(Stine and Cockerill-Kafka 1992; Cockerill et al. 1993),
it became abundantly clear none of these initiatives
would have been possible without the commander’s
support and/or direction.
From a philosophical, ethical perspective, Drucker
(1989) argues commanders have environmental re-
sponsibilities during peacetime and war, both for
utilitarian reasons (the environment offers necessary
resources) and for moral reasons (all life has inher-
ent value). During peacetime, Drucker also notes,
commanders have roles similar to elected officials, as
they manage large tracts of land and facilities simi-
lar to cities. His evidence could readily be expanded
to support a commander’s responsibility to promote
the sustainability initiatives which are now becoming
prevalent throughout the DOD.
The responsibility facing military leaders coupled
with their ability to quickly implement a specific proj-
ect or program offers yet more support to the argu-
ment that the DOD is well positioned to become a
leader in sustainability.
Leadership Sites
Many pages and pixels have been dedicated to re-
porting on military efforts relevant to sustainability.
These reports; however, are often limited to the envi-
ronmental ring of the sustainability triumvirate and
further are typically single focus (e.g. energy, land
use). They do not offer a more holistic view of mili-
tary efforts. To see how the economic, environmen-
tal, and national security aspects of military activities
come together to enable the military to lead society
on a sustainability quest, it is helpful to look at the
breadth of efforts and the even broader possibilities
throughout DOD.