Excellence in Action

Commander Matt Bonner, Commanding Officer of USS CONSTITUTION in Charlestown, Massachusetts is an awesome example of the model commanding officer described in Navigating A New Course to Command Excellence.

Superior commanding officers focus on the big picture. They set priorities, establish policy, and develop long-range plans. They target only a few key issues at a time. In explaining his priorities, one CO says: "I regularly have captain's call with all paygrades so I can reinforce any points that I want to emphasize. I always talk about combat readiness, safety, and cleanliness. And whenever I ask them what my priorities are, they always tell me, "Readiness, safety, and cleanliness." Once they identify the critical needs of the command and chart a direction, these COs accomplish the command's mission by inspiring others and working through them.

This means that superior COs recognize the importance of their relationships with other people, and they
concentrate on developing those relationships within and outside the command.
 

In dealing with the executive officer, superior COs are concerned not only with immediate issues but with overall progress: they look upon the XO as an assistant, but they know that this assistant is a future CO. Together, they discuss plans and review courses of action, and the CO is especially careful to keep the XO informed of command decisions. Whenever possible, the CO delegates, leaving room for the XO to function independently.

In the same way, the best COs develop their department heads and division officers, delegating work and
meeting frequently for planning and review. They monitor morale and try to create a climate of mutual support.

They take an interest in the well-being of their officers and express a willingness to talk about significant personal problems. They pay special attention to first-year officers, making sure they start out on a strong career footing.

With more experienced officers, they provide opportunities for professional development and encouragement to move up through the chain of command.

“Visionary Leadership: Navigating Through Uncharted Waters”

In the complex and dynamic nature of society in the twenty-first century, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the imminent issues and urgent problems of the moment. In these constantly changing times, simply utilizing temporary or conventional solutions can cause detrimental repercussions to an organization’s employee and customer loyalty, efficiency, and long term goal accomplishment. Visionary leaders, however, focus on the future of an organization and provide a unique vision that reinforces the why of what they do. Through their vision, they instill purpose, meaning and focus, empower and motivate followers, allow for growth and establishment of new ideas, and create organizations that are more adaptable and resilient.

Guy Kawasaki, former Apple Chief Evangelist, opened the Naval Academy Leadership Conference yesterday with a discussion of Steve Jobs' impact on the world.  Kawasaki said, "The world is not as interesting a place without Steve Jobs. We were on a mission from Steve to change the world."

Kawasaki went on to say, "For you young people wanting to be leaders ... you need to discover for yourself. You need to investigate. You should have a very skeptical attitude. Do not default to people who claim they are experts." 

"The biggest challenges beget the best work."

Intelligence

Art by David Levine

"Intelligence, the central virtue of moral life, is being able to judge the limitations of knowledge. Though there is no substitute for intelligence, it is not enough. People may be intelligent but lack the courage to act. To find a purpose in life, one must be willing to act, to put excellence in one's work and concern for what is right before personal interest."

Admiral H. Rickover

Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet - SECOND Anniversary

Can't let this day pass without notice. U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet was established on 29 January 2010. Much progress has been made over the past two years. There is much more work to be done. BZ!

As VADM Barry McCullough said a year ago today, "To remain a global maritime force, our Navy must advance its capability and capacity to plan and execute cyberspace operations. Our way forward will address the talent, capabilities, processes, and partnerships necessary to achieve our vision of cyberspace superiority for dominant seapower."

The folks at U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet are making it happen.

No More Autographed Copies Available - right now

Are you a genius or a genius maker?

As Sailors, we’ve all had experience with two dramatically different types of leaders - whether on the deckplates, in the Goatlocker or in the Wardroom. The first type of leader drains intelligence, energy, and capability from the Sailor around them and always needs to be the smartest person in the room. These are the idea killers, the energy sappers, the diminishers of talent and commitment. 

On the other side of the spectrum are those Navy leaders who use their intelligence to amplify the smarts and capabilities of the Sailors around them. When these Navy leaders walk into a room, light bulbs go off over Sailors’s heads; ideas flow and problems get solved. These are the Navy leaders who inspire Sailors to stretch themselves to deliver results that surpass expectations. 

These are the Multipliers. And the Navy needs more of them, especially now when leaders are expected to do more with less. 

In Liz Wiseman's book, multiplers - HOW THE BEST LEADERS MAKE EVERYONE SMARTER, she and Greg McKeown studied intelligence and how Multipliers can have a resoundingly positive and profitable effect on organizations—getting more done with fewer resources, developing and attracting talent, and cultivating new ideas and energy to drive organizational change and innovation.

