Adm. Jonathan Greenert, a career submariner and current vice chief of naval operations, has been tapped to become the 30th chief of naval operations, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday afternoon.Not in my top-5, but that's just me.
If confirmed by the Senate, Greenert would relieve Adm. Gary Roughead, whose tenure ends in late September. Greenert would be the first submariner to hold the Navy’s top billet in 17 years and is widely regarded as someone with the budgeting prowess to steer the Navy through what are expected to be shrinking budgets in the next few years.
Given some of the history involved - I think we should all wish Admiral Greenert and our Navy the best of luck going forward.
Hat tip Byron.
Hat tip Byron.
46 comments:
I see Galrahn has already damned him with a bit less than faint nonpraise....
Guess I'll just take a skeptic's view for now, given recent history.
This is a true bummer.
Huh. We'll see how this goes for FAO.
Based on what? I'm hard pressed to list a single major accomplishment as a FO? Very puzzling.
Definitely would have preferred Stavridis
We might have been better off with another couple years of Roughead...
This is old news, really. The decision was made a few months ago. In the past Greenert has been slow to make any real decisions. Do not look for him to serve a full term.
Interestingly, however, as the Vice he just launched a study by NAVSEA 04 to examine four courses of action with respect to the funding and requriements setting of maintenance and modernization. one of the 4 COAs is to "Bring Back the Barons." If anyone is familiar with the OPNAV construct back in the days of John Lehman, this would be that. Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea. I would also submit that we need to rebuild Navy Materiel Command, rid ourselves of the SYSCOMs, fire 90% of the "Acquisition Profesionals," and go hire some real engineers!
Washington is awash in rumors about why that one didn't happen. Not ready to say what they are as I don't want to contribute to the sullying of an outstanding Admiral before anything official comes out and or he has a a chance, if neccessary, to say his piece.
doubtful. Bad Action vs Inaction.....
Figured it would be a dark horse. Gates holds his cards close.
Needless to say, a very stunning selection. Those I know in Washington are stunned as well. Greenert? Serious?
My brother's wife's brother served under Greenert at 7th Fleet, to quote him, "incredibly unimpressive".
Roughead - Greenert, a few more years of the same old same old.
Need to hear from Admiral Stavridis soon.
Quoted from the Navy Times:
Adm. Jonathan Greenert, a submariner with senior experience in the Navy’s Pacific and Atlantic fleets, has been recommended for nomination to become the next chief of naval operations, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday afternoon.
Greenert, the vice chief of naval operations, was interviewed last week by President Obama, sources said, and made a favorable impression.
Formal announcement of the nomination is still to come from the White House. Greenert will need to be confirmed by the Senate to succeed Adm. Gary Roughead, the current CNO, who leaves office Sept. 29.
Former CNO and the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, noted during the Pentagon press conference that he had known Greenert for a long time. Citing Greenert’s budget experience as well as his operational qualifications, Mullen predicted that “if confirmed, he will be an exceptional CNO.”
Following the announcement, Greenert issued a statement in which he said, “I am honored and humbled by the secretary’s recommendation, and look forward to working with the Congress during the confirmation process.”
Greenert rose in recent weeks to the top of the rumor mill as the Pentagon’s choice to become the next CNO after the White House’s apparent first choice, Adm. James Stavridis, ran afoul of a Pentagon investigation into alleged travel improprieties. The investigation by a Defense Department inspector general is continuing, and there is no indication when it might be concluded. Gates reportedly felt the need to move on rather than wait for the investigation to conclude.
According to sources, Greenert was one of two names officially sent over to the White House in early June for consideration as CNO. The other name was, according to sources, Adm. Eric Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.
The suggestion of Olson is unusual, given that it might be the first time a Naval Special Warfare officer has received serious consideration for the Navy’s top job. All other CNOs have come from the surface warfare, submarine or aviation communities.
Greenert, if confirmed, would break a string of three straight surface warfare officers in the CNO job.
A former head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., Greenert has served as Roughead’s vice chief since August 2009.
“I could not be more pleased that Adm. Jon Greenert has been nominated to be the 30th Chief of Naval Operations,” Roughead said in a statement. “I have known Jon and his family well for years and I have the utmost respect for him as a leader and a naval officer.
“Jon and I have had a close professional relationship the past six years, beginning with his service commanding Seventh Fleet while I was commanding the Pacific Fleet, and subsequently he relieved me in command of U.S. Fleet Forces,” Roughead said in the statement. “As vice chief for nearly two years, Jon has been my right hand. Jon and [wife] Darleen are a wonderful team who care about our Sailors and their families. He is the right person to lead our Navy.”
If Greenert is confirmed as CNO, the vice chief position will become open.
One name that has been suggested is Vice Adm. Mike Miller, an aviator who is the superintendent of the Naval Academy. Greenert and Miller served together at Fleet Forces Command and Miller is a former chief of legislative affairs, the primary conduit between the Navy and Congress.
