Monday, September 30, 2013

Some cool things going on here

Check them out HERE.  Happy that I recognize a couple of these innovators. Some disruptive thinkers in there too.  Lots more DIVERSITY in this group than meets the eye.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Exciting things going on over there at CRIC


The mystery of writing is the act of placing words on a page to be read by another magically gives authority to whatever you write. No matter how ridiculous a supposition, writing it down forces others to consider your ideas.

You can read the rest HERE.

LT Jason Knudson
CNO's Rapid Innovation Cell (CRIC)

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Opportunity


If you can't hear opportunity knocking, you may be too far from the door.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Reinvigorated collaboration site for the Information Warfare community


I'm told that the Information Warfare community has reinvigorated this forum to share UNCLASSIFIED ideas and to broaden their efforts to collaborate across the community.  Active duty and Reserve IWs and cryptologists can register and use this site HERE.  I don't have visibility into what is on the site but I am told that Fleet Cyber Command / TENTH Fleet endorses and uses this site.

My apologies.  This was bad gouge.  It's not ready to go.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Rest your oars Shipmate - We will not forget your service to our great Navy and nation

Matthew O'Bryant graduated from Theodore High School in 2004 as a full cadet colonel in the Army Junior ROTC. In 2007, he joined the Navy and became a Cryptologic Technician Maintenance (CTM).

Petty Officer Matthew O’Bryant and his wife of two years, Bridgette, whom he met at a youth revival in high school, moved to Fort Meade, Md., where he was stationed.

In 2008, he was in Islamabad, Pakistan, where there had been a bombing at the Marriott Hotel on September 20, 2008. Barbara and Tommy O’Bryant were notified the next morning that their 22-year-old son was killed in the bombing. His funeral service was September 29, 2008 at Calvary Assembly of God in Mobile where he attended church growing up and worked with the children’s church. He is buried at Serenity Memorial Gardens in Theodore, Alabama.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Commander CVW 17 FIRED

From the NAVY TIMES:

The commander of Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW 17) has been fired in light of accusations he was having an “inappropriate relationship” with a female junior officer within his chain of command, the Navy reported Saturday.

Captain Jeffrey “Chilly” Winter has led CVW 17 since June. As of Friday, he has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Air Forces, pending the outcome of the investigation, the Navy reported. Captain. Matthew Leahey, deputy commander of CVW 17, has temporarily been assigned to lead the air wing, which is based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

Rear Admiral David Steindl, head of Carrier Strike Group 1 made the decision to fire the captain.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

 
The strategy focuses on the three fundamental Information Dominance capabilities of Assured Command and Control, Battlespace Awareness, and Integrated Fires, and sets forth the following major goals for the 2013–2017 timeframe:
 
• Strong and Secure Navy Command and Control;
• Persistent, Predictive Battlespace Awareness;
• Integrated Combat Information;
• Integrated Kinetic and Non-kinetic Fires;
• Information Dominance as a Warfighting Discipline.
 
You can refresh your understanding HERE.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Change of Charge at NIOD Groton, CT

On Friday, 20 September, Lieutenant Commander Ken Lassek will assume responsibility and authority as Officer in Charge, Navy Information Operations Detachment Groton, Connecticut.   He is relieving Lieutenant Commander Irvin D. Smith.  Congratulations LCDR Smith and crew !

All ahead full, LCDR Lassek and crew !


NIOD holds change of charge ceremony

The Dolphin, 26 September 2013… by MC2(AW/SW) Kristina Young

Lt. Cmdr. Irvin D. Smith Jr., officer-in-charge (OIC) of Navy Information Operations Detachment (NIOD) Groton turned over the watch to Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth W. Lassek in a change of charge ceremony held alongside the Historic Ship Nautilus (SSN 571) Sept. 20.

NIOD Groton is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and removal of Information Warfare direct support equipment and augmentation of Cryptologic Maintenance Technician (CTM) Direct Support personnel to Atlantic Fleet (LANTFLT) combatants.

