Tom Cotton

01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 17:07

Cotton Demands Army War College Refocus Priorities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353

January 16, 2025

Cotton Demands Army War College Refocus Priorities

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Army War College leaders Commandant Major General Hill and Command Sergeant Major Gregory demanding answers about an upcoming presentation titled "Race, Gender, and Public Perceptions of Legitimate U.S. Drone Strikes: An Intersectional Approach." In the letter, Senator Cotton questions how such a presentation aligns with the Army's core mission: to fight and win wars.

In part, Senator Cotton wrote:

"The Army War College has one job: prepare our soldiers to fight and win our nation's wars. We do not have time or resources to waste on frivolous topics that in no way advance that goal."

Full text of the letter may be found here and below.

Commandant Major General David C. Hill

Command Sergeant Major Charles W. Gregory Jr

Army War College
651 Wright Ave
Carlisle, PA 17013-5234

Dear Commandant Major General Hill and Command Sergeant Major Gregory,

I write to express my concern that a professor at the Army War College is potentially conducting and promoting useless and fundamentally political research, possibly at the public's expense. I also write to demand answers about the Army War College's process for approving research topics and allocating resources to support those projects.

A Lieutenant Colonel recently posted on X about an upcoming presentation to be held at the University of New Hampshire on February 10, 2025. The topic is "Race, Gender, and Public Perceptions of Legitimate U.S. Drone Strikes: An Intersectional Approach." This topic has absolutely no bearing on the U.S. Army War College role as an institution whose stated goal is preparing Army leaders by "advancing knowledge in the global application of Landpower."

Please answer the following questions by January 30, 2025.

  1. How is this research remotely useful in training future Army leaders?
  2. Was this research approved by Army War College leadership? If so, what was the justification for doing so? Please describe the process for approving research topics and for determining if such research supports the needs of the Army.
  3. If the research was not approved by the Army War College, why is an Army War College professor posting about this research using his Army affiliation?

The Army War College has one job: prepare our soldiers to fight and win our nation's wars. We do not have time or resources to waste on frivolous topics that in no way advance that goal.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Tom Cotton

United States Senator

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