Hotly Contested Views

Leaders should expect their views to be hotly contested. In many instances the counterpoints will be expressed thoughtfully and at length—but also unsparingly. Such exchanges nevertheless can be productive, because it is often through engaging opposing perspectives that truth can emerge. Spirited debate is a hallmark of America’s military success.

Other times, the feedback is markedly less civil. In an era of anonymous blogs, it is especially easy for nameless detractors to spew venom without accountability. This new anonymity runs counter to the core value of integrity that is common to all our services.

CHARLES J. DUNLAP JR.
Major General, USAF Deputy Judge Advocate General
in his paper The Contact Sport Senior Leaders Must Play


Note: Have the courage to own your opinions. Leave your name with your comments.

A Naval officer's development

You have arrived at a new place in your development as a Naval officer and as a Commanding Officer when you understand that you can call in your Sailors to help you do a better job together than you can do all by yourself.

MCPON Thomas Crow

Last Friday I had the opportunity to have lunch with the former Chief of Naval Personnel, VADM Lando W. Zech Jr. Our lunch discussions always make their way toward fine leaders in the Navy and he reminded me of his association and friendship with MCPON Thomas Crow and his wife Carol. VADM Zech told me about how he, CNO ADM Hayward and MCPON Crow established the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island in 1981. It was MCPON Crow's vision of the SEA that made it a reality. MCPON Crow passed away 30 November 2008. His passing affected VADM Zech deeply. MCPON Crow was my second MCPON. This is what VADM Zech had to say about MCPON Crow:

"I will always remember Tom Crow for his great support and his many accomplishments but I will remember him especially: First, for his lovely wife, Carol. Admiral Hayward recognized the importance of family to the sailor and authorized Carol to travel with Tom. This proved to be great initiative. Carol was a wonderful representative, an excellent listener, a very fine speaker, a valuable source of information and a great credit to the Navy. Second, the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy.... Tom Crow believed that having an Academy dedicated to our Senior Enlisted personnel and located in the vicinity of our Naval War College would enhance "Pride and Professionalism" and would be a real boon to senior enlisted leadership. He felt very strongly that the Navy should have its own Academy. Mainly through Tom's personal and forceful drive, the Navy did in 1981 establish its own Senior Enlisted Academy. I was very proud to be there with him to cut the ribbon. Lastly, I will always remember Tom Crow as someone who consistently showed superb leadership by example on a daily basis. He was a strong spokesman for entire enlisted community and he never forgot that he was a Sailor from the fleet and that readiness and fleet are what it's all about. He was one great Shipmate!"

Vice Admiral Lando W. Zech Jr., USN (Retired)
Former CNP

A little BROADSIDE from Jeff Bacon

Well defined strategic concept

‘If a service does not possess a well defined strategic concept, the public and the political leaders will be confused as to the role of the service, uncertain as to the necessity of its existence and apathetic or hostile to the claims made by the service upon the resources of society.’

Samuel P. Huntington
May 1954 issue of USNI's "Proceedings"

Captain Jan E. Tighe Selected for IW Flag

Captain Jan E. Tighe, United States Naval Academy (USNA) class of 1984 was selected for Rear Admiral by the FY11 Flag Officer Selection Board. Captain Tighe is currently serving as executive assistant to LTG Keith Alexander, the commander, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

CONGRATULATIONS !!

1st female pilot for USAF Thunderbirds

Lieutenant Colonel Nicole M.E. Malachowski is rated a Senior Pilot with more than 2,100 flying hours, including more than 1,000 hours in the F-15E. Lt Col Malachowski is a distinguished 2002 graduate of the Air Force's Squadron Officer School and was inducted into the Women in Aviation, International, Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2008.

She flew in the number 3 position with the USAF Flight Demonstration Squadron THUNDERBIRDS from 2006 to 2007.

During her second tour at Lakenheath, England, Captain Malachowski deployed for four months in early 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, flying 26 combat missions.

A Sailor is unique - demands only grow

“A Sailor is truly unique because he must have the capacity to simultaneously love his country…his service…his family…his shipmates…and the sea. He needs each of them unquestionably as each of them needs him…and the demands placed on him never diminish, they only grow.”

