Problems in the Chief Petty Officer Mess

As the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West works to resolve problems in the Chiefs' Mess, I was reminded of this.

"Unless and until officers conduct themselves at all times as officers, it is useless to demand and hopeless to expect any improvement in the enlisted ranks.

Matters of correct attitude, personal conduct, and awareness of moral obligations do not lend themselves to control by a set of rules or to scientific analysis...Many methods of instruction and different approaches to teaching them will present themselves. Each naval officer must consider himself an instructor in these matters and the future tone of the naval service will depend on the sincerity which he brings to this task."

Admiral T. C. Kinkaid
United States Navy
1947

Information Dominance Corps Flag Panel

Latest IDC Flag Panel was held Monday, 14 December 2009. Look for a summary report from VADM Dorsett soon. Continued topics from last IDC Flag Panel, including more on cross-detailing within the IDC. More to follow...

Genuine Command Excellence Revisited - Navy Information Operations Command, Pensacola Florida

The Commanding Officer, (Commander Frank Shaul) Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola, Florida inspects his Sailors during a command inspection and awards ceremony at Corry Station.

This is an important element of the "Maintaining Standards" aspect of the Navy's Command Excellence program. In superior commands, Sailors believe in doing things in the best possible way. They want to do the job right. Maintaining and improving standards is a way of life. They do not wait until just before an inspection to enforce standards.

Department Heads and division officers in superior wardrooms are key to setting and maintaining standards. Standards are clear and consistent. People know what is important and what is not. Enforcement of standards is done with an eye for fairness and justice. Goals are continuously improved upon. They are realistic, but always maintained at a high level. Once a challenge is met, Sailors are given positive feedback and another appropriately challenging goal is set.

Feedback, both positive and negative, on goals is a hallmark of top commands. Activities are monitored on a regular basis. Performance problems do not get out of hand because they are remedied at the first sign of difficulty. Everyone is encouraged to take responsibility for enforcing standards and seeing that things are done right in the command.

NIOC Pensacola, Florida - leading the way in Command Excellence.

The Importance Of Letter Writing - Captain Laurance Safford: Father of Naval Cryptology

Navy Captain Laurance Safford is often referred to as the “father of U.S. naval cryptology”. His contributions during WW II were numerous and significant.

Much of what we know about Captain Safford's contributions to naval cryptology come from his own writing.

A number of his personal letters provide insight into events surrounding the congressional investigation into the attack on Pearl Harbor. One letter refers specifically to the “Winds Message” reportedly intercepted by the U.S. days before the 7 December surprise attack. This infamous message reportedly gave clear indications of the planned Japanese surprise attack.

Unfortunately the actual intercept mysteriously disappeared shortly after the surprise attack and the "Winds Message's" very existence is only supported by the testimony of Safford and perhaps one or two others who reportedly also were aware of the intercept.

His personal papers also included a four page letter to Vice Admiral C.E. Rosendahl responding to two pages of questions from Rosendahl about the number, distribution, disposition and construction of PURPLE machines prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Other documents included a petition to the Congress and supporting testimony to award Capt. Safford remuneration for his many secret cryptologic inventions, some of which were cited as among the most important and secure communication systems used by the U.S. during WW II.

As Admiral Stavridis is so fond of saying: "Think, read, write and publish." If you don't tell your story - who will know it?

Information Warfare Leadership

Some have expressed confusion about the leadership and seniority of Flag officers and Senior Executive Service (SES)/Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL) in the Information Warfare community.

Here is the line-up as I see it. As always, your comments are welcome.

1. VADM Jack Dorsett - 1630
Overarching Leader of the Information Dominance Corps - OPNAV N2/N6

2. RADM Ned Deets - 1610
Information Warfare Officer community leader - Vice Commander, NNWC

3. RADM Michael A. Brown - 1610
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications - Department of Homeland Security

4. RDML Mike S. Rogers - 1610
Joint Staff, J2 Director of Intelligence

5. RDML William Leigher -1610
Deputy Fleet Cyber Commander/Deputy Commander 10th Fleet

6. RDML (Sel) Sean Filipowski -1610
Director, Cyber, Sensors and Electronic Warfare OPNAV N2N6F3

7. Mr. Mark Neighbors - Former 1610
Chief of Staff (N2/N6S)

8. Mr. Jerome Rapin - Former 1610
Deputy Director - Cyber, Sensors and Electronic Warfare - OPNAV N2N6F3B

9. 50 or so 1610 Captains.

10. 100 or so 1610 Commanders.

Information Capable Warrior

"Information dominance in the 21^st century Navy will require specific focus, deep expertise developed over an entire career, new mindsets, and new processes. If we accept the assumption that "information effects" are both supporting kinetic operations and supported by kinetic effects, the Navy must take immediate steps to build and sustain Information Domain warfighting expertise in order to develop future Maritime or Joint Information Warfare Component Commanders. After reviewing all options for long-term effectiveness and near-term feasibility, the Information Capable Warrior study recommended establishing a new Information Officer (URL) warfighting community as a comprehensive solution with the best opportunity to realize the Navy’s goals for the future Information Capable Warrior."

