Author: captain1610

High Effort/High Results Leader

In some great news this weekend, Commander Jennifer Couture was selected to replace Commander Corey Wofford as the Commanding Officer of USS KAUFFMAN (DDG 59) (FFG 59).  She previously served as the Executive Officer of USS PORTER (DDG 78).  She is widely viewed as the antithesis to the former CO of USS COWPENS.
A native of Vineland, New Jersey, CDR Jennifer Couture was commissioned through the NROTC program at The George Washington University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. At sea, CDR Couture served as Electronics Division Officer in USS WASP (LHD 1) and Auxiliaries Officer in USS SAIPAN (LHA 2), where she earned her Surface Warfare Officer qualification. As a Department Head, CDR Couture served in USS ELROD (FFG 55) as Combat Systems Officer, and in USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) as Operations Officer. She has deployed in support of Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR, ACTIVE ENDEAVOR, IRAQI FREEDOM, and ENDURING FREEDOM. While ashore, CDR Couture served as Current Surface Operations Officer for Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Flag Secretary to the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Atlantic; and Contingency Plans Officer, U.S. Joint Forces Command. 
She earned her Master of Arts degree in International Studies at Old Dominion University (2004), and completed her Joint Professional Military Education as a student of the Naval War College (2006) and the Joint Forces Staff College (2010). 
Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Fourth Award), and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Congratulations Skipper Couture!  All ahead FULL.

Commander Jennifer Couture while Executive Officer of USS PORTER

2 Year Anniversary of the Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group

Two years ago today, Rear Admiral Bill Leigher, Deputy Commander, Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet presided over the change of command ceremony and renaming/ establishment ceremony for Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group.  Captain Steve Parode proudly assumed command and provided a motivational speech for his new officers, Chiefs, Sailors and civilians.  BZ to all hands. 

Two years have passed very quickly and great progress has been made.  Congratulations to all the cyberwarriors of NCWDG !!

Low Effort/Low Results Leader

I have long been an advocate, proponent, evangelist, and general pain in the butt about Command Excellence.  I would like to write a bit about what I am calling the “Low Effort Leader”.  This type of leader is insidious and is antithetical to ever attaining Command Excellence.  Traits of the “Low Effort Leader” include:
  • Persistent tardiness
    • Can’t seem to do anything on time
      • FITREPS are late (except his)
      • Awards are late (except his)
      • Meetings start late and end even later
      • Can’t seem to arrive at command functions on time
        • persistently keeps DHs/DIVOFFs/Sailors waiting for his ‘grand entrance’
  • Persistently inaccessible
    • Officers have to jump through hoops to speak with this leader
    • Keeps people waiting in the staging area outside his office
    • Never able to answer phone calls (Please leave a message at the tone)
    • Don’t ever expect an answer to your letter or e-mail from this guy
  • Too brilliant to communicate to “the masses”
    • Never explains anything to the command
  • Persistent ‘station keeping’ – we’re just doing the job
    • Command and Sailors are not moving forward
    • ‘Good’ is good enough
    • Let’s stay in our lane; we don’t want to draw any attention to ourselves
    • That’s not part of our Mission, Functions and Tasks

 I’ll give the “Low Effort Leader” one thing – He sure is persistent.

Fifth Navy CO fired

Captain John Fuller, Commodore of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY TWO (DESRON 22) fired Commander Corey Wofford, CO of USS KAUFFMAN on Friday, 15 February for loss of confidence in his ability to command.  As is usual in such cases, the Navy has removed the CO’s photo and bio from the ship’s webpage.

His removal marks the Navy’s fifth CO firing in 2013.

Fourth Navy CO fired

The Navy announced today that Commander, Coastal Riverine Group TWO (CRG@), Captain James Hamblet relieved Captain David Hunter as commanding officer Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron TWELVE (MSRON 12) due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, a result of mismanagement of personnel matters and unprofessional behavior. 
MSRON 12 Command Master Chief, Operations Specialist Master Chief Gregory Krumholz, was also relieved due to substandard performance of his duties as he demonstrated inappropriate and unprofessional behavior as command master chief.
MSRON 12 is a Navy Reserve unit based in Williamsburg, Va., and is currently forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Coastal Riverine Force Sailors conduct port and harbor security, high value asset protection, offensive combat operations and maritime security operations in rivers, harbors and coastal waterways.

John Maxwell on Thinking

Thinking is but one component of Admiral James Stavridis’ call to us “To Think, To Read, To Write and To Publish”.  By the way, today is Admiral Stavridis’s birthday.  In honor of his birthday, I share with you some of author John Maxwell’s ‘types of thinking’.

1. Big Picture Thinking: the ability to  think beyond yourself and your world in order to process ideas with a holistic perspective.
2. Focused Thinking: the ability to think with clarity on issues by removing distractions and mental clutter from your mind.
3. Creative Thinking: the ability to break out of your “box” of limitations and  explore ideas  and  options  to  experience a breakthrough.
4. Realistic Thinking: the ability to build a solid foundation on facts to think with certainty.
5. Strategic  Thinking: the ability to implement plans that give direction for today and increase your potential for tomorrow.
6. Possibility  Thinking: the ability to unleash your enthusiasm and hope to find solutions for even seemingly impossible situations.
7. Reflective Thinking: the ability to revisit the past in order to gain a true perspective and think with understanding.
8. Questioning Popular  Thinking: the ability to reject the limitations of common thinking and accomplish uncommon results.
9. Shared  Thinking: the ability to include the heads of others to help you think “over  your head” and achieve compounding results.
10. Unselfish  Thinking: the ability to consider others and their journey to think with collaboration.
11. Bottom-Line Thinking: the ability to focus on  results and maximum return to reap the full potential of your thinking.

 

Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet Vision, Guiding Principles and Goals – How does your command measure up in supporting these important efforts?


VADM Rogers calling on you!

VISION: We will conduct full spectrum operations in and through cyberspace to ensure Navy and Joint/Coalition Freedom of Action while denying same to our adversaries. We will achieve this end through Global situational awareness and Command and Control, operational requirements generation, work force development and partnerships with the Intelligence Community (IC), industry, and academia.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

  • Operational culture
  • Proactive and adaptive planning and execution
  • Visionary thinking
  • Accountability and integrity
  • Embrace change

Goal 1:  OPERATIONS 
– Conduct full spectrum cyberspace operations in support of Navy,  Joint and National  missions
Goal 2:  FORCE SHAPING
 – Shape  the Navy ‘s cyber workforce that supports and satisfies Navy, Joint and National  missions
Goal 3:  CAPABILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS   
–  Provide Navy cyberspace capabilities to support Navy, Joint and National missions