William writes on a variety of topics in both professional and public fora. His professional work is available upon request through appropriate channels.
Some examples of his unclassified work include the following:
“Like Spartans,” U.S. Naval Academy Stockdale Center, October 8, 2025. Commentary on the ongoing evolution of the service academies, and how we should properly appreciate the Spartan archetype.
“What Moral Leadership Looks Like,” Center for International Maritime Security, July 16, 2025. A timely exploration of the connection between morale and morality, as illustrated through the example of VADM James Bond Stockdale.
“Leading a Submarine Watch Team,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 146, no. 10, October 2020. A leadership article from the perspective of a submarine Officer of the Deck (OOD).
“A Sailor’s Take on Multi-Domain Operations,” War on the Rocks, May 21, 2019. A strategic distillation of the warfighting concept of multi-domain operations.
“A Bomber for the Navy,” Over the Horizon, April 15, 2019. Co-authored with an Air Force B-1 pilot, contemplating employment of the B-1 bomber as a land-based ship-killer.
“The Undersea is a Discrete Operational Domain,” Over the Horizon, September 19, 2018. Arguing that the Undersea should be considered a separate and distinct warfighting domain from the Surface.
“Integrity is Not Binary,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 143, no. 1, January 2017. A leadership article arguing for a nuanced and pragmatic view of integrity.
“Revisiting the Nuclear Option,” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 140, no. 8, August 2014. Contemplating a return to nuclear propulsion for surface combatants.
“Assessing Watch Team Resilience,” Undersea Warfare Magazine, Summer 2014. A leadership article considering the dynamics of submarine tactical watch teams.
William C. Spears 