Review
"Colonel Doug Macgregor was a courageous combat commander in Desert Storm and is an even more courageous leader in transforming U.S. Land Warfare against an entrenched mindset that was proven wrong in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Airmen and soldiers must read this book!"-Thomas G. McInerney, Lt. Gen USAF (Ret)
"Colonel Douglas Macgregor has once again pointed the way towards real transformation and innovation in the army. It is because he brings the combination of a military intellectual and a 'muddy boots' soldier to his work that he is able to see the potential for real change. This is a book for all those who give a damn about America's defense in the 21st century."-Williamson Murray Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University co-author of A War To Be Won, Fighting the Second World War
"Colonel Macgregor is to the Information Age joint military what Billy Mitchell was to airpower and what Liddell Hart, Fuller, DeGaulle and Guderian were to armored warfare. He understands what has to be done, understands the principles for creating a 21st century joint military, and has outlined a practical guide to America's next quarter century of military effectiveness. Every citizen who cares about national security should read this book and every professional who wants to be competent in the information age MUST read this book."-Newt Gingrich Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
"Colonel Macgregor provides anew and vibrant look at the age-old issue of military reform in Transformation Under Fire. His expert use of history and personal combat experience creates a compelling case for landpower's crucial role in joint expeditionary warfare."-Frank Carlucci Former Secretary of Defense, 1987-1989
"Not everyone will agree with every point in this controversial book, but it deserves to be read and engaged seriously by those who lead the armed forces and care about transforming them to be dominant in the future."-Admiral Dennis Blair, U.S. Navy (Ret) former Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
"Peek inside the Pentagon and see the U.S. Army faking transformation, refusing to reform the inside, and betting on unproven technology like Stryker and Future Combat Systems to keep Army troopers relevant. Col. Macgregor loves the Army enough to tell the truth: six ways to meet and beat the threats of the future."-Congressman Jim Cooper, D-Tennessee Member of the House Armed Services Committee
"Thought provoking and insightful, this book is a must read for leaders who care about shaping America's future fighting force. Colonel Macgregor continues to lead the way in shaping thoughtful solutions to transforming the nation's military."-Congressman Mack Thornberry, R-Texas Member of the House Armed Services Committee
?Found a receptive audience in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's office....The defense secretary is intrigued by Macgregor's thinking, which he has refined in a new book, Transformation Under Fire: Revolutionizing The Way America Fights, due out in the fall: three to five rapidly deployable battle groups is the kind of force Rumsfeld believes is necessary in the global war on terrorism.?-The Washington Post
?Has delivered another insightful vision in his latest book.... Transformation Under Fire is a must-read for both military professionals and public officials charged with overseeing defense programs. It is likely to figure prominently in ongoing discussions of defense reform. The value of this book lies in its superb analysis of the current geopolitical environment and the author's coupling of this analysis with an informed assessment of the impact of information technology on warfare to support his proposals....Offers a strident critique of recent Army transformation efforts while also providing the reader a comprehensive vision of near-term changes within the department of Defense that could truly enhance our military's ability to conduct joint expeditionary operations....Essential reading for military professionals and for those with oversight of defense programs.?-Army Magazine
?In today's Global War on Terrorism, the Pentagon's senior civilian and military leaders--who should read this book--must be afraid of nothing, not even a new idea.?-Military Heritage
?Macgregor, now stationed at National Defense University, has a knack for skillfully blending historical examples from the past with powerful arguments about the future. The combination is both thoroughly educational and extremely stimulating. This is a serious book worthy of reading by today's field grade officers and civilian policymakers interested in arguments that challenge the status quo. It is also highly recommended for joint combat developers and force planners at U.S. Joint Forces Command....Professionals who want to "think differently" and examine the kinds of forces and capabilities that can meet new challenges and "unexpected circumstances" should start with Transformation Under Fire.?-Marine Corps Gazette
?Macgregor's book is the best tradition of military theorists, whose ideas transformed armies to meet the challenges of WWII: Hans Von Seckt, B. H. Liddell Hart, Charles de Gaulle, and Heinz Guderian. Macgregor presents the first coherent view of how the information age should transform the way we organize for war. The question now remains whether the U.S. Army will heed his calls for true or continue to cede more and more of its missions to the Marine Corps, which has embraced expeditionary warfare. Macgregor takes to task the leadership culture that stifles change; but more importantly, he sketches out a realistic, immediate path to true transformation that will vault the Army out of exile at the Pentagon and back into the forefront of the Nation's fight in the war on terrorism.?-Armor