I have 10 (zero) autographed copies available.  If you are a Sailor who would like to have a copy, send me  an e-mail and I will get you a copy of your own.  By the end of the day, all 10 copies have been claimed.  I will get some more and we can do this again.

Captain Howie Ehret - Make room

An iconic figure of the former Naval Security Group, Captain Howie Ehret passed away recently and his Shipmate Rusty Smith shared some thoughts about this significant individual.

"...Which leads me to a “Howie-ism” I’d like to pass along.  Howie had many “…isms” that he’d dredge up to describe an event or condition while making a point.  For instance, if confronted with a calamitous set issues, as his friend Captain John Mitchell recently recalled, Howie would say “when dealing with a bucket of worms, you gotta deal with one worm at a time.”  

But the Howie-ism that I want to pass along is, “we make room for what’s important.”  We make room for what’s important.  I commend that little thought to you whenever you’re debating priorities in life.  We make room for what’s important to us.  Be they our personal priorities or in the everyday observation of others, room is made for what’s important.  So simple in its obviousness yet far more telling when applied to our personal choices or in witnessing what other people or organizations do.  For example, all of us here today, Howie’s loving family, the great community of Sonoma, its dignitaries, Howie’s good friends, those who knew Howie well or those who knew him just in passing, we’re all making room here today for something important, for some-one important. "

Make some room.  There is more to come about this iconic figure in our cryptologic heritage.  You can read about the celebration of his life HERE.

Littoral combat ship program manager fired due to allegations of inappropriate behavior

The program manager for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program was fired Thursday due to allegations of inappropriate behavior, according to Naval Sea Systems Command.

Captain Jeffrey Riedel was reassigned by LCS Program Executive Officer Rear Admiral James Murdoch, pending an investigation into the allegations.  Captain Riedel is presumed innocent of the allegations.  There has been no timeline published as to how long the investigation is expected to take.

“He will not be reporting back to this command,” NAVSEA spokesman Chris Johnson said Friday.

While not a Commanding Officer, Captain Jeffrey Riedel becomes the first senior Navy official fired in 2012; there were 22 commanding officers fired in 2011.

Captain Riedel's biography follows:

Captain Riedel is a native of Plymouth, MA. He attended Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and a U.S.C.G. 3rd Assistant Engineer license. He graduated from the Naval Engineering Program at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in 1993, earning a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, and the advanced degree of Mechanical Engineer. He was a member of the first group of students to complete the Total Ship System Engineering (TSSE) Curriculum. In 1996, he returned to NPS to participate in the Navy Doctoral Studies Program. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle control in 1999.

Captain Riedel served at sea in USS WAINWRIGHT (CG 28) as Auxiliaries Officer, Main Machinery Officer and Damage Control Assistant where he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and Engineering Officer of the Watch. As an Engineering Duty Option he transferred to the ED Community upon detachment from WAINWRIGHT.

As an Engineering Duty Officer, Captain Riedel served as a student at the Naval Postgraduate School, as Assistant Production Officer at SUPSHIP Bath, as DDG 51 Class Chief Engineer in PEO TSC, as DDG 51 Class Post Delivery Manager, as the LPD 17 Class Production/Test/Technical Director and as the Amphibious Warfare Programs Manager in PEO SHIPS. He presently serves as Major Program Manager, Littoral Combat Ship (PMS 501).

Captain Riedel is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community and is certified in Program Management, Production, Quality and Manufacturing, and Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and various service ribbons.

Sailors

Sailors are not IN the Navy; Sailors ARE the Navy.

Word to the wise

It is dangerous to be right in matters where well-established senior Naval officers are wrong.

Ensign Voltaire

Hire The Better Writer

If you are trying to decide among a few people to fill a position, hire the best writer. It doesn't matter if that person is a marketer, salesperson, designer, programmer or whatever; their writing skills will pay off.

That's because being a good writer is about more than writing. Clear writing is a sign of clear thinking. Great writers know how to communicate. They make things easy to understand. They can put themselves in someone else's shoes. They know what to omit. And those are qualities you want in any candidate.

Writing is making a comeback all over our society. Look at how much people e-mail and text-message now rather than talk on the phone. Look at how much communication happens via instant messaging and blogging.

Writing is today's currency for good ideas.

From REWORK by Jason Fried