Smith took the helm of NIOD in October 2011 and leaves the command with many fond memories. Continued...

"I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to lead such a great group of Sailors," said Smith, whose goal had been to ensure his Sailors always had everything available to them to be able to carry out the job safely, securely, effectively, and efficiently.

"Lt. Cmdr. Lassek is an outstanding leader and I expect that he will continue to challenge them," said Smith. "They will continue to do as well and better."

Capt. Michael D. Walls, Smith’s immediate supervisor and ceremony guest speaker, praised Smith’s accomplishments before presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Smith during the ceremony. Smith then handed over the OIC duties to Lassek.

For Lassek taking charge offers an opportunity to continue a rich command history.

"Cmdr. Smith, thank you so much for your comprehensive turnover," said Lassek, as he addressed the crowd. "Your accomplishments and leadership are evident throughout the command. Since 1959, this command has changed names three times and had numerous OICs; the walls are filled with history, with successful missions led by those very same leaders and executed by outstanding Sailors. I’m honored and very excited to lead this team."

Lassek reported to NIOD from US Fleet Cyber Command in Fort Meade, MD.

"Coming from the operational level, I’ve excited to get back to the tactical level again," said Lassek.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Sharp words

Thomas Churchyard noted that: “Sharp words make more wounds than a surgeon can heal.” An officer who understands the job knows there is never any reason to use sarcasm, profanity or ad hominem arguments with anyone who doesn’t get a fair chance to answer back. 

The object is to create a team, not enemies. An officer and his or her people are a team at all times, officially and socially.  Good manners help to make the system work.

From: THE ARMED FORCES OFFICER

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Commanding Cooperatively

Commander Sean Heritage released his first book in a series.  You can find it on Amazon HERE.

Sean is the kind of guy who:
  • Thinks differently
  • Acts differently, and
  • LEADS DIFFERENTLY
This is the beginning of something really special on its way to EXTRAORDINARY.

Few officers in our community are willing to put themselves "out there" for others to judge.

He really is "the man in the arena" that Theodore Roosevelt described.

Congratulations and BZ on your book, Sean.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

CO of USNS MERCY medical treatment facility fired


The Navy removed the top officer on the hospital ship Mercy on Friday after an investigation uncovered evidence he mismanaged the physical fitness assessment — and lied about his weight to pass his own PFA.

    Friday, September 13, 2013


    Mark Miller, Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness for Chick-fil-A, believes that leadership is not something that’s exclusive; within the grasp of an elite few, but beyond the reach of everyone else.  In his new book, The Heart of Leadership: Becoming a Leader People Want to FollowMark reveals the H.E.A.R.T. of leadership and provides steps that will help you grow as a leader, no matter what your title or position. From entry-level clerk to CEO, there’s room for everyone to improve when it comes to finding the Heart of a leader.

    Thursday, September 12, 2013

    Freedom isn't free - 9-11-01

    On September 11, 2001, a section of the U.S. Pentagon was destroyed by an unforgiveable act of terrorism, and many Americans perished in the catastrophe.   For more information, please visit the group Memorial: U.S. Pentagon Building Disaster   Commander Dan Frederic Shanower, 40, was listed by the U.S. Navy as missing and presumed dead as a result of this tragic event. 

    U.S. Navy Biographical Information: Dan Frederic Shanower Home of Record: Naperville, Ill. Commissioned: Officer Candidate School, July 6, 1989 Rank: Commander Date of Rank: December 1, 2000 Designator: Intelligence Officer Age: 40 Duty Stations:  Electronic Attack Squadron 136   03/86 - 09/88  Task Unit 168.1.2 Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines   09/88 - 08/90   Inactive Duty   08/90 - 10/94  Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific   12/94 - 05/97  Commander, Third Fleet   05/97 - 05/99  Chief of Naval Operations   06/99 - Awards and Decorations: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (5), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3)  SHANOWER, CMDR. DAN FREDERIC USN OF NAPERVILLE  