Admiral Bulkeley

Not surprised

Yesterday, in changes to DADT across the DoD, the Secretary of Defense removed the authority of Commanding Officers to separate Sailors from the Navy for homosexual conduct. The new changes raise the rank of officers who are authorized to initiative fact-finding inquiries or separation proceedings under DADT to generals or flag officers.

In other words, Commanding Officers can not be trusted to do this properly. We need Flag officers who are more in tune with the political realities of DADT and who will consider those realities before acting.

Communicate his Ideas on Paper

"None other than a Gentleman, as well as a seaman, both in theory and practice is qualified to support the character of a Commissioned Officer in the Navy, nor is any man fit to command a Ship of War who is not also capable of communicating his Ideas on Paper in Language that becomes his Rank."

John Paul Jones
to the Marine Committee, 21 January 1777

Captain Michael Hawley shows appreciation for his abused USS WASP crew - then he is fired in disgrace

USS Wasp (LHD 1) held a change of command ceremony, April 11 2009, at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

Capt. Daniel H. Fillion relieved Capt. Michael D. Hawley as commanding officer.

To show his appreciation to the Wasp crew, Hawley ordered the ceremony to be conducted in working uniforms, vice the traditional Service Dress Blues, and even provided chairs so his Sailors could sit, rather than have them stand in formation.

From an official Navy press release.

His arrogance is exceeded only by his complete lack of integrity. A small man made large by a command at sea pin. His sense of entitlement is incomprehensible.

MCPON Joe R. Campa's first Chief

My first Chief had spent most of his near 30 years in the Navy at sea - and it showed. He had a long beard and his khakis were almost bleached white from the countless hours of being exposed to the sun, salt and spray of the ocean. His voice was kind of grizzled and wherever he walked, he left behind a little trail of salt.

Now this Chief was not a man of many words, but when he did speak we listened. He knew the ship, he knew his rate and he had a sixth sense about the sea.

I recall working on the boat deck one day, when the Chief came by—he stepped close to me and looked up at the sky, out at the horizon. He started to tell me to secure things topside for heavy weather. I looked around--the sky was clear--the seas were calm but sure enough a few hours later we were getting pounded by heavy rain and rough seas.

The Chief also had something that I refer to now as cop presence. When he walked into a space the tone of the entire space changed, if you were doing something that you thought he’d frown upon, you immediately stopped.

When he went up to the pilot house to check on those of us standing watch, he’d step on the bridge even the Captain sat up a little straighter in his chair.

That was my Chief.

Joe. R. Campa Jr.
11th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

You can read the rest of MCPON Campa's speech for the 232nd Navy birthday - HERE.

As we head toward the 117 anniversary of the creation of the Chief Petty Officer on 1 April 2010, my hope for every Sailor and officer is that they be as fortunate as MCPON Campa was to have a Chief like his.

For the Chiefs, my hope is that you are this Chief for every Sailor and officer with whom you serve.

I know of few compliments that are equal to - "He's my Chief."

Principled, accountable and responsible

"If ever there was a time and place to apply the lessons that we know about principled, accountable, and responsible leadership, then now is the time and this is the wartime mission. Shipmates take care of shipmates… it is the model of leadership that has proven itself consistently across the expanse of our successful, storied history; we owe shipmates serving on the ground nothing less than our best effort."

Admiral Patrick M. Walsh
Jesuit College Preparatory (Dallas, Texas) Distinguished Graduate/Alumnus
Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Office of Intelligence - 128 years new today

GENERAL ORDER No. 292

March 23, 1882.

An “Office of Intelligence” is hereby established in the Bureau of Navigation for the purpose of collecting and recording such naval information as may be useful to the Department in time of war, as well as in peace.

To facilitate this work, the Department Library will be combined with the “Office of Intelligence,” and placed under the direction of the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.

Commanding and all other officers are directed to avail themselves of all opportunities which may arise to collect and to forward to the “Office of Intelligence” professional matters likely to serve the object in view.

William H. Hunt,
Secretary of the Navy

Cryptologic Rockstar !!

This naval aircrewman rocks !!

Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) 1st Class (NAC/AW) Nolan D. Workman, an EP-3 special operator instructor based at Navy Information Operations Command Misawa, Japan, is the Naval Network Warfare Command Sea Sailor of the Year.