Heidi Urben
@heidiurben.bsky.social
Prof of the Practice @GeorgetownCSS | Non-Res Senior Associate @csis_isp | civ-mil, natsec | Views mine alone | Go Irish, Hoya Saxa
https://www.cambriapress.com/PoliticsArmy
https://www.cambriapress.com/PoliticsArmy
Reposted by Heidi Urben
While every administration has fired some military leaders, none has relieved so many, so early in their tenure, and in this dramatic fashion.
How Military Leaders Should Respond to Trump’s Norm-Busting
There’s no shame in getting fired when it is not for cause.
foreignpolicy.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
While every administration has fired some military leaders, none has relieved so many, so early in their tenure, and in this dramatic fashion.
I’ve found the parade criticism™ fascinating and maybe even a little disappointing, and this comes from someone who would have preferred the Army not to be put in this position in the first place. 1/
June 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I’ve found the parade criticism™ fascinating and maybe even a little disappointing, and this comes from someone who would have preferred the Army not to be put in this position in the first place. 1/
Wise words from GEN (Ret) Dempsey on the Army’s 250th birthday - on the importance of the military being nonpartisan and having leaders of character who carry themselves, and therefore the institution, with humility.
warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-so...
warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-so...
A Soldier For Life – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
June 14, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Wise words from GEN (Ret) Dempsey on the Army’s 250th birthday - on the importance of the military being nonpartisan and having leaders of character who carry themselves, and therefore the institution, with humility.
warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-so...
warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-so...
Thanks to @defenseone.bsky.social for publishing my latest on the military’s norm of nonpartisanship and why Army leaders must uphold and teach this, now more than ever.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
The military must remain nonpartisan. America depends on it
The soldiers who cheered partisan applause lines at Fort Bragg, and their leaders, erred in a spectacular way.
www.defenseone.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Thanks to @defenseone.bsky.social for publishing my latest on the military’s norm of nonpartisanship and why Army leaders must uphold and teach this, now more than ever.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
Reposted by Heidi Urben
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
March 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
Reposted by Heidi Urben
@lindsaypcohn.bsky.social writes that President Trump's removal of top military leaders and uniformed lawyers increases the likelihood that the military will obey orders to suppress domestic protest or civil resistance and reduces the military's effectiveness in other missions.
Trump’s Military Purge Spells Trouble for Democracy and Defense
Firing military leaders for perceived disloyalty is often part of a strategy to consolidate regime power—even as it weakens the military.
www.lawfaremedia.org
February 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
@lindsaypcohn.bsky.social writes that President Trump's removal of top military leaders and uniformed lawyers increases the likelihood that the military will obey orders to suppress domestic protest or civil resistance and reduces the military's effectiveness in other missions.
Reposted by Heidi Urben
A useful thing that academics and others can do is provide explainers to local media.
This is a nice example from my former @mccourtschool.bsky.social colleague Bill Gormley.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...
This is a nice example from my former @mccourtschool.bsky.social colleague Bill Gormley.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...
Bill Gormley: A word in favor of the bureaucrats
Almost every American has suffered an annoying or even angering encounter with a bureaucrat. An obstructive response after a long wait at a DMV line. A...
www.post-gazette.com
February 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
A useful thing that academics and others can do is provide explainers to local media.
This is a nice example from my former @mccourtschool.bsky.social colleague Bill Gormley.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...
This is a nice example from my former @mccourtschool.bsky.social colleague Bill Gormley.
www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...
If you're an HBCU student interested in Georgetown University's summer security studies institute, join us tonight at 6pm EST for an info session on Zoom. @georgetownssp.bsky.social
January 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
If you're an HBCU student interested in Georgetown University's summer security studies institute, join us tonight at 6pm EST for an info session on Zoom. @georgetownssp.bsky.social
Timely analysis by some of the best civ-mil scholars out there. A must read.
New #CivMilSky @goodauth.bsky.social explainer from me @proflupton.bsky.social @dburbach.bsky.social @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social @theomilo.bsky.social goodauthority.org/news/can-the...
The U.S. president has broad discretion on military matters.
The president-elect's proposed uses of the military on U.S. soil could draw the armed forces into partisan disputes.
goodauthority.org
December 3, 2024 at 1:34 PM
Timely analysis by some of the best civ-mil scholars out there. A must read.
AP has done some really good reporting on the issue of extremism in the military. The extent of extremism in the military is likely very low, but an unwillingness to examine the extent of the problem is troubling.
apnews.com/article/pent...
apnews.com/article/pent...
AP finds that a Pentagon-funded study on extremism in the military relied on old data
Early this year, Pete Hegseth told a Fox News audience a new, Pentagon-funded study proved that the number of military service members and veterans involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection did not indicate...
apnews.com
November 27, 2024 at 1:54 PM
AP has done some really good reporting on the issue of extremism in the military. The extent of extremism in the military is likely very low, but an unwillingness to examine the extent of the problem is troubling.
apnews.com/article/pent...
apnews.com/article/pent...
