Dawn Halfaker: An example of grace, courage, humility and honor for our time

I was inspired by her story six years ago when I first heard about her. I was on the Secretary of Defense's Staff looking into the abuses at Abu Ghraib Prison in June of 2004. Dawn Halfaker was an Army 1st Lieutenant Military Police Officer in Iraq on patrol in her vehicle when an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) took off her right arm. Three years earlier, she had been a star guard on the basketball team at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. I found it amazing that she had such a positive attitude having just lost her arm in combat in Iraq. I thought about how much she had lost...how much she had given up - for us.

She didn't give much thought to what she had lost. She became a different person in the process. Fast forward six years later and she is a retired Army Captain and is CEO of her own well-respected and fast growing firm - Halfaker Associates LLC. And, first among her advisors is Les Brownlee (former Acting Secretary of the Army during my days as Staff Director of the Detainee Task Force). This is one remarkable officer, Soldier, person, warrior, patriot, basketball player, CEO, example, and woman. The most remarkable quote from her was that she was not going to be weighed down by the burden of the hypocrisy of self pity when so many of her fellow "comrades in arms" were worse off than she was.

Google Dawn Halfaker and find inspiration.
Google Dawn Halfaker and find motivation.
Google Dawn Halfaker and find an American Hero.

You can find her busy at work here http://www.halfakerandassociates.com/index.htm

The sea has a language all its own

The sea has a language all its own, and the air has largely taken it over, with a few necessary modifications and additions. Everyone who writes naval or maritime history should endeavor to use strong, short words and plain, terse phrases that are consecrated by decades of sea usage and not try to translate them into current journalese or other jargon.


Samuel Eliot Morison

National Treasures

"And the SERGEANTS MAJOR -- they were a national treasure.

They mold and maintain the force and leaders like me. They have been my comrade, confidante, constructive critic, mentor and best friend."

General Stan McChrystal at his retirement

Admiral Harvey's Testimony to the House Armed Services Committee 28 July 2010

Providing forces ready for tasking is not only a commitment to the Combatant Commanders, but also a promise to our Sailors who see their entry into deployment marking the best material condition their unit will ever achieve, their overcoming the challenges of deployment to achieve mission success as the likely highlight of their careers, and the sustainment of high readiness on deployment as a significant contributor to our culture and ethos. So I strongly believe that matching the reality our Sailors will face to their expectations for deployed readiness is critical to retaining high-quality people and remaining a truly global and relevant force, regardless of the fiscal environment.

With the completion of the Fleet Review Panel Report and SAN ANTONIO Investigation, we now have a clear sight picture of the root causes behind the negative readiness trends observed in our Surface Force. These trends were twenty years in the making and will take constant pressure over time to resolve. I recognize we still have much work to do, but we have a clear path ahead to reverse negative readiness trends, assure the future readiness of the Surface Force, and uphold our commitment to the nation and our Sailors.

You can read his opening statement HERE.

Admiral John Harvey
Commander, Fleet Forces Command

Each of the Navy witnesses conceded that the surface Navy’s experiments in “running like a business” hadn’t panned out as officials had initially hoped, but said the fleet already has plans in place to get back on track in each of its troubled areas.

Sailing in a cyber sea

I am keenly interested in exploring and investigating solutions to balance the tension between the desire for collaborative openness against sustaining the necessary protection of the underlying networks and systems. Since my speech in San Diego, I’ve thought a lot more about the subject and I keep coming back to the idea that there are two possible outcomes to the current complex and largely ungoverned “Cyber Sea” environment:

The first and vastly preferred outcome is that we work together as an international community to create a comprehensive set of rules and behavioral norms that would govern behavior within the cyber domain. Think of an effort along the lines of the Law of the Sea Treaty negotiation, a very big project indeed.

Yet a second possible albeit highly undesirable outcome is that we find ourselves in a deterrence posture similar to the Cold War but with different tools. A stalemate, if you will, wherein actors – individuals? organizations? nation states? – are deterred from “doing harm” by the threat that harm will in turn will be done to them.

Admiral James Stavridis

Courage and sacrifice of a Cryptologic Technician - an example for all

Those who serve in the United States Intelligence Community honor the courage and sacrifice of Petty Officer First Class Daugherty, only the second person to be awarded the National Intelligence Medal for Valor. Petty Officer Daugherty earned it. He represents all that is worthy of those in the Navy and the Intelligence Community, and this center (Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center) will stand as an enduring testament to his selfless service.

