Strategy, Operational Art And Macarthur In The ... < 2026 Release >

: The monograph highlights the difference between Strategy (policy-level) and Operational Art (the link between tactics and strategy).

Putnam's monograph examines the tension between high-level Allied strategy and MacArthur's personal strategic goals.

: Putnam concludes that MacArthur successfully used his tactical successes in New Guinea to argue that his personal objective (the Philippines) should be elevated to an essential part of the broader Allied strategy.

This 2016 study, written for the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), analyzes General Douglas MacArthur’s 1944 campaign along the northwest New Guinea coast as a model of modern military doctrine. Review Summary

: The campaign is presented as a "model of close cooperation" between land, air, and sea forces that remains a relevant case study for modern military students of Operational Art at the DTIC. Key Concepts Explored

: The paper provides a critical look at how a commander's personal ambition can shape theater-level operations.

: While not the sole focus, the work builds on the "island hopping" strategy MacArthur and Nimitz used to bypass fortified Japanese positions to reach the mainland.