"They can shout down the head of the physics department at Cal Tech"

This quote by James Stockdale implies that individuals can be effective sufficient to overpower even the most educated and highly regarded people. It suggests that the power of individuals can be higher than the power of knowledge and authority. This might be translated as an alerting to those in positions of power, that they should not take their authority for granted, as it can be quickly challenged and reversed. It could also be translated as a call to action for individuals, to utilize their collective power to challenge authority and make their voices heard. This quote is a suggestion that knowledge and authority are not always adequate to win an argument, which the power of individuals must not be undervalued.