Admiral Dennis Blair
Director of National Intelligence

Spending a lifetime using leadership tools

"As the youth progresses onward to mature manhood, he reaps a harvest from experience, he gleans much knowledge from his studies, he learns concisely what the laws of the seaman require, and the rules of the art of war demand.... But who is there to tell him that toward the end of your career you cannot pick up new tools and use them with the dexterity of the expert unless you have spent a lifetime with them, tested the temper of their steel, and made them a part of your life's equipment."

REAR ADMIRAL WILLIAM PRATT, LEADERSHIP
USNI Proceeding Magazine 1934
CNO 1930-1933

"We have burned the boats." Apparently there is no going back on DIVERSITY or INFORMATION DOMINANCE

DIVERSITY

"Burn the boats," Vice Admiral Ferguson said (in an interview with DIVERSITY INC.), recounting Hernando Cortez's (or Hernán Cortés) order. In other words, "We're not going back," he said. Ferguson said commitment is the foundation of success, and it was a similar statement of commitment that guided the Navy's diversity and inclusion efforts several years ago.

INFORMATION DOMINANCE

The reorganization is moving quickly, as it should, and will be complete by the end of this year and N2/6, or the Director of Information Dominance, will be the one making the major investment decisions as we compare our 2012 budgets. Someone asked me (Admiral Roughead) this morning, ‘where are you along this timeline?’ and I think the quote from Hernando Cortez applies, “we burn boats, there’s no going back.” "So Jack Dorsett, you’re the helmsman."

As I think about the analogy here, it can be a bit worrisome. Are VADM Ferguson and ADM Roughead telling us "they have burned the boats" for the same reasons Cortez did?

Cortez supposedly burned the boats because:

• he feared his men lacked the courage to follow him,
  
• he feared they would all desert him, and
• his men were afraid to go any farther

Fear is a powerful motivator. Not the one I would use in this case, however.

Best Sailors in the Navy 2009

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ingrid Cortez, U.S. Fleet Forces Sea Sailor of the Year; Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Shalanda Brewer, Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year; Operations Specialist 1st Class Samira McBride, U.S. Pacific Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year and Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Cassandra Foote, Chief of Naval Operations Shore Sailor of the Year were each presented their Chief Petty Officer appointment letter from the CNO prior to having their anchors pinned to their collars and combination covers placed on their heads.

The Sailor of the Year program was established in 1972 by the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet to recognize an individual Sailor who best represented the ever-growing group of dedicated professional Sailors at each command and ultimately the Navy. Admiral Zumwalt's son, retired USMC Lt Col James Zumwalt, is working with the U.S. Postal Service to have his father recognized on a postage stamp for his long career of service to our Sailors. You can read about his efforts HERE.

NAVIOCOM Georgia Change of Command

In a change of command ceremony held July 23 in Alexander Hall, Navy Captain Michael R. Fisher relinquished command of Navy Information Operations Command (NAVIOCOM) Georgia to Captain John C. Post. VADM Barry McCullough, Commander TENTH Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command was the presiding officer.

Captain Post, a native of Dallas, Texas, and University of Texas alumnus, became the 8th commanding officer of NAVIOCOM Georgia. He assumes command of NAVIOCOM Georgia whose mission is to provide Information Warfare and Cryptologic expertise and personnel to Fleet Air, Surface, Submarine and National Security Agency/Central Security Service Georgia. It also provides reachback staff support to Chief, Joint Force Maritime Component Commander of Central and Europe operations.

Captain Michael R. Fisher retired after a 26 year USAF/Navy career.

Navy Information Operations Command - Hawaii sets junior officers up for success

Lt. j.g. Michael Lavoie - Navy Information Operations Command, Hawaii

Few communities in the Navy have seen as much change in recent years as the information warfare (IW) community In the last decade, naval cryptology took on many related disciplines, including electronic warfare, operations security, military deception and computer network operations, while striving to retain core competencies.

Such tremendous change created a need for sweeping reform of new accession training, and Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii responded with an innovative pipeline for junior officers (JOs) arriving at the command.

