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Dissertation
Training for cognitive agility: integrating people skills and creative thinking as catalysts for senior military leader development
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Mar 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011279
Abstract
This phenomenological qualitative study is an investigation of U.S. military-affiliated educators who teach senior military leaders people skills, such as self-awareness, emotional management, prosocial skills, and creativity, with the aim of enhancing military mission effectiveness by strengthening a leader's cognitive agility. The purpose of this study was to understand how educators experience the challenges and opportunities of translating people skills into practice, equipping leaders to manage stress, uncertainty, and decision-making demands in complex environments. Consequently, this study also addresses how educators ensure people skills are taught and implemented (or transferred) successfully within the target learner's organization. Traditionally, military executive training focused on operational or managerial grooming. Very few programs focused on people skills. However, the U.S. Armed Services are increasingly focusing on providing training to mitigate negative indicators among personnel and challenges in recruitment and retention. Thus, the focus of this study was on educators who provide these training protocols. The target audience for these protocols comprises senior military leaders. These veteran leaders present some educational challenges for instructors at the outset of training, such as overcoming a stigma associated with "softness," which might be perceived as weak in military culture, compounded by an "expertise" learner bias. The research addressed how these educators develop their lesson plans to meet the needs of military learners, the obstacles they face, and the strategies they employ to foster a productive learning environment. Findings from this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the unique pedagogical challenges and opportunities in government-based military education programs.
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Details
- Title
- Training for cognitive agility
- Creators
- W. Jason Watkins
- Contributors
- Harriette Rasmussen (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Number of pages
- xiii, 145 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022165838504721