May 2026
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’ S REPORT
Mitchell C. Sklar, Esq.
Learning from Experience: Why History Still Matters for Today’ s Police Leaders
Two things are unavoidable: life is short, and some of our most meaningful lessons come from experience. Put those together, and the takeaway is simple— if we want to grow as leaders, we can’ t rely only on what we’ ve lived through ourselves. We have to learn from the experiences of others, too.
There’ s no substitute for firsthand experience. It’ s still the best teacher. But no one lives long enough or encounters enough situations to gain all the insight leadership requires. Theory can help fill in some of the gaps, but it rarely captures the messy reality of making decisions under pressure.
History does.
In many ways, history is simply the collected experience of others. While technology changes and makes some lessons outdated, the ones tied to human nature— judgment, courage, failure, resilience, character— don’ t really change. They stick with us because they’ re rooted in how people behave, no matter the era.
That idea has shaped how the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police approaches leadership development. Over time, the organization has expanded its professional programs, including one of its most distinctive offerings: Staff Rides for Law Enforcement Leaders. These programs adapt a military model to the realities of modern policing.
We introduced these immersive experiences several years ago to help law enforcement executives study leadership in highstakes situations— moments defined by uncertainty, pressure, and real consequences. As interest grew, we expanded the concept to include one-day, locally based Revolutionary War staff rides, making this kind of learning more accessible.
Why Look to the Past? It’ s a fair question— why spend time studying leaders from a completely different era?
One answer comes from General Dwight D. Eisenhower. When asked what leadership really comes down to, he put it plainly: making decisions. And when asked how someone becomes a better decision-maker, he answered just as directly: by being around people who are making decisions.
That idea is at the heart of staff rides. Leadership develops, in part, by watching others lead— seeing how they handle uncertainty, weigh risks, communicate clearly, and act under pressure. And if being around decision-makers helps shape better leaders, there’ s no better company than some of history’ s most capable ones.
Lessons That Still Apply Studying past leaders isn’ t about copying them. In fact, history shows that blindly imitating others rarely works. What it does offer is perspective.
It reminds us that many of the challenges we face today— internal resistance, maintaining morale, communicating during crises, navigating ethical decisions— aren’ t new. Others have faced them before. Some handled them exceptionally well. Others didn’ t.
There’ s value in both.
In that sense, leaders across generations share a kind of connection. Many of the most effective leaders understood this. They studied those who came before them, learned from their mistakes, and built on their successes. That’ s not about nostalgia— it’ s about practical growth.
Can Leadership Be Learned? Some people still debate whether leadership can be taught. A better question might be whether it can be learned. Most serious thinkers on the subject would say yes.
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