Following the Information Warfare Officer Basic Course (IWBC) in Pensacola, Florida., Ensign Miguel Cueva reported to the analysis and production (A&P) cell at Fleet Information Operations Center (FIOC) Hawaii. "IWBC was a whirlwind experience, exposing me to a broad range of topics," he noted. "Arriving at a major cryptologic center gave me the chance to go deeper into area-specific knowledge and see most aspects of IW in practice."

Junior officers typically spend five weeks in A&P, completing target and watch floor qualification requirements. The new arrivals then move on to five weeks under instruction as FIOC watch officer. "This is the phase where a lot of loose strings start to come together," explained Lt. j.g. William Brinkmeyer, FIOC division officer. "Armed with strong target knowledge and the resources available to the watch, junior officers learn to leverage this and pass it on to the fleet," he said.

"It's amazing to see the progress of our junior officers. They show up completely green to the community and by the time they move on to a second tour, they have performed at the level of department heads at sea and shore-side," noted Lieutenant Mike Curtis, NIOC deputy operations officer.

NIOC Hawaii plays an extensive role in surface and submarine direct support and after several months as FIOC watch officers, JOs make the transition from provider to consumer as direct support officers. "Getting underway as a direct support officer is an intimidating prospect for an ensign or lieutenant (j.g.), but I definitely took the knowledge I learned from FIOC and A&P to sea. Knowing what resources are available to tactical units is a huge advantage," Lt. j.g. Marcus Long explained.

With FIOC watch officer, direct support officer and the new community standard Information Warfare Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS) complete, JOs board for the 1810 designator. The 1810 board assesses individuals' knowledge of myriad topics related to IW and the wider Navy.

"The 1810 board emphasizes the 'big picture'... how everything JOs have learned as watch officers and DSOs fit into the construct of the 21st century Navy," said Curtis. "We are confident that this breadth of exposure sets our JOs up for tremendous success in their careers as information warfare officers."

Captain Jeffrey S. Cole assumed command of NIOC Hawaii on 9 July 2010.

Story from HAWAII NAVY NEWS.

Vision - worth repeating

Think about the future—frequently.

Constant change is a characteristic of the modern era, and constant change requires people of vision who can look beyond the current paradigm in order to chart our future. Develop ideas that guide your career, the Naval Intelligence community, and the Navy. Seniors are looking for bold officers with good ideas. Although not all people possess equal capabilities to look to the future, all of us have the capability to try.

Look for opportunities to contribute your ideas. If opportunities don’t present themselves, look for ways to create the right opportunity.

VADM "Jack" Dorsett
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (N2/N6)
and Director of Naval Intelligence (DNI)

MCPO on my "Anchor Up" bandwagon - LNCM Browning

You must always do the things that Chiefs must do. It’s not enough to do things without being told – now you have to think up those things to do. You alone must realize, analyze, prioritize, improvise, exercise and supervise everything your Sailors will accomplish. You cannot be concerned with popularity. If you are, you will not succeed as “The Chief.” Someone has to make the difficult decisions. By virtue of being difficult, those decisions are rarely popular with your Sailors.

I challenge every officer, legalman and civilian employee to strive to make a positive difference every single day. Take the hard jobs, get out of your comfort zone, stay involved, and communicate up and down the chain of command.

Please accept my sincere thanks and gratitude for all you do!
Good luck, Chiefs - it’s time to Anchor Up!

CHRISTOPHER J. BROWNING
LNCM (SW/AW), U.S. Navy

Surprised to find this in the Navy's Diversity Director's Official presentation on Diversity

I was surprised to see the Navy's Diversity Director CAPT Ken Barrett from the Chief of Naval Personnel's N134 office use this in his brief from 26 May 2010.

Captain Michael D. Abrashoff has earned several 100 thousand dollars from his great series of books (It's Your Ship, It's Our Ship and Get Your Ship Together) based largely on his turnaround of USS BENFOLD. You'll understand my surprise when you research who he relieved on BENFOLD, the previous Commanding Officer who was supposed to have run the ship and her Sailors into the ground. As with many stories, some of it is cultural mythology. I have all three books and refer to them often.

Not Very Flattering - Among the government's 12 worst

Coming in at number 10, the Navy Personnel Command's website www.npc.navy.mil is among the 12 worst government websites, as selected by INFORMATION WEEK. As a member of the Information Dominance Corps, I find this both appalling and somewhat embarrassing. In an organization that says "People are our number 1 priority" and "we are the most dominant information force in the U.S. military", this site does not reflect either of those statements.

