But, there are tonnes of new innovation and discoveries that we enjoy today, comes from the military. GPS for example.
But i agree, military style rules only work well if the top are doing well themselves. Any new innovation implementation would be very easy to be done in a military style ruling if it comes from the top, since they would face little to no objection to the changes. But if the top is a stubborn idiot, narrow minded asshat, then they are doomed