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Reminder for Commanding Officers For 2012 – Command Responsibility is Absolute

The Commander’s responsibility for his command is absolute and he must and will be held accountable for its safety, well-being and efficiency. That is the very foundation of our maritime heritage, the cornerstone of naval efficiency and effectiveness and the key to victory in combat.

This is the essence of the special trust and confidence placed in an officer’s patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities. 

Every day in command tests the strength of character, judgment and professional abilities of those in command. In some cases, Commanders  will be called upon to answer for their conduct in a court of law. In all cases, they will be professionally judged by seagoing officers — a far more stringent accountability in the eyes of those who follow the sea.

We in the Navy would have it no other way, for the richest reward of command is the personal satisfaction of having measured up to this responsibility and accountability.


From the CNO’s Memorandum For All Flag Officers and Officers in Command of 2 October 1976.

10 Reasons I’ve Enjoyed Posting To This Blog Over The Past Year

In no particular order.

1.  It allowed me to engage with a wonderful author and to write the Chapter 1 opening vignette for a Wall Street Journal/Amazon best-selling business book.  Dr. Stephen Covey and Bono ‘open’ for me.
2.  It gave me the opportunity to help a Pulitzer prize winning author with research for his story on The SeaWitch in TIME magazine.
3.  It has allowed me to remain connected to the Navy’s cryptologic community, which I love.
4.  It earned me an invite to speak at a Women In Defense forum and to contribute ideas to numerous professional publications.
5.  It has allowed others to freely express their frustrations on a variety of topics important to them.
6.  It allowed me to expand the network of Sailors of all paygrades that I mentor and with whom I share lessons learned.
7.  It allowed me to collaborate with the former CNO on avenues to gain recognition of the Navy as a TOP 50 Employer in the United States.
8.  It allowed me to keep alive the memory of some stellar Sailors.
9.  It has allowed me to write everyday, which I love.
10.  It has connected me to some great Navy veterans and many others who proudly serve today.

10 Signs Your Skipper May Not Like You and 10 Signs That He/She Just Isn’t That Into You

1.  He has the promotion list with your name on it and he makes you wait outside his office for 40 minutes stewing over it before sharing the good news with you.
2.  She doesn’t answer your letters or e-mails.
3.  He won’t endorse any of your requests to higher authority.
4.  She insults you in front of family and friends at every opportunity.
5.  He takes all the credit for good deeds and blames failures on you.
6.  She never repays her $$$ debt to you.
7.  He’s happy to have you do all of his ‘dirty’ work and does all the fun stuff himself.
8.  She NEVER respects your time or that of your subordinates.
9.  He never accepts any of your suggestions or recommendations.
10.  She tells you, “You know, I just don’t like you.”

AND, here is something from Alison Green at US NEWS and WORLD REPORT on 10 signs that your boss just isn’t that into you:

1. You ask for more feedback and don’t get it.
2. He doesn’t introduce you to important contacts.
3. She turns your raise request down without much explanation.
4. He doesn’t trust you to get your work done.
5. You imply you’re looking at other jobs and she doesn’t seem to care.
6. You hear little positive feedback.
7. She never asks for your advice.
8. You have trouble getting his attention.
9. She shows no interest in trying to solve your problems.
10. He tells you (he’s not that into you). See my #10 above.

The Role of The Crew in Command Excellence

It is the crew, led by the officers and Chiefs, 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.
Commanding Officers 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 Chiefs 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 Chiefs. 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.

2012 Cryptologic/IW Leadership Lineup

1. VADM Michael S. Rogers – 1810
Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet

2. RADM William Leigher – 1810
Director of Warfare Integration for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6F)

3. RDML Sean Filipowski – 1810
Deputy Director of Operations, U.S. Cyber Command

4. RDML Jan E. Tighe – 1810
Director, Decision Superiority, OPNAV N2N6F4

5. RDML Willie Metts – 1810
Deputy Chief of Tailored Access Operations, National Security Agency

6. Mr. Mark Neighbors – Former 1610
Special Assistant to Vice Admiral Kenneth Card

7. Mr. Jerome Rapin – Former 1610
Director – Cyber, Sensors and Electronic Warfare – OPNAV N2N6F3

Rear Admiral Michael A. Brown will have a retirement ceremony at the United States Naval Academy on 13 January 2012. We thank him for his selfless service to the Navy and the Nation and for his leadership in the cryptologic community.

Give Your Officers A Little More Praise

“Hereafter, if you should observe an occasion to give your officers and friends a little more praise than is their due, and confess more fault than you can justly be charged with, you will only become the sooner for it, a great captain. Criticizing and censuring almost everyone you have to do with will diminish friends, increase enemies, and thereby hurt your affairs.”

Benjamin Franklin in a note to Captain John Paul Jones

Sharing Information

Sharing what one knows is intuitive. This is particularly true within the Navy and Marine Corps where teamwork is held in the highest regard. Excellent examples of intuitive knowledge  sharing are Navy Chief Petty Officer messes and Company Non-Commissioned Officer  discussions within the Marine Corps.  

However, the consistent application of knowledge management concepts, techniques, tools, and technologies will improve knowledge identification, sharing, and re-use. In turn, this will help optimize decision-making, improve efficiency and effectiveness of task accomplishment, and empower the Naval warfighter.  

Knowledge management fosters collaboration across organizational boundaries, time and space, and links people who have the requisite tacit and explicit knowledge with those who need it to do their job.

USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) XO fired for fraternization – unduly familiar relationship

The Executive Officer of the amphibious transport dock USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) was fired on 21 December for having an “unduly familiar relationship” with a female member of the crew, the Navy announced Thursday.

Commander John Pethel was relieved by Captain Mark Scovill, commander of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8, and was given a punitive letter of reprimand for fraternization, according to a statement by Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
Commander Pethel has been temporarily reassigned to SURFLANT. Lieutenant Commander Ethan Mitchell has assumed responsibilities as Executive Officer.
Commander Pethel had been Executive Officer since January 2011.  He almost survived a year.  He was relieved as Executive Officer in November while under investigation and was awarded Nonjudicial Punishment in December.
His bio follows:
Commander John Pethel was born in Sumter, SC and joined the  United  States  Navy  upon  graduating  high  school  in Mount Pleasant, SC in 1986. Completed Naval Aircrew School and Aviation Rescue Swimmer school in 1987 with subsequent operational tours in Helantisubron Twelve in Atsugi,  Japan  (USS  MIDWAY  CV-41)  and  Helantisubron Eight in San Diego, California (USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62). Shore duty was served as an instructor at FASOTRAGRUPAC from 1992-1995. In 1995, was selected to attend Officer Candidate School with Division Officer tours in USS TAYLOR (FFG-50), and USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) from 1996-1999. Attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and received a Master’s of Arts for National Security and Affairs in the summer of 2001.  Surface Warfare Department tours were conducted in USS TORTUGA (LSD-46) from 2002-2003 and USS WASP (LHD-1) from 2003-2005, both as the First Lieutenant. Shore duty assignment was as the Deputy Director for a NATO program while attached to the US Joint Forces Command from 2005-2007, with follow-on orders to serve as the Amphibious  Placement Officer in Millington, TN from 2007-2008. Volunteered for an Individual Augment while assigned to Millington and served 8 months in Kandahar, Afghanistan working with the Afghan National Army. Upon completion of the Afghanistan tour, served as the Assistant Personnel Officer on the Staff of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic until reporting in USS NEW YORK (LPD-21) as the Executive Officer in January 2011.

CDR Pethel has received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (3) and various unit awards and decorations.