We owe our Sailors more. I hope this is not a contractor-maintained website.

From over at the SCOOPDECK, this post is described as a cyber-attack.

Chief Petty Officers - A Tribute

CPO: THE GIFT

… Then, Admiral Jones (that crusty chap)
Went down the brow at last,
And found, without much fare-thee-well
A mooring, safe and fast,
And pierside,by a bollard stood
His putative relief,
To his surprise he spied, as well,
A work-stained Navy chief.

He wore no brass, except the mark
Defining time and grade:
Long years from ‘prentice up to now,
And sacrifices made;
A strainer he had just rebuilt -
Where lube-oil marked the spot,
His grimy hands and sweaty face
Declared what he was not!

“How goes it, Chief?” the senior said,
Now late for first good-byes,
Wars demand – receptions wait
As dark clouds fill the skies.
The aide, accustomed to delay,
Was now in Option Two –
Separate the Boss and Chief,
And do it - PDQ!

“Well, Sir,” he said, a messenger
Called down for volunteers;
The OOD was in jam-
In crap, up to his ears!
The pump , here, it had gone tits-up,
But, Sir, you know it well –
My duty section has the watch,
There’s not much more to tell!”

The parting one sat on a bits,
And waved this chief to join,
His medals clinking on his blouse,
His aide confused, forlorn,
The three-star had some time, that day –
(his future firmly set)
A warrior-turned to Memories,
Of days he’d not forget.

“Have them wait five minutes more,”
The Old Man told his aide,
“Chief Mix and I Are old, old, friends –
A trip or two we’ve made,
Across the Line – and to the Poles,
Through thundr’ing seas – or flat,
A street-wise kid – a leader now,
Since the day he won his hat!

“And Tonkin Gulf, Sir – the Mayaguez -
Khaddafi’s ‘Line of Death;
So much he shot his mouth off, Sir,
He just ran out of breath!”
“And that he did, Old Mummar,”
The VADM soft, agreed,
”But other feats eclipsed the task
And fulfilled a greater need!”

The work-soiled chief, puzzled, tried
To remember something large
With a parting salute, the flag took leave:
“Your guys sure fixed my barge.”

Khaki was living large that day -
Go on - I’ll make it brief.
The Fleet does not get underway
Without the gift of chiefs!

S C Myers 03/15/2010

Written by a great Shipmate of mine - Captain Steven C. Myers. You can find his book on Amazon @ "TO THE FLAG"

So Train Your Men And Yourselves

"In the heat of battle you don't remember very much. You don't think very fast; you act by instinct, which is really training. In battle, if you’re trained for it, you won’t change. You won’t do better and you won’t do worse; you’ll do just about what you do in actual training.

Consequently both you and your people have got to be trained. You’ve got to know what you’re going to do in any circumstances without stopping to think about it, and you’ve got to know what they’re going to do. You’ve got to expect exactly the performance in battle you’d get on a drill – no better; no worse. So train your men and yourselves. That’s what wins battles!”

Commodore Arleigh Burke
Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE
LITTLE BEAVER SQUADRON

From Admiral John C. Harvey
Commander Fleet Forces Command
Personnel Serial 05

The Crew Makes All The Difference - Command Excellence in Action

It is THE CREW, led by the officers and Chief Petty Officers, who must ultimately accomplish the command's mission. THE CREW is where "the keel meets the water." Without a top performing crew, no command can be successful.

COs of superior commands are particularly adept at molding their crew into a highly unified, spirited, fighting team with a laser-like focus: accomplishing the command's mission. When asked, these crews can not only clearly describe the command's philosophy and goals, but they also voice wholehearted support of the CO and his approach. Because the CO, XO, officers, and Chief Petty Officers frequently explain what they want done and why, THE CREW knows what is expected of them and feels a part of the team. The result is enthusiasm, motivation, and pride in the command. These crews often praise their CO with the ultimate accolade: "I'd go to war with him."

In average commands, THE CREW may not be sure of the command's philosophy or may withhold their total support of it.

THE CREW in superior commands also live up to the high standards demanded by their officers and Chief Petty Officers. They know that when they succeed, they will be recognized and rewarded; equally well, they know that when they make mistakes, they will be told and corrective action taken. Their commitment to upholding the command's standards generates a strong sense of responsibility for their individual work areas. They act on the principle that if you're going to do something, then do it right, and do it right the first time.