Information Capable Warrior Whitepaper
Captain Mark A. Wilson, USNR, Retired
President/CEO - Strategy Bridge International

Command Failure = Commanding Officer Failure

"When things go wrong in your command, start searching for the reason in increasingly larger concentric circles around your own desk."

General Bruce C. Clark
Commander in Chief of the US Army in Europe, 1960–62

Seven Leadership Principles for the Information Dominance Corps

"The most important criteria for succeeding in the Navy, as in most places, is to attain professional competence. Seniors, peers, and juniors all judge us based on our basic knowledge of our business. Generally, the greater breadth and depth of professional competence, the more opportunities you will have to be successful. I hope this revelation doesn’t shock anyone, but it is important to emphasize. I believe individuals will be more successful if they spend time and energy on improving their professional skills, rather than wasting time trying to get face time or maneuver to find the right assignment. Depth and breadth in our field is immediately recognized. For officers and enlisted members, the best way in our business to expand professional competence (and professional reputation) is to go to sea and other operational assignments and do well there.

I believe there are a handful of fundamental principles that, when followed, can lead to success. These principles, I believe, apply to all members of our business, regardless of Service, specialty, personal or professional background and skills, paygrade, position or seniority. What are the fundamentals?

They are:

(1) professional competence,
(2) relevance,
(3) dedication,
(4) sense of urgency,
(5) attention to detail,
(6) leadership and
(7) maintaining the highest ethical standards.

There are other attributes of the successful Information Dominance Corps professional, and I will discuss them as well." (in later blog posts).

Vice Admiral Jack Dorsett
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance
"The Art of Success in Naval Intelligence"

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

On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=13170 Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132 Public contact: http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspx or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 951-09 December 07, 2009

Flag Officer Assignment Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignment: Capt. Sean R. Filipowski, who has been selected for rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as director, information operations, N3IO / deputy director of naval intelligence for cryptology, N2C, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

RDML FILIPOWSKI'S OFFICIAL NAVY BIOGRAPHY

RADM G. Patrick March - Fair Winds And Following Seas

A truly great human being left this earth on 18 October and your Shipmates bade him farewell on Friday, 5 December.

RADM George Patrick March, COMNAVSECGRU 1974-1978; USNA 1947 – We wish you fair winds and following seas.

With the final chorus of "Oh Danny Boy", sung in a beautiful acapella voice (with stirring emotion) by a U.S. Naval Academy Chaplain (LCDR John Weigelt), RADM George Patrick March’s earthly remains joined those of his loving wife, Saumie March at the USNA Columbarium on Friday, 5 December 2009, with over 100 family, friends and Shipmates in attendance.

"But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be
For ye shall bend and tell me that you love me
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me."

Born to descendants who braved the Oregon Trail, George Patrick March was an individual filled with fortitude and perseverance. He became a young man made for the United States Naval Academy. On 5 December 2009, his family, friends and Shipmates bid him a welcome home and farewell in the same Navy Chapel (St. Andrews) where he sought comfort and grace as a solitary Midshipman who lost both his parents as an 18 year old plebe. A lifelong learner, he buried himself in his studies and applied his athletic talents to the Navy’s Crew Team. Today his earthly remains joined his beloved wife, Saumie’s, in the USNA Columbarium overlooking the waters and grounds surrounding the Naval Academy. Molly March mentioned to me at the reception that if she had thought of it earlier, she would have had her dear Father's remains carried to the Columbarium by a Navy Crew Team scull in which her Father had spent so much of his time.

In a tribute fitting the former Commander of the Naval Security Group Command from 1974 to 1978, Rear Admiral (RADM) Edward H. Deets (Vice Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command) headed the group of active duty cryptologists, cryptologic technicians and other Sailors who came to honor RADM March’s Navy service. RADM Deets was joined by Captain Sean Filipowski, Mr. Jerome Rapin, Captain Steven Ashworth (Commanding Officer – Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Maryland), Commander John M. Myers (XO) , Command Master Chief CMDCM(AW/SW) Scott Drenning and 20-30 Navy Information Operations Command Maryland Sailors of all paygrades. Retired officers whom I recognized included former Commanders of the Naval Security Group Command - RADM Eugene Ince, RADM Ike Cole (and wife Gisela), RADM Tom Stevens, RADM H. Winsor Whiton (and wife Judy) and RADM Andy Singer. RDML Alex Miller, Captain George Hammer, Captain Jerry Stump, Commanders Mike Makfinsky and Dave Jessen and LCDR Shiela Kapitulik were also in attendance, as were many friends and Shipmates of RADM March’s generation including a few from his USNA Class of 1947.

The assembled group sang a number of hymns including Eagle’s Wings:

"And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breadth of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of his hand."

