Mullen honored at SWO School
March 7th, 2012 | Admirals Chief of naval operations Navy Training | Posted by Jenn Rafael
The Adm. Michael G. Mullen Auditorium was dedicated March 1 at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I. Here, Mullen, wife Deborah Mullen and son Lt. Michael Mullen Jr. unveil the auditorium's dedication plaque. // MMC Aurain Rodriques/Navy
He may have retired in September, but retired Adm. Mike Mullen’s legacy lives.
An auditorium was dedicated in his name March 1 before a graduation ceremony at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I.
In speaking to Department Head Class 215, Mullen reflected on his own department head graduation and the training he received throughout his career, according to a Navy news release.
Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and former chief of naval operations, also had kind words for the school: “Newport has always been a great Navy town and a big part of our family’s life. Likewise, SWOS is at the heart and soul of my Navy career. Both Deborah and I were excited to be back home.”
A new Old Salt
December 15th, 2011 | Chief of naval operations Fleet Forces Command Navy Norfolk Naval Station Officers Photos The Old Salt | Posted by Bill McMichael
By custom, the surface warfare officer with the earliest Officer of the Deck qualification is recognized as the Navy’s “Old Salt” — an award initiated in 1988 by the Surface Navy Association.
On Friday, that distinction will be bestowed on Adm. John Harvey, commander of Fleet Forces Command, in a ceremony aboard the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio at Naval Station Norfolk.
The current Old Salt is the recently retired Adm. Mike Mullen, who stepped back into civilian life Sept. 30 following four years as the nation’s top military officer and 43 years of service. There was no interim Old Salt, according to Ted Brown, a Fleet Forces Command spokesman.
Harvey, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973, earned his OOD qual on Oct. 11, 1977, aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser Bainbridge. He assumed command of Fleet Forces in July 2009.
Dec. 20 CLARIFICATION: According to Brown, Harvey earned his surface warfare officer or SWO pin in October 1977. He earned his OOD qual in the spring of that year.
Here’s the Old Salt and the Old Salt-to-be back in 2005, when Mullen, then the chief of naval operations, promoted Harvey to vice admiral.
Rear Adm. John Harvey, left, is promoted to vice admiral by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen on Nov. 22, 2005. Harvey assumed the duties as Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education. Harvey is now a full admiral and commander of Fleet Forces Command. // U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera
The singing CNO
December 14th, 2011 | Chief of naval operations Navy | Posted by Sam Fellman
In his holiday message, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert wishes you a "Merry Christmas" in song. // U.S. Navy
The CNO’s first holiday video has a soundtrack – and backup singers.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert carols along with his wife Darleen, backed up by the 8-member a cappella group the Navy Sea Chanters in his holiday message, posted online Tuesday.
“Happy holidays shipmates,” Greenert says above the cooing carolers. “We thank you and your families for your service and for your sacrifice and for those of you standing the watch tonight, remember what you do is incredibly important. You’re in our thoughts and prayers.”
“Enjoy the holidays but please remember, stay safe,” Darleen adds.
“Merry Christmas!” Greenert and his wife say in unison and then they join the carolers in a rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The video eschews the subdued style of his predecessor, now-retired Adm. Gary Roughead, who preferred his messages to be seated before a fireplace, and once featured his sleeping dog. Greenert’s video is also much more Christmas-y than Roughead’s. Roughead had wished viewers a “Happy holidays” and his videos never featured a Christmas tree, let alone Christmas carols.
But if it steps out more than Roughead’s messages, it still falls short of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/SW) Rick West’s trippy holiday video.
So how do you like the messages?
Roughead sighting
November 14th, 2011 | Chief of naval operations Navy Public policy Retired Navy | Posted by Bill McMichael
Retired Adm. Gary Roughead will spend calendar year 2012 as the Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Director John Raisian announced Monday.
Roughead, who stepped down as chief of naval operations and retired in September, will spend the year in residence at Hoover, located in Stanford, Calif. According to an announcement posted on Business Wire, Roughead will examine the “critical role of the military as part of the American way of life.” The announcement says that Roughead will work with former cabinet members George P. Shultz and William Perry, who also are in residence at Hoover.
