114: Brigadier General Shane Reeves — How West Point is Preparing Leaders for Uncertainty and Ambiguity

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In this episode of the Intentional Leader Podcast, Cal speaks with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Dean of West Point, about the challenges of preparing leaders for an uncertain future. They discuss the importance of innovation, character development, and critical thinking in military education, as well as the unique qualities of the next generation of leaders. General Reeves shares insights from his experiences, the role of technology in warfare, and the need for adaptability in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the significance of intellect and the ability to navigate complex challenges in today's rapidly changing world.

Brigadier General Shane Reeves serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board. He holds a Master of Laws in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. He is admitted to practice law before the Virginia State Bar, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court.

Brigadier General Reeves commissioned in 1996 from the United States Military Academy and served seven years as an Armor Officer in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Irwin, California. After attending law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As a Judge Advocate, he served in several legal positions, including as the Chief of Legal Assistance for Ft. Riley, Kansas; Brigade Judge Advocate in the 1st Armored Division in Taji, Iraq; Senior Trial Counsel for the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas; Professor of International and Operational Law at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia; and as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Liberty, North Carolina.

Brigadier General Reeves taught for ten years in United States Military Academy’s Law Department, most recently serving as the Head. He has taught and spoken on International Law and the Law of Armed Conflict. His recent speaking engagements include presenting at the 9th Quadrennial Federal Judges Association in Washington D.C., lecturing at Columbia Law School and the University of California-Berkeley Law School, and speaking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel as part of the Academic Exchange Program. He is also a founding member and Director of the Lieber Institute for Law and Land Warfare located at West Point.

Brigadier General Reeves has written on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues. His articles have appeared in various publications, including Foreign Policy, Lawfare, Just Security, and Articles of War. He has written over 30 articles and book chapters in academic publications, including the Harvard International Review, the Harvard National Security Journal, Texas Law Review, Marquette Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, and Berkeley Journal of International Law. Additionally, he served as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the blog Articles of War, the editor and contributing author to U.S. Military Operations: Law, Policy, and Practice, and Managing Editor of the Lieber Studies Series published by Oxford University Press.