Geography is not essential in any of these. You either need way more or way less. e.g. In Warfighting, you need to know how to read military topo maps, and what the best way is to get there from here locally, but only at the command level do you need more.
Knowing geography is neither necessary nor sufficient to develop technological innovation. Einstein needed geographical knowledge when escaping Hitler, not when developing the Theory of Relativity.
Even in business, a broad knowledge of geography is not needed. It might be useful, but is not needed.
But how could this be?
One of our major national characteristic shortcomings was primarily responsible for the cavalcade of foolish, arrogant decisions based on ignorance of geography, foreign history, languages, culture, Asian contexts, strategies, even when backed up with the best in technological prowess.
Knowledge of the Outside World DOES count. Take it from me. To proceed otherwise is to do it blindfolded. I join with quite a number of Senators and Congressmen of both parties that say the 'dumbing down' must stop! and the bar must be raised. The NEA or AFT will not get it done for us, either. There have to be other ways to reduce the 'moron' percentages in modern America.