Assignment: Pentagon

Maj. Gen. Perry M. Smith, USAF (Ret.), is a teacher, speaker, TV and radio commentator, and best-selling author. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War he appeared as a military analyst for CNN, PBS, and NBC News. He is the coauthor of Rules and Tools for Leaders: From Developing Your Own Skills to Running Organizations of Any Size, Practical Advice for Leaders at All Levels.Col. Daniel M. Gerstein, USA (Ret.), is a national security professional and technology expert who has served the United States not only in senior government positions but also in uniform, industry, academia, and think tanks. He is a frequent news contributor and has published numerous books, articles, and commentaries, including most recently The Story of Technology: How We Got Here and What the Future Holds.

“Should be stamped ‘MUST READ’ and provided to every person headed for a job in the Pentagon.”-Gen. John A. Wickham, U.S. Army (Ret.)“A wealth of practical information.”-Marine Corps Gazette  “The kind of information you’d get in an informal conversation with an old Pentagon hand.”-Armed Forces Journal International“All military services should add it to their recommended reading lists.”-U.S. Naval Institute’s Proceedings“Loaded with anecdotes, management and leadership principles, and get-ahead techniques that can be applied effectively to private as well as public service.”-Airpower Journal“Unlocks the language and customs of The Building.”-Washingtonian