Congress Gives Roughead an Opportunity

A handful of House lawmakers are playing hardball with the Pentagon regarding the Navy's 30-year shipbuilding plan. No question about it, this is a political trap for the Navy. It is also an opportunity.

From Phillip Ewing at Navy Times.

Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., and seven other Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee have filed a “resolution of inquiry” directing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to file a shipbuilding plan.

Forbes’ “resolution of inquiry” is unusual because the Armed Services Committee has only 14 legislative days to consider it before it goes to the floor of the full House — as opposed to a standard resolution, which might sit in committee for months. The full House can reject the measure, but its quick timetable is a way to bring the issue to Congress’ immediate attention.

If it was me, I would submit the same 313-ship plan as last year only reflecting the announced changes Gates has made to date. The result will be another hit for credibility in shipbuilding in the press cycle (hopefully more than one), which is the desired effect. Nothing has been more discredited than the 313-shipbuilding plan, so unless the Navy is going to try to achieve something within the next 2 weeks with this political game, just reset back to yesterday and keep looking towards tomorrow.

If I was advising ADM Roughead, I would find something related to the 313-shipbuilding plan that was signed by Donald Rumsfeld and Admiral Mullen and submit it to Congress with the FY2010 plan. I would do this for specific reasons though.

First, it is time for ADM Gary Roughead to send a clear message who has the helm. If ADM Roughead is going to be man the helm, he needs to put the 313-ship plan in context, which means associate that plan with Rumsfeld and ADM Mullen. I do not care about the sensitivities involved with ADM Mullen being CJCS. The 313-ship plan was his plan, that is just a fact, let him defend it, or even shit on it like everyone else already does. The 313-ship plan was his vision, not ADM Rougheads. ADM Roughead is taking the Navy a new direction and everyone, including these Congressman, know it. If they want to know where we are, do so by first reminding them where we are.

Second, the 313-shipbuilding plan is poison, so to submit it sets expectations of poison, which is a good thing right now. I have a great deal of faith in the men and women engaged in the QDR process. Just in case you haven't heard, or for you industry folks looking for a tip, change is coming and it isn't minor polish on the edges, it is the real deal. I have made it clear that you better read Bob Work (PDF), Frank Hoffman, Robert Rubel (PDF), and CDR Henry J Hendrix. If you haven't been listening, then it is time to do your homework.

Finally, this development gives the Navy leadership a chance to turn a problem into an opportunity. Shipbuilding is the albatross of the Navy discussion right now. The Chief of Naval Operations could barely give an interview before April when Secretary Gates announced his decision regarding the DDG-1000/DDG-51 way ahead, which is revealing in that it highlights just how the single issue of shipbuilding has all but shut down the leadership of the Navy in terms of public credibility and communication. If the QDR process is going to produce significant changes to the Navy's shipbuilding plan while also aligning itself to the maritime strategy, then the Navy can submit an old plan while positioning itself for strategic surprise with a new one.

If done right, that may be just the thing for the CNO to position himself to ask Congress for bit more money for shipbuilding, which everyone in the entire world knows is a necessity if the US Navy is going to remain strong and the US Shipbuilding industry is going to remain afloat.