?The book is scholarly, well researched, cohesive, and technically written in a stimulating manner...Macgregor's book is ideal for reading at the war colleges, for the professional soldier and military planner, and for advanced courses in strategic defense.?-Perspectives on Political Science
?Though widely considered a maverick, Col Macgregor enjoyed influence beyond his rank. Two of his books--Breaking the Phalanx, published in 1997, and the more recent Transformation Under Fire--were considered must-reads within the army, and some of the changes he advocated have been adopted in some form.?-London Financial Times
?Transformation Under Fire offers a strident critique of recent Army transformation efforts while also providing the reader a comprehensive vision of near-term changes within the department of defense that could truly enhance our military's ability to conduct joint expeditionary operations....Essential reading for military professionals and for those with oversight of defense programs.?-Army
"Found a receptive audience in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's office....The defense secretary is intrigued by Macgregor's thinking, which he has refined in a new book, Transformation Under Fire: Revolutionizing The Way America Fights, due out in the fall: three to five rapidly deployable battle groups is the kind of force Rumsfeld believes is necessary in the global war on terrorism."-The Washington Post
"In today's Global War on Terrorism, the Pentagon's senior civilian and military leaders--who should read this book--must be afraid of nothing, not even a new idea."-Military Heritage
"Macgregor, now stationed at National Defense University, has a knack for skillfully blending historical examples from the past with powerful arguments about the future. The combination is both thoroughly educational and extremely stimulating. This is a serious book worthy of reading by today's field grade officers and civilian policymakers interested in arguments that challenge the status quo. It is also highly recommended for joint combat developers and force planners at U.S. Joint Forces Command....Professionals who want to "think differently" and examine the kinds of forces and capabilities that can meet new challenges and "unexpected circumstances" should start with Transformation Under Fire."-Marine Corps Gazette
"Macgregor's book is the best tradition of military theorists, whose ideas transformed armies to meet the challenges of WWII: Hans Von Seckt, B. H. Liddell Hart, Charles de Gaulle, and Heinz Guderian. Macgregor presents the first coherent view of how the information age should transform the way we organize for war. The question now remains whether the U.S. Army will heed his calls for true or continue to cede more and more of its missions to the Marine Corps, which has embraced expeditionary warfare. Macgregor takes to task the leadership culture that stifles change; but more importantly, he sketches out a realistic, immediate path to true transformation that will vault the Army out of exile at the Pentagon and back into the forefront of the Nation's fight in the war on terrorism."-Armor
"The book is scholarly, well researched, cohesive, and technically written in a stimulating manner...Macgregor's book is ideal for reading at the war colleges, for the professional soldier and military planner, and for advanced courses in strategic defense."-Perspectives on Political Science
"Though widely considered a maverick, Col Macgregor enjoyed influence beyond his rank. Two of his books--Breaking the Phalanx, published in 1997, and the more recent Transformation Under Fire--were considered must-reads within the army, and some of the changes he advocated have been adopted in some form."-London Financial Times
"Transformation Under Fire offers a strident critique of recent Army transformation efforts while also providing the reader a comprehensive vision of near-term changes within the department of defense that could truly enhance our military's ability to conduct joint expeditionary operations....Essential reading for military professionals and for those with oversight of defense programs."-Army
"Has delivered another insightful vision in his latest book.... Transformation Under Fire is a must-read for both military professionals and public officials charged with overseeing defense programs. It is likely to figure prominently in ongoing discussions of defense reform. The value of this book lies in its superb analysis of the current geopolitical environment and the author's coupling of this analysis with an informed assessment of the impact of information technology on warfare to support his proposals....Offers a strident critique of recent Army transformation efforts while also providing the reader a comprehensive vision of near-term changes within the department of Defense that could truly enhance our military's ability to conduct joint expeditionary operations....Essential reading for military professionals and for those with oversight of defense programs."-Army Magazine
About the Author
DOUGLAS A. MACGREGOR is a Colonel with the Center for Technology and National Security at the National Defense University. A West Point graduate, he served in Desert Storm, earning a bronze star with V device for valor for his leadership of combat troops. He is the author of Breaking the Phalanx: A New Design for Landpower in the 21st Century (Praeger, 1997) and The Soviet-East German Military Alliance (1989). He holds an M.A. in comparative politics and a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Viginia.
