Harlan Ullman

A retired U.S. Navy officer, Harlan K. Ullman served in Vietnam and later became widely known as a military strategist and author. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1963 and went on to earn an MA, MALD, and Ph.D. from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Over the course of his career, he commanded naval vessels, taught strategy, and advised leaders in government and business. He is especially associated with the concept of "shock and awe," or rapid dominance, which made his name familiar well beyond military circles.

Ullman has also written extensively as a columnist and commentator on defense, foreign policy, and global affairs. That mix of combat experience, academic study, and advisory work gives his books a direct, high-level view of how power and decision-making really work.