Category: Uncategorized

Navy Challenges in the OSD/OJCS Capabilities Based Planning Process

Navy briefers described their organizations’ attempts to cover all the bases in Capabilities Based Planning meetings called by OSD and OJCS personnel, but indicated that their organizations had insufficient resources to participate fully and effectively. Some lack of coordination and of internal Navy scheduling control was also evident. 
This may be due in part to the lack of clarity in OPNAV lines of responsibility for CBP activities; that lack sometimes results in a duplication of effort. In addition, other information provided to the committee indicates that the Navy is not always well represented in the DOD joint CBP processes.
Several non-Navy briefers noted that Navy representatives on the various boards and committees are often unfamiliar with the issues, not empowered to speak on behalf of the Navy, or absent. Regardless of whether these difficulties result from insufficient staff resources or other problems, they preclude justice being done regarding naval issues in the larger DOD environment and undercut Navy interests in competition for both influence and funding.
The full report is available for download HERE.

Captain Gary Edwards – Made an Honorary Chief Petty Officer – Approved by MCPON Rick West

“A long, long time ago, when I was a young, inexperienced ensign, I reported to my first ship, the USS Saginaw (LST 1188),” Edwards said. “An old, mean, crusty Chief Petty officer took me under his wing. Now technically, I was his supervisor, but in reality, I was his student.”  “He taught me that a good leader leads by example, and takes care of his Sailors,” Edwards continued. “The naval officer I am today was due to his mentorship all those years ago. And each day I try to live up to his expectations of what it means to be a good leader.” 
Standing just over 5-feet tall, Thompson is dwarfed by Edwards, who stands 6 feet, 4 inches. The audience roared with laughter as a member of the CID Chiefs Mess brought “The Equalizer” – a custommade, engraved oak stool – to the stage for Thompson to stand on as he pinned a set of his own anchors on Edwards’ uniform. 
With the designation of honorary Chief Petty Officer, Edwards joins such notables as comedian, Bill Cosby; actor, Ernest Borgnin; Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gary Roughead; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen; Pearl Harbor survivor-turned motivational speaker, William Gentry; current Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus and former Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter.

“This is a very special honor for a very special officer,” Thompson said.  “In my 30 years in the Navy, I’ve never seen it happen before, but CAPT Edwards really deserves this honor.”

I am told that the MCPON declined Captain Edwards’ 
offer to make him an honorary Ensign.

Stolen from Extreme Leader – Steve Farber

“There are many naval officers out there who think they want to be Commanding Officers, only to find themselves in command of two to four hundred officers, Sailors and Chiefs who expect them to demonstrate some genuine leadership, and then discover that all they really wanted was to wear a command pin, scrambled eggs on their cover and have premium parking.”

If, however, you do make the choice to leap into the ring, it’s because of your love of the challenge, the adventure, and that love is what makes the fear of the “sport” worthwhile. Not only do you accept the fear as part of the experience, the fear — in large part — creates and defines the experience. Extreme would not be extreme without fear. And fear would not be worth it without the love of the game.

The same is true of Extreme Leadership: it is the dynamic interplay of fear and love-two of the most powerful forces in the human experience. And in my estimation, those who actively and intentionally use the experience of fear and love everyday in their attempts to change things for the better — in whatever arena — are Extreme Leaders.

Read more from Steve Farber HERE.

Rear Admiral Willie Metts – Information Warfare Officer

Deputy Chief of Tailored Access Operations,
National Security Agency

Rear Admiral Willie Metts

Rear Adm. Metts is a native of Danville, Ga. He graduated from Savannah State University in 1985, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and was commissioned via the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Following commissioning, he performed initial sea duty on USS Thomas C. Hart (FF 1092) and USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), completing three deployments to the Mediterranean and Red Seas with sustained combat operations during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Following initial sea duty assignments, Metts transferred to the Naval Postgraduate School from 1991 to 1993 earning a Master of Science degree in Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I).

Selected as a naval cryptologist (now Information Warfare) in 1993, Metts transferred to Naval Security Group Command Detachment Potomac, in Washington D.C., and served as program operations director. In 1997, he reported for duty as Naval Security Group department head at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Guam and subsequently fleeted up to executive officer. In 1999, he was assigned to the staff of commander, Carrier Group 2 embarked in USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in Norfolk, Va., as cryptologic resource coordinator. During this assignment, he completed the maiden deployment of Truman to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf.

