Officers

Early stumbles didn't sink admiral's career

By Sam Fellman on June 15, 2011 Admirals, Humor, Naval Academy, Officers

If your career seems rocky, consider this one: He was nearly booted from college, graduated in the bottom third of his class, and only a few years into his naval career, he struck a buoy with his ship. That lackluster start belongs to Adm. Mike Mullen, now the military’s top officer. Mullen recounted his early stumbles as a midshipman and junior officer to laughs and applause on the Late Show with David Letterman on June 13. In his first month as a senior at the Naval Academy, Mullen said he racked up 115 demerits; only 35 more and he would be…

Top ship-driver chosen

By Sam Fellman on May 2, 2011 Navy, Officers, Ships

At a San Diego, Calif. trainer, over rounds of virtual underway replenishments, man overboards, and pierside moorings, the Navy’s top junior officer shipdriver emerged from a field of 28 finalists, the Navy announced Friday. And the 2010 winner is… Lt. j.g. Nicole Lobecker, assistant combat systems officer on cruiser Port Royal. “It was surreal,” Lobecker, in a Navy newsstand story, said of unexpectedly winning the award. “I was stressed and nervous when I showed up for the final competition. I stayed up late studying the rules of the road the night before and I even brought briefs with me to…

'XO Movie Night' videos are out … all of them

By Bill McMichael on March 4, 2011 Admirals, Carriers, Enterprise, Fleet Forces Command, Investigation, JAGMAN, leadership, Navy, Navy secretary, Officers, Personnel, Video

As you probably know by now, Adm. John Harvey of Fleet Forces Command on Thursday unveiled the results of his investigation into the controversial “XO Movie Night” video skits aired on the carrier Enterprise from 2005 to 2007, recommending that secretarial letters of censure be issued to two admirals and two of the carrier’s former executive officers — including Capt. Owen Honors, who as XO played a primary role in most of the questionable productions. If you haven’t read about the findings yet, here’s our short version. For those with a LOT of time on their hands, and perhaps curious…

Honors: Should he stay, or go?

By Bill McMichael on February 2, 2011 Board of Inquiry, Carriers, Detachment for Cause, Fleet Forces Command, Navy, Navy Personnel Command, Officers, Personnel, Retirement, Show Cause

We reported in our print edition this week (dated Feb. 7) that Fleet Forces Command chief Adm. John Harvey has recommended Capt. Owen Honors be detached for cause. As those in the service know, that’s not separation from the Navy, but the formal completion of the administrative process of removing him from command of the carrier Enterprise, which was done Jan. 4 when he was fired by Harvey over his involvement in controversial shipboard video skits recorded several years earlier when he was the flattop’s XO. And Harvey can only recommend a DFC; approval is up to the chief of…

Firing Honors, pro and con, Week 2

By Bill McMichael on January 10, 2011 Blogs, Carriers, Fleet Forces Command, leadership, Life at Sea, Morale, Navy, Officers, Personnel

Adm. John Harvey learned about the controversial, four-year-old shipboard videos co-produced by Capt. Owen Honors on Dec. 31 — the day before they were published for the first time outside the skin of the carrier Enterprise — and “immediately ordered an investigation,” he says in a Jan. 7 post on his command blog. Harvey also says he reviewed the videotapes published online by Norfolk’s Virginian-Pilot newspaper that weekend and then made his controversial decision to fire Honors, who’d graduated from executive officer — his position when the sometimes-racy, meant-to-be-humorous short films were produced — to become the 49-year-old carrier’s commanding…

Support for Capt. Honors

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By Bill McMichael on January 3, 2011 Aviation, Carriers, Facebook, Fleet Forces Command, leadership, Life at Sea, Morale, Movies, Navy, Officers, Video

The Navy didn’t mince words in its official reaction to Capt. Owen Honors’ role in the creation of what are viewed by many as overly suggestive or inappropriate videos — meant to be humorous — that were broadcast aboard the carrier Enterprise during his run as XO back in 2006-2007. “Those in command … are held accountable for setting the proper tone and upholding the standards of honor, courage and commitment that we expect sailors to exemplify,” said Cmdr. Chris Sims, spokesman for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. You won’t find any such criticism on a Facebook page, “We Support Captain…

Ensign Seeks Release from Subs on Religious Grounds

By Sam Fellman on November 5, 2010 Naval Academy, Navy, nuclear weapons, Officers, Submarines

An Ohio-class ballistic submarine on strategic patrol in the Atlantic Ocean. // U.S. Navy Would you push the button and launch a nuclear missile, if ordered to? By the time Ensign Michael Izbicki was asked this question in a routine psychological screening at nuclear power school, he had had a religious awakening. He had read the book, Choosing Against War: A Christian View, and had embraced pacifistic Quaker beliefs after periods of intense study and reflection. Izbicki — a 24-year-old Naval Academy graduate, who holds a master’s degree in computer science from John Hopkins University — answered no, he wouldn’t…

You really 'like' me (social media edition)

By Dave Brown on October 28, 2010 Facebook, Navy, Officers, The deckplates

Petty officers are likable folks. You name it, they’ve got it: Bravery, work ethic, patriotism — even lovely singing voices. Now there’s even a Facebook page to prove it. As of this writing, the group dedicated to “liking” petty officers has north of 14,000 “likers,” with the goal of hitting a cool million. As for the similarly goaled naval officer group? Only 999,993 to go!

As hard core as they come

By Lance Bacon on June 17, 2010 leadership, Morale, NECC, Officers

Meet Lt. John Pucillo. This EOD leader lost his left leg above the knee when an IED exploded outside his vehicle in May 2006, in Baghdad. But he didn’t let that hold him back. Pucillo endured nine grueling months of rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, then returned to active EOD service. He made the U.S. Paralympics Sailing National Team and earned his master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Now, the Bronze Star recipient has added another decoration to crown his fruit salad: Jump wings.

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on May 7, 2010 Carriers, Congress, Foreign navies, leadership, Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Naval Academy, Navy, NECC, Officers, Sea Air Space, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The Middle East, Washington

Defense Secretary Robert Gates dropped the bomb of the week. In his first invitation to the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space symposium, Gates suggested a need for cutting carriers, sinking SSBN(X) and eliminating Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. You can read Gates’ speech here, and find out how this affects you in Monday’s edition of Navy Times. Speaking of amphibious operations, the personnel bubbas in Millington are starting to dry out. Two days of rain dumped more than 14 inches in the area. A levee couldn’t hold the water back and the base was flooded. This delayed one promotion board and threw many administrative matters into…

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