Crew members of superior commands realize that success depends on a team effort. They don't act or do their jobs in disregard of the rest of the command. They communicate frequently, coordinate activities, and help each other out when necessary. In addition, they are careful about following the chain of command. They know that violating it disrupts teamwork, creates confusion, hurts morale, and hinders leadership.

From COMMAND EXCELLENCE.

Also see Admiral John Harvey, Commander Fleet Forces Command message on his BLOG.

The Command Excellence approach is all well-documented and taught at the Command Leadership Course for PCO/PXO and CMC Schools.

Don't overlook even the smallest infractions

First you find yourself overlooking small infractions that you would have corrected on the spot in the past.

Soon you are a participant in these infractions. "After all," you say, "Everybody's doing it."

All too soon you find yourself trapped. You no longer can stand on a favorite principle because you have strayed from it.

Finding no way out, you begin to rationalize, and then you are hooked.

The important fact is, the men who travel the path outlined above have misused the very basic quality and characteristic expected of a professional military man, or any other professional man for that matter.

They have compromised their integrity.

PLEASE DON'T COMPROMISE YOURS!!

Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, VOICES OF NAVAL LEADERSHIP

First Female Civil Engineering Flag

Rear Admiral Katherine Gregory is the first female flag officer in the Civil Engineer Corps. This promotion caps a series of milestones for the St. Louis native, who was also the first female executive officer of a Seabee battalion and first female commanding officer of an active Seabee battalion.

She assumed command of Naval Engineering Command Pacific on 9 July 2010. She is a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

Monumental Mentoring Failure - Mine

A few months ago, after some very painful soul searching, I gave up on a mentoring relationship that I had sustained over a ten year period with a junior officer. I mentored my 'mentee' through a period of failure of selection (FOS), transition to a new 'warfare' community, and two promotions. We shared a great deal of pride in overcoming some serious obstacles to promotion and continuing a career. A few months or so ago, my 'mentee' was promoted a second time and didn't bother to invite me to the ceremony (and didn't give it a second thought). Was I hurt? You bet. It still hurts.

This officer and our relationship meant a great deal to me. I didn't realize that this officer was never IN the relationship. Is my bitterness showing? Sadly, yes. But, I'll get over it.

Powerpoint

“PowerPoint makes us stupid.”

General James N. Mattis
U.S. Marine Corps
Commander, Joint Forces Command

On his way to be Commander, Central Command



Power Point Ranger

(To the tune of "The Green Berets")

Requests are made, from day to day,
Briefings held, and changes made.
Graphics slides, a must they say,
and PowerPoint is the only way.

Computers crash, and printers stall,
Overloading protocol.
Network's down and soldiers cry,
Briefing's late so heads will fly.

Pin PowerPoint Slides upon my chest,
Full-color slides, they look the best.
One Hundred Slides were made that day,
But only 3 were ever displayed.

A smile came on the General's face,
Slides were done and looked just great!
T'was up all night, worked really late,
Just to hear, the General state:

My soldier son, your slides were great,
Briefing's done, slides up to date.
One problem son, the color's wrong,
One more chance, or you go home.

So tell my mom, I've done my best.
Pin PowerPoint Slides on my chest.
One hundred slides were made that day,
But only 3 were ever displayed.

Find out more about PowerPoint misery at http://www.nbc-links.com/powerpoint.html

Important to understand

"My personal attitude is important to understand. I am very strong on the "well-rounded" officer and Sailor. I fully recognize that our world of cryptology requires a great deal of technical skill but the Navy requires men and women who can lead. When they cannot, we must clearly identify them so their talents are properly channeled and they are not placed in position of command or supervision."

J. S. McFarland
Rear Admiral
Commander, Naval Security Group Command

DEVELOPING NAVY LEADERS - Requirements for Flag Officer Expertise Today and in the Future

"We examined the Navy’s structure, its force development, its doctrinal documents, and its technology acquisitions for the past decade and the next decade to forecast how the demand for domain-specific expertise may change in the future. The areas of domain-specific expertise with the strongest evidence of increasing future importance to the Navy are: (top three)

• Information Warfare
• Information Operations
• Information Technology"

The full RAND Report is HERE.

