1. Alfred Mahan was a naval officer who had major influence on naval strategy in the 19th century.
2. In his writings, Mahan argued that controlling communications and confronting enemy naval forces were keys to national power. He advocated focusing fleets at strategic points rather than raiding commerce.
3. Mahan's ideas led to changes in the U.S. Navy including an increased battleship fleet and soldiers deployed globally to protect national interests. However, his new strategy also initially caused organizational problems for the Navy.