For more than two decades at the beginning of the 20th century William S. Sims was at the forefront of naval affairs. Despite his dramatic impact on the US Navy in the first half of the 20th century, Sims is a relatively unknown figure today. This collection of six essays written by Sims illustrates why his thinking and leadership are still relevant to the challenges faced in the 21st century.
Our objective must not be 'safety first' in the sense of adherence to already tested practices and implements, but safety first in being the first to recognize, the first to experiment with, and the first to adopt improvements of distinct military value.--William S. Sims
For more than two decades William S. Sims was at the forefront of naval affairs. From the revolution in naval gunnery to his development of torpedo boat and destroyer operations, he was a central figure in preparing the U.S. Navy for World War I. During the war, he served as the senior naval commander in Europe and was instrumental in the establishment of the convoy system. Following the war his leadership as president of the Naval War College established the foundation of the creative and innovative Navy that developed the operating concepts for submarines and aircraft carriers leading up to World War II. Overshadowed by the memory of the World War II generation of strategic admirals, like Chester Nimitz and Raymond Spruance, he receives little attention from historians or professional naval officers. Despite the fact that he won a Pulitzer Prize for history and had a dramatic impact on the U.S. Navy, Sims' books and articles are often overlooked.
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LCDR Benjamin F. Armstrong, USN, is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Norwich University and is a PhD candidate in war studies with King's College, London. He has been awarded the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement and is the editor of
21st Century Mahan
