Category: Uncategorized

Brain-on-brain warfare; you need to read…think.write.

In the end, the quintessential skill of an officer is about bringing order out of chaos. To do that, you have to be calm, and smart, and willing to do the brain work. Because in the end, 21st Century security is about brain-on-brain warfare. We will succeed not because we have more resources, or because our values are the best, or because we have the best demographics or geographic advantages—all of those things matter, of course. But in today’s turbulent 21st Century, we’ll succeed and defeat our enemies by out-thinking them. To do that, and to be successful senior officers, you need to read … think … and write.
Admiral James R. Stavridis

Transients – Ineffective in complex jobs

Complex jobs cannot be accomplished effectively with transients. Therefore, a manager must make the work challenging and rewarding so that his people will remain with the organization for many years. This allows it to benefit fully from their knowledge, experience, and corporate memory.

The Defense Department does not recognize the need for continuity in important jobs. It rotates officer every few years both at headquarters and in the field. The same applies to their civilian superiors.

This system virtually ensures inexperience and non-accountability. By the time an officer has begun to learn a job, it is time for him to rotate. Under this system, incumbents can blame their problems on predecessors. They are assigned to another job before the results of their work become evident. Subordinates cannot be expected to remain committed to a job and perform effectively when they are continuously adapting to a new job or to a new boss.

Admiral Hyman Rickover

Senate Confirmation Hearing for RADM Michael S. Rogers nomination for VADM and appointment as FCC/C10F

For those of you waiting for Rear Admiral Rogers’ promotion to Vice Admiral and appointment as  you’ll have to wait until Congress returns after Labor Day.  Commander, Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet will have a Change of Command on 30 September 2011.  Look for RADM Rogers’ confirmation hearing to be held after 6 September 2011 and hopefully before 30 September.  His prepared statement will be available HERE once the hearing is scheduled officially.

2011 VICE ADMIRAL JAMES BOND STOCKDALE LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

CDR Chadwick
CDR Miranda
THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE CDR GERALD N. MIRANDA, JR., FROM THE PACIFIC FLEET, AND CDR ROBERT B. CHADWICK, II, FROM FLEET FORCES COMMAND, ARE THE 2011 RECIPIENTS OF THE VADM JAMES BOND STOCKDALE AWARD FOR INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP. CDR MIRANDA WAS SELECTED FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AS COMMANDING OFFICER, USS ASHEVILLE (SSN 758) AND CDR CHADWICK FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AS FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80).
THIS FLEET AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN HONOR OF VADM JAMES BOND STOCKDALE WHOSE DISTINGUISHED NAVAL CAREER SYMBOLIZED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN BOTH PERSONAL EXAMPLE AND LEADERSHIP. THE AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO TWO COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ON ACTIVE DUTY BELOW THE GRADE OF CAPTAIN WHO ARE IN COMMAND OF A SINGLE SHIP, SUBMARINE, AVIATION SQUADRON, SEAL TEAM, NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SQUADRON, SEAL DELIVERY VEHICLE TEAM, SPECIAL BOAT TEAM, EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL MOBILE UNIT, MOBILE DIVING AND SALVAGE UNIT, OR NAVY SPECIAL CLEARANCE TEAM DURING THE NOMINATION CYCLE. CANDIDATES ARE NOMINATED BY PEERS WHO THEMSELVES MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD.

THE 2011 WINNERS WERE CHOSEN FROM AMONG EIGHT OUTSTANDING FINALISTS IN A REVIEW PROCESS THAT INCLUDED SCREENING AT THE FLEET COMMANDER LEVEL AND FINAL SELECTION BY A BOARD OF SENIOR OFFICERS.

THE FOLLOWING FINALISTS DESERVE WELL-EARNED CONGRATULATIONS:
 

PACIFIC FLEET FINALISTS:
– CDR JAMES P. LOWELL, FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, USS TORTUGA (LSD 46)
– CDR DAVID M. ROWLAND, COMMANDING OFFICER, USS CURTS (FFG 38)
– CDR WARREN E. SISSON, FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, VFA-115
 
FLEET FORCES COMMAND FINALISTS:
– CDR THOMAS R. “TR” BUCHANAN, COMMANDING OFFICER, USS ALBANY (SSN 753)
– CDR MARK S. LEAVITT, FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, HS-5
– CDR CHRISTOPHER A. MERWIN, FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER, EODMU 12

Practices of Successful Commands

See the note below from Admiral John Harvey, Commander Fleet Forces Command.  He continues a superb Navy program initiated back in the early 1980s – Command Excellence.  My Executive Officer and I updated these materials in the 1990s and provided them to the Command Leadership Course (CLC).  The  CLC still uses them today in their Prospective Commanding Officer/Executive Officer (PCO/PXO) courses.  You can find updated versions of Command Excellence materials HERE, HERE and HERE.

From: ADM J.C. Harvey, Jr USN

Team,

Over the past two years, I’ve released a series of “Practices of Successful Commands” messages to emphasize the importance of properly executing those programs that have the greatest influence on our Sailors, their families, and thus our Navy.

I released Part One to get the word out about what I observed some of our commands were doing that enabled them to stand out so positively above the rest. In Part Two I highlighted and asked that you give a good “spin” to a few of the programs that I felt needed some extra attention to keep them on track. And Part Three was targeted at what I believe to be the foundation of mission success – Trust.

In keeping with this effort, I recently released a “Practices of Successful Commands – Part Four” to call attention to several foundational programs that I believe, due to their significant impact on the readiness and professionalism of our Sailors, should be a priority for every command.

Although implementation of these programs starts at the top (with me and my direct reports), I’m posting this message here because meeting our objectives requires a steadfast commitment by all hands. That is why I need all of you to make sure you complete the mandatory training and apply what you learn on and off the job. My guidance to you is particularly applicable for the Substance Abuse Prevention, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, and Suicide Prevention programs. It defeats the purpose of the training if you are attending simply to get a “check in the box.” The training for these three programs not only reinforces the “do’s and don’ts,” but also serves as a reminder of the warning signs exhibited by those (friends, family, shipmates) at risk.

I encourage you to read the message, think about it, and most importantly, do your part by completing the training and bringing that training to life in your command. Never forget – we’re all in this together.
All the best, JCHjr

Full-Fledged Navy Information Warfare Captains and Commanders

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S   to these Information Warfare Cryptologic Officer community Captains who were promoted today.

Chris Chrislip
Tom Ertel
Tony Hansen
Bryan Lopez
Ken Moreno
Doug Powers
Joe Pugh

And these new Commanders

Jamie Achee
Chris Bowen
Dan Brookes
Colin Chinn
Charles Clifford
Harold Cole
Barry James
Jeffrey Scott Moore
Owen Schoolsky
Joe Sears
Victor Spears
Robert Suh
Doug Wheaton
William Wood
Holly Yudisky