In 2001, Metts transferred to the Naval War College, earning a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies and Strategic Planning. After graduation, he reported to the staff of commander, United States Pacific Command in Hawaii, where he served as deputy director, Collections and Information Acquisitions Division and completed the Harvard University Senior Executive Fellows Program in November 2004.

In 2005, Metts was selected as special assistant to commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and in July 2006, reported for duty as commanding officer, Navy Information Operations Command, Hawaii. Following command, he reported in August 2008 to Navy Personnel Command, as division director for Information Dominance Corps and Foreign Area Officer Assignments.

In August 2010, Metts reported to United State Cyber Command as director of Intelligence. Metts was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (lower half), July 1, 2011.  In August 2011, he reported to the National Security Agency as deputy chief of Tailored Access Operations.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit (3 awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Cops Commendation Medal and various service and joint expeditionary medals and ribbons.

Great Expectations

Rear Admiral Michael S. Rogers, the Navy’s Cryptologist, is  certain to be confirmed for his third star and will most likely take his place as Commander, Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet at the end of September.  RADM Rogers said not to make too much of  this promotion.  Seriously though, this elevates the game, so to speak (we know it’s not a game at all).  Many in the Navy don’t understand the fuss we IWs are making about this.  Mike Rogers is coming back to the Navy from the Joint Community as the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J2) Director for Intelligence. For us, it’s a big deal.
For the next several years he will be sitting at the table with the 3 and 4 stars of the military services.  He’s been at that table before (and he’s very comfortable there)  but he’s not really had a speaking part.  Now, I would say that he not only has a seat at the table but he has a vote – and, as a community, we have not had that before.  Certainly, some of our Flags have earned the respect of the Navy’s most senior leaders but we’ve never sat among them – with a true speaking part about broad Navy cryptologic capabilities and requirements.
RADM Mike Rogers is going to quickly become the personification of the cryptologic community. He’s going to passionately and emotionally represent our capabilities and requirements to the Navy at large. Admiral Rogers brings just the right mix of charisma, enthusiasm, and authenticity to his new job in a natural way because he’s carried them with him in all his previous jobs. This new opportunity for leadership is not his alone; it belongs to all of you in the IW community, the IDC and the Navy. Have the courage to share your ideas with him openly, frankly and often. He deserves that from all of us.

Information Operations PRIMER

This latest revision of the Information Operations Primer provides an overview of Department of Defense (DoD) Information Operations (IO) doctrine and organizations at the joint and individual service levels. It is primarily intended to serve students and staff of the US Army War College as a ready reference for IO information extracted and summarized from a variety of sources. Wherever possible, Internet web sites have been given to provide access to additional and more up-to-date information. The booklet is intentionally UNCLASSIFIED so that the material can be easily referenced during course work, while engaged in exercises, and later in subsequent assignments.
You can download the full IO Primer HERE.

Some Notable Readers of My Blog – Thanks for stopping by

Admiral Tim Keating, former Commander, Pacific Fleet.

Lieutenant Commander Bob Maguire, Limited Duty Officer, former Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Security Group Bad Aibling, Germany

Seaman Jim Aronson, USS Ronald Reagan

Widow of a Wounded Marine

CPO Jonathan Routszong – one of my awesome Sailors from NSGA Yokosuka, Japan

Allison – Author of the USN Chic blog

Commander Launtz Rodgers – great Navy guy

Mark Thompson – Pulitzer prize winning author and Time Magazine columnist

Liz Wiseman – Wall Street Journal best selling author of MULTIPLIERS

OPNAV Action Officer

NNWC Staff Member

Admiral Gary Roughead – Chief of Naval Operations

Rear Admiral Ned Deets – Former Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command

MCPO Hughes – Author of “Once I Was A Navyman”

Commander Sean Heritage – Commanding Officer, Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola

My Kid’s Mom in Sweden

Captain Tom Botulinski – retired Deputy Commander, Naval Security Group Command

Commander Tim May, former Commanding Officer, Navy Information Operations Command Menwith Hill, UK

Lieutenant General Mike Maples, former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency

You – the unnamed person reading now.  THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY. 

And, more than 3,856 others – all named ANONYMOUS !

If you are erroneously listed as a reader and do not wish to be, send me a note.  
If you are a notable reader and are not listed, send me a note.