Robert Haddick

Robert Haddick is a visiting senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Air Force Association. He is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer with experience in East Asia and Africa. Haddick was a contractor for U.S. Special Operations Command and performed research for the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment. He was a national security columnist at Foreign Policy magazine and has delivered lectures on strategy across the U.S. government.

Advance Praise for "Fire on the Water: China, America, and the Future of the Pacific" ~

"In Fire on the Water, Robert Haddick writes compellingly about the growth of China's blue-water navy and proposes real and achievable solutions to counter the threat. It is must-reading for every informed citizen."

--JOHN F. LEHMAN JR., Secretary of the Navy, 1981-87

"The security of the United States is inextricably woven into the security of the Indo-Pacific region. Cooperation and healthy competition will help deter nations from confrontation. The United States must maintain a position of strength in dealing with the challenges ahead in this region. Robert Haddick's book proposes interesting approaches for our nation as we address those challenges."

--ADM. TIMOTHY J. KEATING, USN (RET.), Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, 2007‒9

"Fire on the Water is a powerful and needed corrective to our current habit of responding to global challenges with gauzy aspirations and comforting rhetoric. Robert Haddick dissects the diplomatic, technological, economic, and military challenges facing our nation and proposes a rigorously analyzed strategy that persuasively argues for action now if we are to maintain peace and stability in the western Pacific at an affordable cost."

--LT. GEN. WALLACE "CHIP" GREGSON, USMC (RET.), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, 2009‒11

"Robert Haddick's very timely Fire on the Water explains in clear terms what's at stake for the United States and why current policies intended to counter the rise of China in the western Pacific are only increasing the dangers posed by China. He provides a lucid analysis of the challenges ahead and proposes a bold yet sensible strategy that will keep the peace and protect America's interests in Asia."

--LT. GEN. DAVID DEPTULA, USAF (RET.), chief planner of the 1991 Gulf War air campaign

"Fire on the Water is the right book at the right time. Robert Haddick offers his own unique strategy for how the United States can best position itself for success in the western Pacific. Perhaps most refreshing is his discussion of 'competitive strategies' and how the United States should seek to maximize its natural military, economic, and diplomatic advantages to shape Chinese decision making."

--CONGRESSMAN J. RANDY FORBES, U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District of Virginia