United States Naval Institute: An Open Letter Michael Junge, Commander, US Navy

Responsibility and accountability

Hyman Rickover, the father of our nuclear Navy and probably the singular force who has left the greatest impact on the modern Navy’s culture and operations, had this to say about responsibility: "Responsibility is a unique concept. It can only reside and inhere in a single individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you. You may disclaim it, but you cannot divest yourself of it. Even if you do not recognize it or admit its presence, you cannot escape it. If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion or ignorance or passing the blame can pass the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible."

The famous Wall Street Journal article (“Hobson’s Choice”) phrased it thusly: "On the sea there is a tradition older even than the traditions of the country itself and wiser in its age than this new custom. It is the tradition that with responsibility goes authority and with them accountability. ...for men will not long trust leaders who feel themselves beyond accountability for what they do. And when men lose confidence and trust in those who lead, order disintegrates into chaos and purposeful ships into uncontrollable derelicts."

These two ideas and thoughts are much in the minds of members of the Institute - especially among those who have had or aspire to command. The rumors and stories swirling about the belayed balloting over the Board’s proposal to change the mission of the Institute are legion but all devolved down to a few facts: The initiative was put forward without fanfare, included the firing of the Institute’s CEO, has not been publicly supported by a single member of the Board, and worst of all - had only a tepid letter of support and a fetid announcement that the ballot measure would be held in abeyance. The discussion is also rife with rumors that the mission change and press for advocacy was the inspiration of one individual and was orchestrated to secure that man a position as CEO after General Wilkerson’s departure.

The mission of the Institute has remained constant for over a hundred years, yet the individuals charged with leading the Institute sought to solve a myriad of woes with a change to the overall mission - said change not addressing one of the purported woes listed by the Chairman. For that reason - and the inability of the members of the board to openly speak for, support, and discuss their desired mission change, I say that I have lost confidence in the leadership of the members of the board who supported this initiative - either vocally, or silently - and call on them them to take responsibility for their actions and show the accountability demanded in the Naval service and resign from their positions before the annual meeting. Doing so, resigning honorably, would allow the members in convocation at the Annual Meeting to choose new board members interested in advancing the mission of the Institute rather than changing that mission to suit personal whims and desires.

CDR Micahel Junge is a surface warfare officer who previously commanded USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41).