William C. Martel

This article is about the American professor. For the British steward, see William Martel.
William C. Martel
Born July 15, 1955
Hartford, Connecticut
Died January 12, 2015 (aged 59)
Bedford, New Hampshire
Citizenship  United States
Education B.A. from St. Anselm College,
Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University[1]
Occupation Scholar
Years active 1983–2015
Employer International Security Studies Program, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
Known for Researcher of the leadership and policymaking processes in organizations, strategic planning, cyber and space, and technology innovation
Notable work Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policy (2007); The Technological Arsenal: Emerging Defense Capabilities (editor & author) (2001)
Title Associate Professor of International Security Studies

William C. Martel (July 15, 1955 – January 12, 2015) was a scholar who specialized in studying the leadership and policymaking processes in organizations, strategic planning, cyberwarfare and militarisation of space, and technology innovation.[2][3] He taught at the U.S. Air War College and U.S. Naval War College, and performed research for DARPA and the RAND Corporation.[3] He later become Associate Professor of International Security Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a position he held until his death in 2015.[4][5][6]

Martel served as an adviser to the National Security Council, to the U.S. Air Force, and to Governor Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign, as co-chair of Romney's Russia Working Group.[3][7][8][6]

Early life and Education

Martel was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on July 15, 1955, a son of Dr. Cyprien Martel and Mrs. G. Eunice (Coughlin) Martel.[9]

Martel pursued a B.A. from St. Anselm College, graduating in 1977,[10] and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.[1] He later also became a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, from 1991–93.[1]

Career

Martel's last book, published in 2014

Martel was the Director and Founder of the U.S. Air Force Center for Strategy and Technology from 1993–99, and Associate Professor of International Relations at the Air War College during the same years.[1] From 1999–2005 he was Professor of National Security Affairs and Chair of Space Technology and Policy Studies at the Naval War College.[1]

He served on the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (2001–02) and was a Member of the Editorial Board of the Naval War College Review.[1] He was also the principal investigator on space policy study with research support from MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.[1] in 2005 he joined the faculty of Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where he continued to teach until his death in 2015.

He also served as an adviser to the National Security Council,[11] and as a foreign policy advisor in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in 2011–12, as a specialist for Russian affairs.[7][8][6]

Martel died of cancer on January 12, 2015, at the age of 59.[7][9]

Awards

In 2014, Martel was the recipient of the Fletcher School’s James L. Paddock Award for excellence in teaching.[9]

Views

Cover of Victory in War, 2011 edition.

Commenting on the entrepreneurs who in the wake of the September 11 attacks were selling everything from a plastic tent with an air-filtration system to keep a family safe during a germ attack, to germ-proof bodysuits and mail sterilizers, Martel said: "It is just people looking for security, in the face of systemic insecurity."[12]

Speaking in 2006 about targeted killings of high-profile suspects whose capture is typically deemed impossible or too great a risk, he said: "It's a pretty dicey proposition capturing somebody. You can't do a snatch and grab casually." In terms of domestic law, he said: "It is permissible to attack individuals who are heads of [either state or non-state] organizations in combat against the United States.[13] Commenting as well in 2006 on the terrorist National Intelligence Estimates' declassified intelligence assessment on terrorism, Martel said that its hedging and passive voice reflected an analysis-by-committee approach that was not helpful to policymakers.[14] One of its conclusions was that the global jihadist movement is now using the Internet to communicate and to promote its ideology.[14] Martel said: "No kidding! I was stunned at how pedestrian it was."[14]

In 2008, he hailed Bush's announcement that he would cut the length of new tours in Iraq, saying: "In a war military, you have to cut corners to meet objectives. Progress comes in small doses."[15] The Christian Science Monitor quoted Martel in 2008, saying of al-Qaeda's recruitment of Americans: "It's an immensely adaptive organization", while adding that it could potentially make it more open to penetration by western spies.[16] "It could make it easier for us to understand what they're doing, and why," said Martel.[16]

Speaking of Faisal Shahzad in 2010, he said: "This may suggest we are moving from the 'A' team in recruits to the 'B' team or even the 'C' team."[17]

Works

Books authored

Books edited

Book chapters

Monographs

Articles

Short essays

Select interview

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "The Fletcher School – Faculty". Fletcher.tufts.edu. 2014. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  2. "Obituary: William C. Martel – January 12, 2015". Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "William C. Martel – Associate Professor of International Security Studies". Medford, MA: The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  4. Wrenn, Chris (Fall 2008). "Victory in War: Foundations of Modern Military Policy". Air & Space Power Journal (USAF) 22 (3): 108–109.
  5. Kaufman, Leslie (October 27, 2001). "A Nation Challenged – The Quick Dollar – Anthrax Brings the Profiteers Out in Force". NYTimes.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved Feb 13, 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Herald Staff (Jan 18, 2015). "William Martel, 59, Romney adviser". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on Jan 18, 2015. Retrieved Jan 18, 2015.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Gardiner, Nile (January 13, 2015). "Remembering William Martel, Professor, Historian and Grand Strategist". The Daily Signal. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Rozen, Laura (October 6, 2011). "Mitt Romney announces his foreign policy team". Yahoo News – The Envoy. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "William C. Martel". Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine). January 16, 2015. Retrieved Jan 17, 2015.
  10. Staff (Jan 18, 2015). "Alumnus and Distinguished Bill Martel Passes Away". Saint Anselm College. Archived from the original on Jan 18, 2015. Retrieved Jan 18, 2015.
  11. Editorial (January 17, 2015). "Three Granite Staters: Each contributed much for us". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  12. Kaufman, Leslie (October 27, 2001). "A NATION CHALLENGED – THE QUICK DOLLAR – Anthrax Brings the Profiteers Out in Force". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  13. Kaplan, Eben (January 25, 2006). "Q&A: Targeted Killings". The New York Times.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Iraq and jihad: A consensus surfaces". Christian Science Monitor. September 28, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  15. "Stresses still high on U.S. military". Christian Science Monitor. April 11, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  16. 16.0 16.1 "Al Qaeda still a threat to U.S., intelligence chiefs say". Christian Science Monitor. February 8, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  17. "Times Square bomb: Did Pakistan Taliban send its 'C' team?". Christian Science Monitor. May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2010.

External links