Roughead Discusses Credibility Problem in Shipbuilding

Something worth noting. It appears the top echelons of command in the Navy have opened up to the good folks at InsideDefense, because even more than usual a new article is coming out daily with remarks straight from the top leaders in the Navy... but only in that publication. From one point of view, good for the reporters and editors at InsideDefense landing the stories, you are doing a great job.

On the other hand, that only the InsideDefense folks are quoting, or have access to quote... the top Admirals in the Navy highlights how few people the Navy is actually reaching with its message. True, the Navy doesn't say much that gets people excited, but when they do, more people should hear it. Dan Taylor of Inside The Navy (subscription) published an article on Monday CNO: Navy Shipbuilding Community Must Fight To Win Back Credibility. The article is very good, and the message is very important. Naturally, the vast majority of people who care about shipbuilding haven't heard about what Admiral Roughead said.

“We must . . . regain our credibility when it comes to talking about shipbuilding and costs associated with shipbuilding,” Roughead said Sept. 25 during a speech at the “Engineering the Total Ship” conference, hosted by the American Society of Naval Engineers in Falls Church, VA. “We have lost our credibility. We have got to get it back, and we have got to get it back by making the right decisions and being absolutely forthright, direct and honest when we talk about our shipbuilding programs.”

How was the credibility lost?

“We reduced a lot of the oversight that exists, [such as] the technical oversight [and] the on-scene oversight,” he said, noting that when he first visited the second Littoral Combat Ship -- a program that has encountered burgeoning costs -- only five people were there exercising oversight on its construction.

How will the Navy restore its credibility?

“I believe that we need to tap into our Navy civilians, young men and women who understand the business, who understand how to articulate and control and monitor and work closely with the acquisition community,” he added.

“I think we also have to, in our costing, call the costs like we see them,” he said, “and that might not be an easy thing to do -- perhaps not the political thing to do. But that’s what we have to do.”

The shipbuilding community should keep in mind that “you’re going to hear me talk about requirements, and requirements doesn’t mean we’re going to have enough money to go out and buy everything,” Roughead said. “We’re going to define the operational concept, and then when you look at the funding we have you decide what you can do and what you’re not going to do, but the requirement is the requirement.”

If it wasn't for Dan Taylor, these words would probably never see the light of day. I am encouraged the Navy recognizes there is a problem, unfortunately this is the first time I've read the navy leadership acknowledge it, and ultimately that acknowledgment was behind closed doors in a private speech.

I am also encouraged the Navy hasn't been scared off by the concept of utilizing civilian specialists for these types of acquisition projects. They have the skills and there are plenty of folks who would tackle the hard work, but it isn't about finding only qualified, dedicated people. It is about finding the right match for the work at hand, no easy task.

Finally, where can I find the transcript of this speech, or perhaps a podcast? The speech was given to an audience of engineers, so one would think the use of a recording device for the CNOs speech wouldn't intimidate them. It would certainly increase the size of the CNOs audience, and perhaps even, allow those who don't subscribe to InsideDefense to actually get inside the information loop of the top US Navy leadership.