"A terrific compendium of Navy and Defense Department leadership decisions, strategies, and intentions delivered with a coherent explanation of the realities of ... the 'agents' within the 'national security ecosystem.'" —Jonathan W. Greenert, Naval War College Review “An insightful and comprehensive analysis of the evolution and current state of the US Navy within the broader context of US national security.” —Hogr Tarkhani, Defense & Security Analysis “A critical assessment well worth reading.” —A. Denis Clift, Proceedings"Readers see the progression of strategy and the advancement of policy from the days of the battleship fleet to the rise of the Information Age. This complex and critical assessment is well researched yet still readable. . . . Highly recommended." —Choice The US Navy is the most formidable naval force in the world—yet, it seems ill-suited to face today's challenges, especially the rise of China's maritime power. What explains this paradox? Looking for answers, John Hanley explores how the navy has negotiated its place in the broad national security establishment, especially in the decades since World War II.Hanley is particularly interested in the evolution of the navy's organizational and operational dynamics. Tracing how it has adapted to peace and war over time, he sheds light on its relationships within the ecosystem (Congress, the DoD, the defense industry, etc.) in which it operates, and how it has attempted to adapt and respond to shifting national and global environments.