Acting Navy secretary resigns over handling of virus-stricken aircraft carrier

[Onkel Neal]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/0...gn-navy-172625

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned on Tuesday following an uproar over a profanity-laced address to the crew of the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on Sunday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced.

Modly submitted his resignation letter to Esper on Tuesday after meeting with his boss one-on-one, a defense official with knowledge of the meeting said.

"He resigned on his own accord, putting the Navy and Sailors above self so that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the Navy as an institution, can move forward," Esper said in a statement.


Army Undersecretary James McPherson will be tapped to temporarily lead the Navy Department, Esper said. McPherson was confirmed to be the Army's No. 2 on March 23, a little more than two weeks ago.

In his resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, Modly thanked Esper and President Donald Trump for their "confidence" in him.

"More than anything, I owe every member of the Navy and Marine Corps team a lifetime of gratitude for the opportunity to serve for them, and with them, once again," Modly wrote in the brief letter, which was addressed to Esper. "The men and women of the Department of the Navy deserve a continuity of civilian leadership befitting our great Republic, and the decisive naval force that secures our way of life."

Modly was more loquacious in a memo to the force, in which he acknowledged that he “lost situational awareness” during his address to the Roosevelt’s crew.

“You are justified in being angry with me about that,” Modly wrote in the memo, which was obtained by POLITICO. “There is no excuse, but perhaps a glimpse of understanding, and hopefully empathy.”

[Catfish]

I think this was the right decision.. hard for Modley but right.

A bit astonished to see that happening, after all we all know how the Navy/ies usually handle such situations.. those who are less in rank usually have to go when something blemishes the reputation, guilty or not.

[Jimbuna]

I really fail to see how he had any other choice.

Here's how the BBC have covered it: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52209105

[Commander Wallace]

I try not to get involved in anything of a political debate although this hardly qualifies.


Capt. Crozier tried to go up the chain of command with his requests / pleas regarding the health and safety of his crew. They were completely ignored. Capt Crozier was looking out for the safety of his crew with what he did. It was said that Crozier should have taken his concerns private . As mentioned, he did that already.

SecNav Thomas Modly then goes public and calls a decorated officer stupid and naive only to say a day later that he doesn't believe he is stupid at all. Then why say that in the first place ? This is complete hypocrisy.

Then SecNav Modly flies thousands of miles to berate the crew of the Roosevelt for paying Capt Crozier respect as he departed. Modly is completely destructive to the morale of every branch of the military and an embarrasment.

The reality is Capt. Crozier is a decorated officer of flag rank and deserving of respect. It's incomprehensible that Modly, who is graduate of the United States Naval Academy class of 1983, Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School and a helicopter pilot would act in this manner.

The reality is the conduct of Modly is / was a public relations nightmare and the backlash would have been felt in enlistment and retain-ment falling off. It most likely will still will. I'm glad Modly left as he would have gotten the boot if he didn't and he knew that.

[Jimbuna]

^ Agreed

[ET2SN]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

I try not to get involved in anything of a political debate although this hardly qualifies.


Capt. Crozier tried to go up the chain of command with his requests / pleas regarding the health and safety of his crew. They were completely ignored. Capt Crozier was looking out for the safety of his crew with what he did. It was said that Crozier should have taken his concerns private . As mentioned, he did that already.

SecNav Thomas Modly then goes public and calls a decorated officer stupid and naive only to say a day later that he doesn't believe he is stupid at all. Then why say that in the first place ? This is complete hypocrisy.

Then SecNav Modly flies thousands of miles to berate the crew of the Roosevelt for paying Capt Crozier respect as he departed. Modly is completely destructive to the morale of every branch of the military and an embarrasment.

The reality is Capt. Crozier is a decorated officer of flag rank and deserving of respect. It's incomprehensible that Modly, who is graduate of the United States Naval Academy class of 1983, Georgetown University, and Harvard Business School and a helicopter pilot would act in this manner.

The reality is the conduct of Modly is / was a public relations nightmare and the backlash would have been felt in enlistment and retain-ment falling off. It most likely will still will. I'm glad Modly left as he would have gotten the boot if he didn't and he knew that.

Someone recorded that 1MC announcement that Modly made aboard the Roosevelt. I call it "the WTF vid" because that was what a crewmember said, loudly, about 3/4ths of the way in. Well, he actually said the longer Navy version of "WTF", but you get the idea.

I doubt the Navy can back-track the decision to remove Mr. Crozier at this point. The one bright spot is that Mr. Crozier won't have to worry about buying a beer for a long, long time.

[Mr Quatro]

The acting secretary of the Navy was not acting like a gentleman when he called the captain dumb or stupid.

According to officer's hand book you shall not argue with another officer in front of the enlisted men