The selection of Distinguished Black Engineer of the Year 2010 - Captain Willie Metts and Captain Jan E. Tighe (PhD) is directly related to "Requirements for Flag Officer Expertise Today and in the Future".

NAVIOCOM Hawaii Change of Command

(Left to right) Capt. James Hagy, outgoing commanding officer; Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command; and Capt. Jeffrey Cole, incoming commanding officer, at change of command at Navy Information Operations Command, Hawaii. U.S. Navy photo by Marion Bedingfield

By: Lt. j.g. Melissa Ocasio

Captain Jeffrey Cole relieved Captain James Hagy as commanding officer of Navy Information Operations Command, Hawaii during a change of command ceremony at Kunia, Hawaii on July 9, 2010.

From July 2008 to July 2010, Hagy’s leadership and management at NIOC Hawaii were crucial in the delivery of cryptologic support to various government organizations and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet, was guest speaker for the ceremony. “It is truly a pleasure to be here as we celebrate the success of NIOC Hawaii under Captain Hagy and usher in a new era of growth for NIOC Hawaii under Captain Cole,” McCullough said.

As the second commanding officer of NIOC Hawaii, Hagy was instrumental in influencing and shaping the future of the Information Dominance Corp (IDC) and FLTCYBERCOM/C10F. McCullough spoke about the vision, purpose and significance of the IDC, explaining that the exponential growth in computing and communications has transformed the information environment from an enabling medium to a core element of war-fighting capability. “This is truly an information age and information is warfare,” McCullough remarked.

During the change of command ceremony, McCullough presented Hagy with the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer, NIOC Hawaii, from July 2008 to July 2010. Hagy will report to Commander, Pacific Fleet, as department director for intelligence and information operations.

Cole came from Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command where he was the assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence and information operations.  He will lead NIOC’s 1,500 plus Sailors and civilians who primarily operate in building nine on Schofield Barracks, building 324 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Recalling my role as an Admiral's aide

Considering all the flack associated with the comments made by General Stanley McChrystal’s various low level aides to the Rolling Stone hack, I was reminded of what my Flag officer told me about my role on his staff as his aide-

"Mike, you don't have a speaking part, so keep your mouth shut."

He never had to repeat himself.

"It's not my problem" ethos

From the Admiral Balisle commission:

“From the most senior officers to the most junior petty officer, the culture reveals itself in personal attitudes ranging from resignation to frustration to toleration. The downward spiral of the culture is seen throughout the ship, in the longstanding acceptance of poor housekeeping, preservation and corrosion control. Over time, the ignored standard now becomes the norm. Sailors watching their commanding officer, department head, division officer and chief petty officer step over running rust, peeling non-skid or severe structure damage long enough associate this activity as the standard.”

Sadly, this report from Fleet Forces Command:

Capt. Cate Mueller, a spokeswoman for Fleet Forces Command, said "Balisle's report didn't tell the Navy anything it didn't already know."

Flag Officer Assignments

No. 583-10
July 07, 2010
Flag Officer Assignments

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignments:

Capt. Willie L. Metts, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as director of intelligence, J2, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md. Metts is currently serving as the division director, information and intelligence operations, PERS 47, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn.

Capt. Jan E. Tighe, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy director of operations, J3, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md. Tighe is currently serving as the executive assistant to the director, National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

Our man Rear Admiral Mike Rogers (1810)

with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen at a briefing. Mike Rogers is the JCS J2, intelligence officer for the "baddest Chairman ever" (according to Admiral Mullen's trainer - Dave).

CTT1 Steven Daugherty - Gone 3 years now - NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN

CTT1 Steve Daugherty, one of our students at NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola Florida while I was Director of Training, was killed in Iraq on my daughter's birthday. Steve and I shared birthdays - 16 May.

The information below is from his FaceBook site-maintained by his family. Click on his gravestone (to the left) to go to his FaceBook page.

CTT1 (Cryptologic Technician, Technical, First Class) Steven P. Daugherty, born in Apple Valley, California, was killed in action July 6, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, by an improvised explosive device. He was once student of the month at Barstow High School and made the honor roll at Barstow Community College. After graduating with an associate's degree in liberal studies, Steven enlisted in the Navy, where he worked with elite Navy SEAL teams, providing critical intelligence support to troops on the ground.

