Contracted Leadership: The Challenges of Military Command Within the Arena of Private Contractors

Abstract

The military’s dramatically increased reliance on private contractors is creating an unanticipated
set of unique challenges to military leaders operating in contingency operations. No longer
relegated to support activities, contractors provide tasks in areas that were traditionally
considered essential governmental activities. This article reviews the evolving contractormilitary
partnership and takes up the issue of how effective leadership is achieved in a world
of contracted men. The argument advanced here is that effective leadership will depend on
the extent to which contractors can be more fully integrated into the military mission without
creating a degree of reliance that endangers the military’s ability to stay innovate or threatens
the contactors’ civilian status.