"Your letter was totally unexpected, but of course, very welcome in today’s world where rarely is time taken to even acknowledge that there were antecedents to the leaders of the current Navy and its various specialties. However, I was very pleased to learn from a serving officer, that the Cryptologic and Information Warfare Community (ies?) are still held in very high esteem. His name, as I recall, is Berenson and he is a Surface Warfare Officer in the Pentagon in the Surface Warfare organization, which used to be Op-03 in the old days. He is a USNA graduate and probably at least a 0-6, but probably an 0-7 or 0-8. We talked about the “good old days” when he served in FRAM-II destroyers and I loaded SIGINT Collection Vans on the helo pads when the ships checked into to the Mediterranean with a stop at Rota, and of course, the early days of OUTBOARD. The Group (whatever it is collectively called these days; the “Naval Security Group” was so much “clearer” a collective) has not lost a bit of its reputation for its ability to innovate and achieve at very high levels of excellence."From his e-mail to me on 18 March 2010.
For generations the Commander of the Naval Secruity Group Command would routinely host the retired admirals and update them on issues within the Group. The sitting commander would also invite advice from the retired flags since most of them were still involved with the profession through their business activities. The sitting flag would also routinely host retired Captains who still held secruity clearances. I guess none of that happens any more. Sad.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from RADM Dillingham. He was my CO in Misawa and I had the pleasure of working for him again at Ft. Meade. Got a letter of appreciation from him for some minor analytic work I did, still have it to this day (see the other thread about letters from seniors). He was also my Oceanography instructor at LACCO in Misawa. Certainly an inspiring leader, who got me started on the road to a commission and a college degree. He did it right.
ReplyDeleteHad the privilege of serving briefly under RADM, then CDR, Dillingham and MCPO R. Brooks Loomis at Rota. Both men were exceptional leaders who knew how to make poor sailors better and good sailors great. Both helped this sailor mature as a man, and I owe them a great many thanks.
ReplyDeleteI served under CMDR Dillingham as an enlisted man at Rota. He was responsible for making a great change in my life. When it was time for me to get out of the Navy, I was told that I could not get out in Spain, where I wanted to stay. Dillingham intervened, because he knew that I had "gone native" and told them to let me out. I walked out the front gate in Rota a civilian with $500 in Travelers Cheques to my name. I stayed six more years after my two year stint in Rota. Google Gerry Dawes and you will see some of what resulted because of CMDR Dillingham's wisdom.
ReplyDeleteGerry Dawes
Presidente-Jefe & Chairman of the Board
The Spanish Artisan Wine & Spirits Group - Gerry Dawes Selections
Gerry Dawes's Spain: An Insider's Guide to Spanish Food, Wine, Culture and Travel
Patterson, NY 12563
gerrydawes@spanishartisanwine.com