The three March daughters, Molly, Terry and Peggy each bid their father a fond farewell in the way that only truly loving daughters can. Each spoke of the special meaning their father held for them and the love he had for their Mother, their family, the Navy, the Naval Security Group and her Sailors.

RADM March’s friend and Shipmate, Dave Mail, delivered a powerful eulogy about the senseless glorification of athletes and movie stars who contribute so little to the fabric of our Nation when compared men such as Pat March. He also mentioned that, in addition to having had several shore commands, RADM March commanded three capital ships during his Naval career – Leadership, Fellowship and Friendship.

We all recited "The Lord's Prayer".

Following the memorial service, St. Andrews Chapel emptied onto the street in front of the Navy Chapel behind a Navy processional band. Nearly all walked in solemn yet joyful unison from the Chapel, along the USNA streets to the Columbarium behind the band playing songs appropriate to the memorial. My heart was warmed deeply by the respect displayed by all the USNA Midshipmen “on the yard” who were on their way to classes or the noon mean. As the procession made its way along the USNA streets, all the Midshipmen within earshot of the music came to rigid attention and remained that way until we made our way past them. Hundreds of Midshipmen paid due respect to one of their own – a man who set the bar high for personal and professional performance.

At the Columbarium, there was another brief ceremony with the band playing tribute to RADM G. P. March which was followed by a gun salute, and presentation of the Flag of the United States of America, on behalf of a grateful nation, to the three March girls – Molly, Terry and Peggy. Shortly thereafter we proceeded to the niche where RADM March’s earthly remains will rest, along with his loving wife Saumie.

Molly March said one final Irish blessing –

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

The Chaplain then sang “Oh Danny Boy”…and some of us wept.

A special note of thanks to RADM Ned Deets for presenting the family with a replica of the RADM G.P. March Award for Language Excellence. And, to the absolutely class act of Captain Steven Ashworth for bringing his XO, CMC and Sailors of every paygrade to pay tribute to such a fine man. RADM March – we bid you farewell and make a promise that we will remember the character of your service and will endeavor to live up to the high standards you set for all of us.

The NCVA will devote a large portion of their next edition of CRYPTOLOG to RADM March and his service to our country and our great Navy.

Arleigh A. Burke: Teach our young people

"America's most important role in the world, almost from the day our country was born, has been the role of moral leadership...Teach our young people to believe in the responsibility of one to another; their responsibility to God; to the people of the world. Teach them to believe in themselves; to believe in their worth as human beings; to believe in their place in leading the world out of the darkness of oppression. Teach them to believe that no one owes us a living, but that we owe so much to others. Teach them to believe in their priceless heritage of freedom, and that it must be won anew by every generation. And teach them to believe in the United States of America. The hope of the world lies here, in our physical power, our moral strength, our integrity, and our will to assume the responsibilities that history plainly intends us to bear."

Admiral Arleigh A. Burke
United States Navy

From NAVPERS 15890
Moral Leadership: The Protection of Moral Standards and Character Education Program

Admiral Hyman Rickover on Responsibility

"Responsibility is a unique concept. It can only reside and inhere in a single individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you. You may disclaim it, but you cannot divest yourself of it. Even if you do not recognize it or admit its presence, you cannot escape it. If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion or ignorance or passing the blame can pass the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible."

RADM G. Pat March - Crossing the bar

RADM G. Patrick March - Today we bid your earthly remains farewell.

Crossing the bar.

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For through from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

–Alfred Tennyson

RADM G. Pat March - Leadership Philosphy

Very simply, application of the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you”). Basically I tried to be “hard but fair.” And most basic of all, praise in public and criticize in private.

Be clear about what is expected from subordinates but give vent to and encourage their initiative.

Know your people. I’m not talking mollycoddling or improper fraternization, but observe and listen to your officers and Chief Petty Officers.

RADM G. Pat March - Traits

RADM G. Pat March presenting the RADM March Award for Foreign Language Excellence to Lt Mike Zanski, Officer In Charge, Naval Security Group Detachment Barbers Point, Hawaii in 1985. (Front row: RADM James S. McFarland, RADM March, Mike Zanski, CAPT Charles F. Authement, CDR T. K. Quigley. Back row: Jim Riley, Dean Horvath, Danny Browning, Taylor Smith, Ron Grenier, and Curt Gomer)

“Traits to make me a successful officer”

Belief in the importance of the mission of the Navy and the Cryptologic Community and the ability to articulate and pass that belief on to subordinates (and seniors).

Readiness to undertake any mission and to accept the job assigned. I never campaigned for any certain position but rather tried to do the best I could at what the Navy decided I should be doing. This is why, when I was the Assignment Officer in BuPers, I sometimes wasn’t too sympathetic with young officers’ whining when they came into my office.

From the very beginning I understood the importance of the Chief Petty Officers (CPO). I have a facility for getting along with people, but, at the same time, I think I had an inherent sense of what was important and what was fair – both to the Navy and to the individual.

“Traits to make me a successful cryptologist”

I suppose a basic fascination with puzzles and the ability to write a coherent story from fragmentary data.