Roughead’s research will “contribute substantially to the Institution’s focus on the role of the military on current public policy formation,” the announcement states.
“To focus on policy research and to collaborate with esteemed colleagues is an extraordinary opportunity to remain engaged in public policy,” Roughead is quoted as saying. “I am pleased to accept the prestigious offer of the Hoover Institution to serve as the Annenberg Fellow.”
“We look forward eagerly to having Gary Roughead as our colleague,” Shultz said. “He will bring vast experience, an exceptional knowledge base, and a sharp, critical mind to all our discussions.”
CNO: Happy birthday from the Persian Gulf
October 13th, 2011 | Chief of naval operations Navy | Posted by Sam Fellman
In a birthday video, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert celebrated the 236th anniversary of the Navy’s founding in a dramatic setting.
“Happy 236th birthday!” he said from the deck of the carrier John C. Stennis, as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, with the cruiser Mobile Bay serving as a backdrop. “We’ve got 200 more good years ahead of us.”
The setting reinforced one of his three central tenets: operate forward.
“It’s about being forward, it’s about deterrent and it’s about bringing the offshore option to our president,” he said. “I want to thank you for all you do in that regard.”
It is Greenert’s first overseas trip since becoming chief of naval operations on Sept. 23. He also visited Japan, South Korea and Bahrain.
SECNAV: Former CNO’s dogs a bit salty
September 27th, 2011 | Admirals Chief of naval operations Humor | Posted by Sam Fellman
Clancy, the Rougheads' labrador, made a cameo in the 2009 holiday message (at the bottom of the screen). // U.S. Navy
Speakers paid tribute to the family of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead at his retirement ceremony last Friday in Annapolis. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus presented an award to his wife Ellen and thanked his daughter Elizabeth “for sharing your father with us.”
But for two other members of the Roughead family, Mabus’ compliments proved double-edged.
“And I can’t fail to mention the contributions of Clancy, the smiling Labrador, and Arleigh, the latest addition, although I do have to say that the vaunted discipline of Gary Roughead does not seem to have rubbed off on the dogs at all,” Mabus said.
Clancy appeared in the CNO’s 2009 holiday message — he sleeps throughout the 45-second clip. Since this seems to be Clancy’s only appearance on Navy.mil, it is difficult to confirm Mabus’ charge that Clancy and Arleigh are a little too salty.
Clancy and Arleigh could not be reached for comment. No pictures of Arleigh were available.
There must be more than meets the eye
February 7th, 2011 | Abusive leadership Chief of naval operations Chiefs JAGMAN Military dog handling Navy secretary Retirement eligibility Retirement Grade Determination Board | Posted by Bill McMichael
Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Michael Toussaint had an anniversary of sorts Feb. 5: It marked one year since his Retirement Grade Determination Board met in Norfolk, Va., to decide which grade he would take into forced retirement after having his re-enlistment request denied by Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, and being censured by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus in the fall of 2009 over alleged abusive leadership practiced while serving as the top sailor at Bahrain’s military dog division in 2005 and 2006. Yet Toussaint, who passed the 20-year mark for retirement eligibility in January 2010, a couple of weeks before the board met, has hung on for more 12 months.
The Navy will say only that the three-member Norfolk board’s grade recommendation to allow Toussaint to retire as a senior chief “is still being reviewed.” It won’t say where the review stands in that process. Or whether it has reached the desk of Juan Garcia, assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs, who is the “final adjudicating authority” for such cases, according to Lt. Justin Cole, a Navy spokesman.
That’s the same thing the Navy told us in November.
Toussaint’s case sounds sensational. And given the actions Roughead and Mabus have already taken, some sort of discipline would appear on its face to be a given. A 2007 command investigation uncovered more than 90 instances of gambling, consorting with prostitutes, hazing and abuse of junior sailors took place on the 2004-2006 watch of the former military dog kennel chief in Bahrain.
He and his lawyers denied the most serious claims at the two-day determination board hearing, however, with Toussaint telling the board that his other actions had been misconstrued, the Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported.
Meanwhile, Toussaint remains in uniform — assigned to the ultra-secretive Naval Special Warfare Development Group, headquartered at Oceana Naval Air Station’s Dam Neck Annex.