In Episode 148 of the No Limitations podcast The Tiger in the Room, Blenheim Partners’ Gregory Robinson speaks to Lt. Col. Jahara “Franky” Matisek, Military Professor at the U.S. Naval War College.
In an erudite discussion, Franky asserts that the United States remains the chief defender of freedom, democracy and the global rules-based order, although he cautions that its political leaders have replaced diplomacy and protocol with unpredictable rhetoric. Turning to the wider world, Franky laments that Russia has become a pariah state with a depleted economy and that China is now a dominant superpower with a hegemonic outlook towards its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region. Franky also delivers an astute assessment of the strategic significance of other nations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, the United Kingdom, and Europe more broadly. Lastly, he shares his leadership philosophy centred around having the courage to follow your passion.
Franky started his career at the United States Air Force as an Officer where he has served for two decades and completed over 1,300 combat hours in major operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Franky holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University and is a Military Professor at the U.S. Naval War College. He is also a Fellow at the Irregular Warfare Initiative, the European Resilience Initiative Center, and the Payne Institute for Public Policy. In addition, he is the Minerva Co-Principal Investigator for improving United States security assistance at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Franky is the most published active duty United States military officer with two books and a hundred articles in peer-reviewed journals and policy outlets to his name.
Please note: this episode was recorded on 18 February 2025.
Disclaimer: The views of Lt. Col. Matisek are his own and do not reflect the official positions of the United States Air Force, Naval College, Department of Defense, or United States Government.
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