It's What He Says, and What He Doesn't

I'm not sure if I can say one way or the other if I think the CNO is doing a good job or not, but he is certainly very interesting to observe. Today he gave a speech at the Navy League Sea/Air/Space Expo 2008 and while I hope we end up finding a transcript somewhere online at some point, I don't know that it is going to tell us more than what this GovExec article is saying. We observe, for better or worse, Adm. Roughead doesn't give strong opinions in public.

"There's no one-trick pony that does it all," Roughead said. "Balance is key."

"If we seek extraordinary technical overmatch, it will come at the price of capacity," Roughead said. "We have to be mindful of affordability and that means appetite suppression."

Submarines, Roughead said, are "not Cold War relics" and will become increasingly important as other countries step up production of high-tech boats over the next several years.

But Roughead, who said the first LCS will go to sea next month, stressed that the modular ships will give the Navy "tremendous flexibility" in future missions.

Those are basically the only places he is quoted or cited for direct comments in the article. The article claims virtually every topic was discussed, but it doesn't have any real quotes or opinions to associate to Adm Roughead on those issues.

I really look forward to the transcript of the speech, hopefully the Navy League will put it out. From this press report we learn almost nothing regarding his opinions on various aspects of the Navy.

In fact, the only impression I get after listening to his testimony to the House Armed Services Committee earlier this month, and when reading reports from various speeches he makes as he serves as CNO is that Adm. Roughead is probably a very good poker player.