Editor’s note: In-text citations have been removed to align with The Havok Journal’s formatting. Full references remain listed at the end. There is Continue Reading
Leadership
Design Thinking: What It is and Why It Matters
“Design Thinking” is the willingness to deeply understand a problem from many, many angles. From empathizing with an issue and causes that it affects Continue Reading
When the Miles Catch Up
On April 19, 2026, I completed the Boston Marathon Tough Ruck for the tenth time. Ten years of stepping to the line, putting weight on my back, and Continue Reading
Policy Isn’t Built on the Best Ideas—It’s Built on the Best Relationships
There’s a comforting myth in Washington, D.C., and in every large organization that tries to look like it: that policy is built on merit. The best Continue Reading
You May Fly Over a Land Forever; You May Bomb It, Atomize It, Wipe It Clean of Life — But…
“You may fly over a land forever; you may bomb it, atomize it, and wipe it clean of life — but if you desire to defend it, protect it, and keep it for Continue Reading
Awareness. Flexibility. Action.
There is a tendency in modern training to overcomplicate decision-making. We build frameworks, create models, and teach step-by-step processes as if Continue Reading
Inversion of Loyalty and Conspiracy of Mediocrity
By Sam Yudin Nothing does more to corrupt and undermine mission accomplishment or team success and well-being than an inversion of loyalty or a Continue Reading
The More You Know, the Less You Speak
Early in my career, I believed competence announced itself. I thought knowledge needed volume, that confidence required projection, and that Continue Reading
Love & Puzzles
By Sam Yudin The portrait of a sergeant major is usually painted the same way: a crusty, stubborn old soldier. Someone who clawed their way through Continue Reading
The Asoh Defense: A Lesson in Leadership, Integrity, and Accountability
In November of 1968, Japan Airlines Flight 2, a DC-8 flying from Tokyo to San Francisco, came in a little too low. Instead of touching down gracefully Continue Reading
Leading in Every Direction
By Samuel Yudin When one studies leadership theory, a few things become immediately apparent. There is almost a built-in contradiction. Leadership Continue Reading
When Politics Feels Like Betrayal
There comes a point for many people when watching politics stops producing disagreement and starts producing something else entirely: disgust. Not Continue Reading