The academy superintendent’s position, however, is by law a “sunset” tour — one that ends with the officer’s retirement — and multiple high-level waivers would be required to allow that person to remain in uniform. It is not clear at this time if the Pentagon is willing to begin the complex waiver process, or instead seek another candidate.
At least one other suggestion for the vice chief position, according to one defense official, is Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, chief of naval personnel and a surface warfare officer.
Although Gates mentioned no further appointments, sources said Vice Adm.
Cecil Haney, another submariner, may be in line to be nominated as the next commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Haney, who received his third star last fall, currently is the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command.
The Navy would not confirm the reported personnel moves.
“The Navy will not comment on speculation regarding future moves involving senior flag officers,” said Rear Adm. Denny Moynihan, chief of naval information.
http://www.informationdissemination.net/2011/06/adm-greenert-nominated-for-cno.html
Nice article regarding Admiral Greenert and his tour at Fleet Forces Command.
YES! Another Yeoman! Our demographic is growing!
Having had only two meeting with ADM Greenert I'll form up in the "unimpressive" line. Meeting 1 was harmless enough (when he was OPNAV N8) - but I just didn't get the vibe that he was an action guy. Meeting 2 was far from harmless - as VCNO he came and spoke to a bunch of us IAs in Iraq and spent about 30 minutes of his hour-long ramble talking about sexual assualt and our individual obligations to rid it from the service. While I acknowledge that sexual assualt is something that requires leadership attention; all I kept thinking while I'm listening was, "Really??? You're speaking to a group of Sailors who are slogging their way through an IA and you're going to spend the majority of your time talking about THIS?" At no point did he offer any sincere gratitude, just a couple throwaway lines before embarking on his obviously scripted by leadership "talk to the troops about sexual assualt" talking points. Thankfully, he didn't fill up the other 30 minutes with diversity! The only real highlight was when he made an off the cuff statement to the effect of: "I just don't understand why you guys would want to hurt another shipmate like that?" (in reference to sexual assault) - "whatever it is, you just need to get it out of your system." I got what he was trying to say but remember thinking that probably wasn't the best choice of words given the subject matter. So, I'm not terribly impressed but am moderately hopeful that, if nothing else, he hasn't been smoking the LCS dope like his SWO predecessors and can honestly look at that program and how it fits into the Navy's long-range strategy.
Are you kidding ? Acquisition professions ? After spending between 20 and 33 percent of my time taking Defense Acquisition University courses for approx 2 years, I first got my Level 1 and Level 2 certifications. Then, off and on during the next 3 years, I eventually "achieved" my Level 3 certification ! Besides countless and meaningless fancy You-passed-this-course certificates (suitable for framing), I can say that the only long-term take-away I retained from all this study, was an empathy for what some high ranking gov't civilians have to contend with year in and year out in Washington DC as they perform their acquisition tasks. Even Congress does not follow the ridiculously complicated DoD 5000 series of acquisition rules for Navy aircraft and ship procurement. So, for all those years of study, I am a Certified Level III Acquistion Professional who learned that all the large defense contractors as well as their govt civil servants at Navy HQ, do not follow all the DoD procure process rules, which BTW need to be drastically overhauled yet again for the 14th time in 20 years.
Suggestion for the new ADMIRAL CNO: Stop requiring all the Navsea field activities to waste their precious time and efforts on DAU acquisition courses. It's bad enough that it is required for all those govt military and civil servants stationed in the D.C. area. Be a true leader, and cut down this wasteful DAU requirements, which do little more than give every single worker bee in Navsea all over this country, a stomach turning feeling of the horrible and hypocritical Navy, Air Force, Army, USMC acquisition process. Save money and improve morale and most of all, stop wasting 20 to 33 percent of our working hours on all this non-sense, which we forget as soon as we pass each course and never use anyway in our Naval field activities.
Great post. Very scary...unfortunately gives a very real insight to his priorities, style of leadership (non-existent), and ultimately his soul.
I think ADM Olson would have been an interesting choice. Definitely a different perspective.
It suprises me-but it could be a lot worse. Harvey could have climbed the stack of bodies he's felled to assume the role.
Now that choice is made, it will be interesting to watch who packs it in and the rest of the dominos fall.
Greenert was ok as C7F considering the reign of terror from Lord Vader that he had to follow. He had to restore calm following a rather turbulent time-and he did that.
amazing what zipper problems can do.
YES! And anything that can be done to deep-six the lead millstone that is DOD-5000 would be a Godsend.
YES! And anything that can be done to deep-six the lead millstone that is DOD-5000 would be a Godsend.
LT B-Olson would have provided a completely different perspective but I don't think that type of radical thinking would be welcome there at the top. And, Olson isn't exactly a fan of the Navy, as weird as that may sound. The clusterfrack that was the ASDS program (and the fire that destroyed it) soured him on Navy acquisition and program management...which actually may have been the best reason to put him there.
