Serious Accusations About Diversity at Annapolis

Professor Bruce Fleming is being cited over at Tom Ricks blog on the subject of diversity. It is fairly long piece with several accusations. For some background, there is also this piece on the USNI Blog that Bruce Fleming references (and another here), and a bit more here at CDR Salamanders.

I have very little to add to the discussion. I do know the Navy is very proud of its record on diversity with the incoming class at Annapolis, and I also think Professor Fleming is throwing bombs at USNI for no reason, after all, the USNI building is on the USNA campus, if he has a question about his article he could simply WALK over and ask them about it.

On the subject, I have a few thoughts. The Navy statements do not always match their actions on diversity. They will give a definition of diversity that is different than how they speak about it, and different than how policy is applied to the subject of diversity. I also know diversity policy is generally unpopular on the deckplates, and generally seen as a waste of time and money among the vast majority of younger officers I speak to, of any race/sex/etc btw. Unpopular does not necessarily mean 'waste of time' to me though...

When any organization has inconsistency between the objectives in statements and the objectives of policy, it will find problems. In general I think the Navy leadership has begun treating diversity as a tool for political triangulation, attempting to find political alignment with policy for purposes of building political goodwill as a government organization. The Navy is often cited as one of the most diverse working environments in federal government, and has independently been described as a model for the rest of federal government.

I think it is clear that Professor Fleming strongly disagrees with the diversity policy at Annapolis. He hasn't exactly stood silent on the issue. It probably doesn't help that the current Navy leadership isn't known for thick skin; they do not take criticism well. This looks like an issue worth keeping an eye on, because when any organization ignores serious allegations... it is exactly the kind of issue that can snowball politically, and take on a life of its own.