer lessons that will shape the outcomes of America’s future wars. To explore them, John Amble is joined on this episode by retired Lieutenant Colonel Matt Cavanaugh, author of the book Who Wins Wars: Lessons in Leadership, Power, and Supreme Command from Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower.
The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.