Book Review: Defining the Mission: The Development of US Strategic Military Intelligence up to the Cold War

Authors

Thomas W. Spahr

Files

Description

Author: Scott A. Moseman

Reviewed by: Dr. Thomas W. Spahr, Francis W. De Serio Chair of Strategic and Theater Intelligence, US Army War College

From a modest four-man office in 1882 to a sprawling intelligence network by the 1940s, Scott A. Moseman traces the evolution of US strategic military intelligence through war, politics, and institutional transformation. Focusing on the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Military Intelligence Division, he reveals how competing visions from military leaders, government officials, and the public shaped the mission and identity of American intelligence agencies. This richly detailed history uncovers the roots of modern intelligence and its deep entanglement with the rise of American power.

Publication Date

1-12-2026

Keywords

civil-military relations, strategic intelligence, domestic security, national security, military profession

Disciplines

Defense and Security Studies

Recommended Citation

Thomas W. Spahr, Book Review: Defining the Mission: The Development of US Strategic Military Intelligence up to the Cold War ( US Army War College Press, 2026),
https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/105