About the Author

Colonel Thomas Xavier Hammes is a decorated Marine and respected commentator on national security issues, including fourth generation warfare. Honored with the Legion of Merit with two stars, Meritorious Service Medal with one star, Navy Commendation Medal with one star, and the Navy Achievement Medal, his work has appeared in publications such as the Washington Post, Marine Corps Gazette, Naval War College Review, and Naval Institute Proceedings.

From January to March 2004, Hammes was the Assistant Chief of Staff, Bases and Facilities, Coalition Military Advisory Training Team. He was responsible for hiring personnel, developing procedures, and getting equipment and systems up and running for the bases the New Iraqi Army would use. During this time, he observed the training, equipping, organization and initial employment of Iraqi Army forces. All but one of the people in his section were Iraqi civilians. He also worked extensively with contractors that were providing services to the Iraqi Armed Forces.

In October 2003, Hammes traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan on a 10-day trip with Ambassador Robert Oakley, during which he had an opportunity to see both the military and political side of our efforts there.

From July 2001 to July 2003, Hammes was the Commanding Officer, Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. His team helped clean up Capitol Hill after the anthrax attack. They sampled House and Senate office buildings, then cleaned out Senator Daschle's office—all while in full protective gear. Subsequently worked with all levels from city fire and police to DoD and Department of Homeland Security personnel in training and preparing to deal with Weapons of Mass Destruction used on the United States.

Hammes was the Future Operations Officer for Marine Forces Somalia during the first five months of the operation.   During this time he operated as part of a counterinsurgent force.

In the late 1980s, Hammes trained insurgents in various locations in the world, giving him a close view of how they think and operate.

Hammes reported to his current position at the National Defense University's Institute for National Strategic Studies in July 2003, where he is a Senior Military Fellow in the institute's Research Directorate. His focus is on homeland security, low-intensity conflict, stability operations, and military support to civil authorities.

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Hammes was commissioned in June 1975. He has served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, Rifle Company Executive Officer (Co I, 3/3, 1976-78), Rifle Company Commander (Co F, 2/4,1980), Weapons Company Commander (1/5, 1983-85), Intelligence Company Commander (3d Intel Co, 1991), Infantry Battalion Commander (3/5, 1995-97) and was   commanding officer of the Marine Corps' Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (2001-2003), the first to lead the team into a real-world, live agent operation.   He has also served in the following staff billets Regimental Intelligence Officer (3d Marines, 1979), Regimental Logistics Officer (5 th Marines, 1986), Division G-3 Training Officer, Division G-3 Plans Officer, Division G-3 Operations Officer, Division Intelligence Officer (1 st MARDIV), I Marine Expeditionary Force Plans Officer(1999-2001) and Fleet Marine Officer (3d Fleet, 1997-1999). He has two non-FMF (Fleet Marine Force) tours—Executive Officer, Recruiting Station Cincinnati Ohio (1980-82) and Regional Support Officer, Counter-Intelligence Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps (1987-1990).  

Hammes attended The Basic School (1975), was distinguished honor graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officers Advanced Course (1983), an honor graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1991) and the Canadian National Defence College (1993). He also spent a year on a Research Fellowship at the Mershon Center for Strategic Studies (1986).

Hammes was born in American Falls, Idaho on 31 August 1953. He and his wife have one son and reside in Fairfax, Va.

Articles Published

New York Times

• "War Isn't Fought in the Headlines", 21 April 2005

New York Times

• "Victory In Iraq, One City At a Time", 5 October 2004

Washington Post:

• "The Long Haul", 1 April 2004

Strategic Forum 205, Institute for National Security Studies, National Defense University:

• "Securing Afghanistan:   Entering a Make-or-Break Phase" March 2001
• co authored with Ambassador Robert B. Oakley

Marine Corps Gazette:

• "Sell Intelligence to Your Unit" Apr 1979
• "Combat Simulation for Next to Nothing" Mar 1980
• "Training Support—An Untapped Resource" Jun 1981
• " Rethinking the Rifle Squad" Jul 1984
• "Setting up a Training Library" Jan 1985
• "Ensuring the Corps' Future" May 1985
• "Making Weapons Company Work" Jun 1985
• "Fire Support Coordination 101" Aug 1985
• "More on Augmentation"   Nov 1985
• "Amateurs by Profession" Jun 1986   Chase Essay 2d Place
• Armed Forces and Modern Counterinsurgency   Book Review Sep 1986
• The Army and Vietnam Book Review Jan 1987
• "Seize the Opportunity" Apr 1987 Chase Essay 1 st Place
• "No Place to Hide"   Jul 1987
• Guadalcanal: Starvation Island Book Review Aug 1987
• "STA:   Ask Not Where But What" Oct 1987
• Letter Response to critique of "No Place to Hide" Oct 1987
• Low Intensity Conflict and Modern Technology   Book Review Jan 1988
• "Insurgency:   The Forgotten Threat" Mar 1988
• Letter "The Anti-Mech Challenge" Mar 1988
• Duel for the Golan   Book Review Jun 1988
• "Mao Tse Tung—Foundations of Military Thought" Feb 1989
• "Reinforce the FMF" Dec 1989
• "Is NBC Gear a Problem" Aug 1990
• Red Revolution:   The Phillipine Guerrilla Movement Book Review Sep 1990
• Solution to Tactical Decision Game #90-9 Feb 1991
• "Air as a Maneuver Element:   An Idea Whose Time Has Come" Feb 1992
• Mao Tse Tung:   On Guerrilla Warfare   Trans by Griffith Book Review Jun 1992
• Peacekeeper:   The Road to Sarajevo   Book Review Feb 1994
• "The Evolution of War:   The Fourth Generation"   Sep 1994
• Intervention:   The Use of American Military Force in the Post-Cold War World Book Review AUG 1995
• "Information Systems Design or Building Computers for Grunts" Jan 1996
• "Don't Look Back. They're Not Behind You" May 1996
• "Time for an Old Idea" Aug 1996
• "Let CLF Do It" May 1997 Chase Essay 1 st Place
• "31 st MEU(SOC)" Jun 1997
• "Preparing for Today's Battlefield" Jul 1997
• "Polishing the Crown Jewels" Apr 1998, Chase Essay 1 st Place
• "Time to Get Serious About Urban Warfare" Apr 1999
• Letter on Tactical Competence Oct 1999
• "Eagle Globe and Anchor Says It All" Apr 2000
• "Do No Harm"   Jul 2000
• "It's the Right Thing to Do" Nov 2000
• "Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 10 Years Later" May 2001
• "Time for a 360"   Apr 2002 Chase Essay 2d Place
• "Its Deja Vu, All Over Again" Mar 2004

Naval Institute Proceedings:

• "Rethinking Air Interdiction" Dec 1987
• Letter to Editor   Jan 1998
• "War Isn't A Rational Business" Jul 1998
• "Marshalling for the Littoral Campaign" Mar 2001

Naval War College Review:

• "In My View" Spring 1993

Unpublished Master's Thesis

• "Insurgency:   The Forgotten Threat" Jun, 1987

Writing Awards

• Marine Corps Association Chase "Boldness and Daring Award," First Place 1986, 1996, 1997; Second Place 1985, 2001
• Named "Distinguished Author" by Marine Corps Gazette , 1996
• Co-winner U.S. Naval Institute Copernicus Award for best technology article, 1998
• Honorable Mention, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings Marine Corps Essay Contest, 1987

Accepted for Publication

Joint Forces Quarterly :

• Preparing for CBRNE Defense of America (CBRNE - Chemical Biological Radiological Chemical and Explosives)