LT B-Olson would have provided a completely different perspective but I don't think that type of radical thinking would be welcome there at the top. And, Olson isn't exactly a fan of the Navy, as weird as that may sound. The clusterfrack that was the ASDS program (and the fire that destroyed it) soured him on Navy acquisition and program management...which actually may have been the best reason to put him there.
Retired Now, and Mike M: I have to take the same courses that you do, and achieve the same certifications even though I permanently sit at the Pentagon.
that being said, YES, WE HAVE TOO MANY AP's IN THE NAVY. The level of technical competency is exceedingly low (if I know your program better than you do and I sit in the Pentagon, we have a problem), their scientific / engineering backgrounds are suspect, their USN operational experience in many cases is non-existant, and our ability to actually conduct analysis / studies and not have to farm it out to a contractor is likewise non-existant.
Mike, Retired, I feel your pain in terms of shit that wastes our time. But we need to bilge and start over with a lot of our folks.
or even the APPEARANCE of zipper problems.
So, I'm not terribly impressed but am moderately hopeful that, if nothing else, he hasn't been smoking the LCS dope like his SWO predecessors
The kinda Hope-n-Change ain't gonna happen....
When did the Supe become a required sunset tour? I know of at least three recent Supes who went on to other flag billets after the Academy: McKee, Larson and Marryott. In fact Larson came back for a second Supe tour and McKee eventually went on to become Navsea 08.
My question exactly, Guest. I remember when Adm. Larsen was there the first time and when and why he returned.
So, I'm not terribly impressed but am moderately hopeful that, if nothing else, he hasn't been smoking the LCS dope like his SWO predecessors
That kinda Hope-n-Change ain't gonna happen....
Too many paychecks and bonuses involved to back out of the program now.
Although "everything is waiverable"...
Law:
10 USC Sec. 6951a
(a) There is a Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. The immediate governance of the Naval Academy is under the Superintendent.
(b) The Superintendent shall be detailed to that position by the President. As a condition for detail to that position, an officer shall acknowledge that upon termination of that detail the officer shall be retired pursuant to section 6371(a) of this title, unless such retirement is waived under section 6371(b) of this title.
(c) An officer who is detailed to the position of Superintendent shall be so detailed for a period of not less than three years. In any case in which an officer serving as Superintendent is reassigned or retires before having completed three years service as Superintendent, or otherwise leaves that position (other than due to death) without having completed three years service in that position, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to Congress notice that such officer left the position of Superintendent without having completed three years service in that position, together with a statement of the reasons why that officer did not complete three years service in that position.
Looks like this statute came about in 1999, with the waiver exception amendment (and section c as well) added in 2004.
(Added Pub. L. 106-65, div. A, title V, Sec. 532(a)(2)(B), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 603; amended Pub. L. 108-375, div. A, title V, Sec. 541(b)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1903.)
-MISC1-
AMENDMENTS
2004 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108-375, Sec. 541(b)(2)(A), inserted before period at end "pursuant to section 6371(a) of this title, unless such retirement is waived under section 6371(b) of this title".
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108-375, Sec. 541(b)(2)(B), added subsec. (c).
Agreed Skip, it will be interesting for sure.
radical idea here: what IF ....
what if the Defense Acquisition University DAU professional education classes are actually the CAUSE of the US Navy's terrible ship building mess ?
Just think about this for a moment: when did these absurd DAU acquisition certification requirements begin ?
It was getting going around 2000, 2001 I think. That's about the time the US Navy went brain dead on new ships class "designs" and construction.
You don't suppose DAU is being imposed by some foreign govt do you ? Tom Clancy, where are you ?
Lean Six Sigma Bay-Bee!!!!!!!
RESPECT THE PROCESS....
Or Else.
The USNA Supe position became a 3 star sunset tour after the EE cheating scandal there revealed that the superintendent was getting a lot of incoming artillery from the 3 and 4 stars about one thing or another. Congress didn't want the superintendent to have one eye on the Academy and another eye on his career. Lead to some questionable decisionmaking. It goes back to that whole thing about 1 and 2-stars being treated worse than an ensign.
Sounds like he was watching the USAFE commercials on AFN.
My experience with him at C7F pretty much tracks with what you are saying.
Lord Vader? Served on the east coast my entire career?
Williard.
I am not necessarily a great poponent of the Navy either. Of Sailors and Marines, yes, of the Navy and its silliness and careerism? Not a lick. Radical thinkers that have actually fired shots in anger might be nice. Also, somebody that can crap all over the acquisition process and make it work might be nice. One can dream, one can dream.
Agreeing again! Moon gets bluer every day.
Just logged on to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and discovered low and behold that Greenert is originally from SW PA, about 25 miles from Pittsburgh. Given that pedigree he'llbe the best CNO ever.
Watch what happens to the whole N2/N6 combobulation... just when it was going good too.
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