    Born Feb. 7, 1961, in Aurora, he was killed Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, in the attack on the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Interment was held at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., at which time the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Award were granted posthumously. In 1985, Cmdr. Shanower went to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., where he was commissioned Ensign. He served with the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1990 as an intelligence officer. He entered the Naval Reserves in 1990 and took a position as a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department. He returned to active duty in 1994 and reported to the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Command. Cmdr. Shanower's tours included several years in both Japan and the Philippine Islands. In 1997 he was posted to San Diego where he served as an assistant intelligence officer for the U.S. Third Fleet aboard the USS Coronado. Two years later he was transferred to Washington D.C. At the time of his death, he was responsible for providing intelligence information to senior naval officers at the Pentagon. 

    Cmdr. Shanower authored several articles on military strength and readiness in addition to "Freedom Isn't Free" in the March 1997 issue of Naval Institute Proceedings. He earned the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendation medals and the Navy Service Medal. He is survived by his parents, Donald and Patricia (nee Gibbs) Shanower of Naperville; sisters, Victoria (F. Edwin) Wike of Winnetka and Paula (Robert) Coleman of Willoughby Hills, Ohio; brothers, Thomas ('Ana) Shanower of Sidney, Mont. and Jonathan Shanower of Naperville; and nieces and nephews, Andrew and Elaine Coleman, Rachel, John and Molly Wike and Matthew, Nicholas and Stephanie Shanower.

    Wednesday, September 11, 2013

    The Rock


    Reading is the rock upon which you will build the rest of your career. Here is your chance to create real intellectual capital from which you will earn interest, draw dividends, and make withdrawals in the decades to come.
     
    In this way, I share Teddy Roosevelt’s mindset when he stated, “I am a part of everything I have read.”

    —Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

    Saturday, September 7, 2013

    Command Leadership Programs


    A single blueprint for a leadership program cannot fit every command. Programs must be custom built; however, the following key points are applicable to all leadership programs:
    • Each command must want to improve its leadership.
    • Each command must consider its needs, capabilities and mission.
    • Each command must ensure overall consistency. A common approach which can be carried out by successive commanding officers is provided by General Order 21. It provides both the stimulus and the guidelines for a balanced program.
    • Each command should seek to improve in all the areas—inspira tional, technical, and moral—and should not be satisfied until tangible improvements have been observed in each of these areas.
    A command program should motivate or inspire people to lead and also provide for the practice of leadership at all levels. Although a program can be separated into a motivation phase and an action phase to facilitate its planning and implementation, the two phases should operate concurrently to achieve success. Emphasis may be shifted from one phase to the other to compensate for turnover in people and the changes in operation and material or to relieve pressing command problems.

    Friday, September 6, 2013

    The First Component of Naval Leadership

    According to Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, "The first component of Naval leadership is personal example. Your subordinates will reflect your sincerity, enthusiasm, smart appearance, military behavior, technical competence, and coolness and courage under stress.

    To be an effective leader you must first look and act like one." Perry instinctively understood this principle.

    "The commodore was blunt, yet dignified. . . heavy and not graceful. . . held in awe by the junior officers and having little to do with them, seriously courteous to others. . . The ship seemed to have a sense of importance because he was on board."

    From LEADERSHIP EMBODIED, Chapter 7, Mathew Calbraith Perry by Dr. Michael J. Crawford

    Tuesday, September 3, 2013

    Take an interest

    When a Sailor finds someone who takes an interest in him, he responds and follows.

    Monday, September 2, 2013

    Good Writing


    Why do I love good writing? 

    Namely, because “good writing,” defined broadly, picks up much of what junior officers fret about. A well-prepared brief for the Commanding Officer reflects the junior officer's ability to read Navy messages & instructions, choose the important issues, cull the relevant facts, apply thought in a logical way, and then persuade. 

    Thus, a Commanding Officer's insistence on “good writing,” broadly defined, is simply insisting on good officership.