Military academies won’t give tenure to civilian faculty, Hegseth says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered military academies to cease granting tenure to civilian faculty members, according to a memo released on Tuesday. This directive is part of Hegseth's ongoing efforts to reform military higher education. Tenure, Hegseth argues, can lead to academic stagnation, complacency, and a curriculum that diverges from the core mission of preparing future military leaders. He aims to eliminate the influence of civilian norms that he believes have weakened the academies' focus on lethality.

This decision follows a recent CBS News report indicating Pentagon officials were contemplating the end of civilian tenure at the military academies and conducting a comprehensive review of their course offerings. Such a review would eliminate courses deemed ideologically driven. Currently, civilian faculty constitute about 25% of the teaching staff at the Army's West Point academy, while the Naval Academy has a roughly equal split between civilians and officers.

Over the years, civilian faculty members have enjoyed tenure, which is viewed as an attractive prospect for top talent by many. However, the service academies have historically strived to harmonize their dual roles as military institutions and accredited universities. Former Superintendent of the Naval Academy, Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, once described tenure as a valuable tool for attracting the best and brightest scholars.

Hegseth has long criticized the military education system for being ideologically biased. Since assuming his role as Defense Secretary, the Pentagon has been more vigilant about the content it supports, including scrutinizing library books that touch on race and gender, severing ties with graduate programs at prestigious institutions like Harvard and Princeton, and halting diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Hegseth hinted at his intention to target civilian faculty, suggesting a return of uniformed personnel to teach at the service academies, harnessing their firsthand military experience and leadership skills instead of relying on professors from predominantly left-leaning universities.