It’s hard to find a better example of the Peter Principle in action than the pending appointment of Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense. Despite the fact that he is a Princeton graduate with an impressive record in the National Guard (having served in Iraq and Afghanistan), he commanded, at best, a small, platoon-sized group of soldiers during his service.

The Department of Defense, in contrast, looks over a vast hierarchy with an $840 billion budget and millions of soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilian employees. As Peter noted, in large organizations, people tend to be promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. (Also known as being “pushed upstairs”). That is, the skills honed at one level rarely translate to a those required at a higher level of organization. One can command a ship well, but commanding a fleet of ships?

Hegseth may be able to prove the Peter Principle wrong, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Leonard Cohen

Northhampton