Thrilled to announce our call for applications for the fourth annual security studies summer institute for HBCU students hosted by @georgetownssp.bsky.social. Applications are due 1/31/2025. Help us spread the word! Learn more here:
css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
November 18, 2024 at 8:50 PM
Thrilled to announce our call for applications for the fourth annual security studies summer institute for HBCU students hosted by @georgetownssp.bsky.social. Applications are due 1/31/2025. Help us spread the word! Learn more here:
css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
Thrilled to share this educational video on civil-military relations, "The Soldier and the Constitution" released today, fittingly, on Constitution Day. A great resource that emphasizes the importance of the military's norm of nonpartisanship.
#MilSky, #CivMilSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzt...
#MilSky, #CivMilSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzt...
The Soldier and the Constitution
YouTube video by Army University Press
www.youtube.com
September 17, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Thrilled to share this educational video on civil-military relations, "The Soldier and the Constitution" released today, fittingly, on Constitution Day. A great resource that emphasizes the importance of the military's norm of nonpartisanship.
#MilSky, #CivMilSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzt...
#MilSky, #CivMilSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzt...
The latest from me and Peter Feaver on how the SCOTUS immunity decision and potential for lawful but awful orders harms civil-military relations and makes the military's job that much harder.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Don’t Ask the U.S. Military to Save American Democracy
Why the armed forces would struggle to rein in Trump.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 13, 2024 at 3:01 PM
The latest from me and Peter Feaver on how the SCOTUS immunity decision and potential for lawful but awful orders harms civil-military relations and makes the military's job that much harder.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Heidi Urben
Thrilled for The Insiders' Game publication day. After so many years of work, looking forward to hearing reactions from the many scholars, students, and friends who helped along the way. Intro available on the
@princetonupress.bsky.social page (hubs.ly/Q02p8-zc0).
Use code P325 for 30% off. Polisky
@princetonupress.bsky.social page (hubs.ly/Q02p8-zc0).
Use code P325 for 30% off. Polisky
March 26, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Thrilled for The Insiders' Game publication day. After so many years of work, looking forward to hearing reactions from the many scholars, students, and friends who helped along the way. Intro available on the
@princetonupress.bsky.social page (hubs.ly/Q02p8-zc0).
Use code P325 for 30% off. Polisky
@princetonupress.bsky.social page (hubs.ly/Q02p8-zc0).
Use code P325 for 30% off. Polisky
Thanks to @lawfare.bsky.social for for publishing the latest by @risabrooks12.bsky.social, @eclipticevader.bsky.social and me on how retired general and flag officers weigh normative considerations regarding political speech.
Do retired generals think they should speak out on political issues?
@risabrooks12.bsky.social, @eclipticevader.bsky.social, and @heidiurben.bsky.social surveyed retired general and flag officers about how they viewed the norms governing their political activity in this week's Foreign Policy Essay.
@risabrooks12.bsky.social, @eclipticevader.bsky.social, and @heidiurben.bsky.social surveyed retired general and flag officers about how they viewed the norms governing their political activity in this week's Foreign Policy Essay.
Generally Speaking: Assessing Political Speech by Retired General and Flag Officers
Do retired generals think they should speak out on political issues? Most favor restraint—but how much and when is up for debate.
www.lawfaremedia.org
March 8, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Thanks to @lawfare.bsky.social for for publishing the latest by @risabrooks12.bsky.social, @eclipticevader.bsky.social and me on how retired general and flag officers weigh normative considerations regarding political speech.
Excited to share the latest from me, @risabrooks12.bsky.social, and @eclipticevader.bsky.social in TNSR which centers on a novel survey of retired flag officers and features a framework to assess the state of the norm against retired officer political activism. (1/2)
tnsr.org/2023/11/spea...
tnsr.org/2023/11/spea...
December 1, 2023 at 6:50 PM
Excited to share the latest from me, @risabrooks12.bsky.social, and @eclipticevader.bsky.social in TNSR which centers on a novel survey of retired flag officers and features a framework to assess the state of the norm against retired officer political activism. (1/2)
tnsr.org/2023/11/spea...
tnsr.org/2023/11/spea...
I'm thrilled to announce that applications are now open for Georgetown's Summer Security Studies Institute for HBCU students (June 9-15, 2024). If you're a current HBCU student, please be sure to check this out. Applications are due January 31, 2024. Apply today! css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
November 27, 2023 at 7:05 PM
I'm thrilled to announce that applications are now open for Georgetown's Summer Security Studies Institute for HBCU students (June 9-15, 2024). If you're a current HBCU student, please be sure to check this out. Applications are due January 31, 2024. Apply today! css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
Happy to review Peter Feaver's new book, "Thanks for Your Service" for Armed Forces & Society. Also really looking forward to seeing the entire civ-mil gang at IUS in Reston starting this Friday and hearing about everyone's new research. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
October 9, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Happy to review Peter Feaver's new book, "Thanks for Your Service" for Armed Forces & Society. Also really looking forward to seeing the entire civ-mil gang at IUS in Reston starting this Friday and hearing about everyone's new research. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...