The War On Dei A Disservice To America

During 36 years of service, I witnessed the critical value of accomplished, experienced, leaders—men and women—providing vital, level-headed, advice in the many complex situations they encountered..

The unexpected February dismissal of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the top military legal officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force—without clear cause—has triggered deep concern across the military. These firings, perceived by many to be based on a misguided portrayal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, have created a chilling effect; DEI has been presented as a liability when, in actuality, it has served to strengthen our military–and other institutions– by promoting fairness and broadening talent.

Civilian control of the military has been a foundational principle for over two centuries. That principle forbids loyalty to anything other than the Constitution of the United States. Suggesting otherwise threatens the integrity of military advice and the decision-making required for our national defense. Cabinet and other officials serve at the pleasure of the president, and that authority must be exercised with transparency and fairness. Sidestepping established processes and purging leaders based on ideological grounds, rather than performance, is deeply concerning.

As a retired senior executive from the Department of Defense and a former U.S. Army Reserve officer, I know firsthand how challenging it is for women to ascend to leadership roles. Success was earned by meeting or exceeding the same standards as our male colleagues. The suggestion that women or minorities in leadership are there only because of DEI is a disservice to their integrity, capabilities, and accomplishments.

DEI is not about preferential treatment, nor does it ensure success. It does seek to ensure that those who are qualified, regardless of background which is defined as gender, race, political, religious or social affiliation, have a fair shot. When women and minorities succeed in such environments, it’s because they’ve passed the same rigorous training and requirements as their male, majority counterparts. And, in the military, this training includes combat readiness.

These qualifications and leadership determine effectiveness.

A quick review of historical contributions by women—from groundbreaking work in technology, aviation, and science to leadership in global affairs—shows their consistent excellence. In the military, women like Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, General Laura Richardson, General Jacqueline Van Ovost, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti have proven that they are indispensable to national defense. They represent what America gains when it embraces diversity. That these leaders have been removed under the fiction of DEI noncompliance, radically understates the value they bring to our armed forces.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not threats —they are national strengths. Removing successful leaders under the guise of a misguided portrayal of DEI threatens mission readiness and diminishes the very excellence we depend on.

The current political climate, aggravated by claims of “rooting out government weaponization,” ironically, is fostering and strengthening the very politicization current leaders of those “rooting” out politicization condemns. The spurious attack on DEI not only weakens national trust in institutions across the country, but also sends a threatening and demoralizing message to those who have earned their rank. If leaders, military and otherwise, are fired or silenced, or unable to speak candidly, our national security suffers.

Martha Duncan is a retired DOD senior executive, with 36 years serving in the U.S. Army Reserves, as Reserve attaché, analyst, operations officer, and 3 deployments to areas of conflict.

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 270 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.