On that fateful day in July, Steven and his team were returning from a highly sensitive Joint Task Force operation in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, when their vehicle struck an IED, killing him and the two other members of his unit. According to the National Security Agency, it turned out that the work he and his team performed earlier that day played a decisive role in thwarting a dangerous group of insurgents trying to kill U.S. and Coalition forces. Today, across from our nation's Capitol, Steven rests in peace in the sacred ground of Arlington National Cemetery.

Steven was respected by his peers as a professional and dedicated cryptologic technician, and his work was vital to the success of important combat missions. He was a decorated Sailor, having been awarded a Bronze Star (with combat "V"), Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and other medals and commendations. His name is inscribed on National Security Agency's Memorial Wall, "They Served in Silence." Steven is only the second recipient of the National Intelligence Medal for Valor.

Steven was a loving 28-year-old father to an adoring 5-year-old son. A loyal brother to three fellow warfighters - two Airmen and one Soldier, Richard, Robert, and Kristine. And a faithful son to his parents, Thomas and Lydia.

Most of all, Steven P. Daugherty was a patriot who gave the full measure of devotion defending America's freedom.

In naming this important building to honor the sacrifice of Steven P. Daugherty, the Navy dedicates to him the latest addition to the nation's premiere Joint Warfare Assessment Laboratory at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division. The Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center will stand as an ever-present reminder of Steven -- and to every Sailor, Marine, Soldier, and Airman who has given their life in defense of this country. This dedication also commemorates the groundbreaking work NSWC Corona is doing to support the Joint IED Defeat Organization in its mission to combat the threat of IEDs against our Armed Forces.

In addition to supporting needed counter-IED efforts, the Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center greatly enhances NSWC Corona’s ability to support key national missions. With it, NSWC Corona can provide Strike Group interoperability assessment needed to certify ships for deployment; provide critical flight analysis for all Navy surface missile systems; provide performance assessment of Aegis and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense ships throughout their entire lifecycle; and finally, NSWC Corona can centralize, process, and distribute the Navy's combat and weapon system data on one of the largest classified networks in the Department of Defense.

The Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center is a state-of-the-art analysis and assessment asset that gives the nation extensive capability to protect our Armed Forces, our country, and our freedom.

This just in from one of my Navy friends in command...

"Yes, our command has a strategic plan. It's called 'you can keep your plan, we are busy performing the Navy's mission'."

"That's my plan and I'm sticking to it."

Corrected on request 7/6/10.

Navy Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Holland

Navy CWOs are a special category of officers who should not be considered "junior officers". Although junior in pay grade, Navy CWOs have an average of 18 years enlisted service prior to commissioning. The wealth of technical experience and leadership they bring to the officer corps allows them to work closely with, and fully understand the requirements of, enlisted technicians in their charge. Warrant officers "bridge the gap" between the enlisted technician level and other officers, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.

This is CWO4 Bryan Holland, one of the best CWOs in the Navy today.

1000th post milestone - My favorite Sailor - Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

Today's post is my 1000th.

"For in this modern world, the instruments of warfare are not solely for waging war. Far more importantly, they are the means for controlling peace. Naval officers must therefore understand not only how to fight a war, but how to use the tremendous power which they operate to sustain a world of liberty and justice, without unleashing the powerful instruments of destruction and chaos that they have at their command."

Admiral Arleigh Burke

CNO, 1 August 1961, Change of command address at Annapolis, MD

CO - XO relationship - Command Excellence In Action - NIOC Pensacola, Florida

In top wardrooms, (like that of Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola, Florida - as an example) the COs and XOs get respect because they have earned it. Junior officers model themselves after their superiors.

Junior officers know that the command tone is set by the senior officers and they follow the tone set by their superiors. If the senior officers are formal, the wardroom respects that formality. If the senior officers prefer a more jovial atmosphere, junior officers go along.

Junior officers in top commands recognize that it is the CO's command and do what they can to represent the CO's interests as completely as possible both inside and outside the command.

From Command Excellence - Wardroom Summary. Full text is HERE.

Number 10 - Loss of confidence in his ability to command

Capt. William Kiestler, commanding officer of Norfolk Naval Shipyard was fired on 30 June 2010. Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, cited a loss of confidence in Kiestler’s ability to command.

Captain Kiestler failed to ensure critical maintenance work was being performed according to procedure and loss of situational awareness with respect to the status of ongoing submarine projects.

Considering the state of Navy materiel readiness these days, we should expect to see more of this.