Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable…

There are a lot of stories and folklore about the interviews that Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, conducted on prospective nuclear officer candidates. These are not fiction. I have spoken to many officers who were interviewed by the KOG...

Cannonballs and OODA Loops

“Don’t polish the cannonball!!!” We were in the submarine attack trainer in Groton, Connecticut. It was 1995 and I was a young officer stationed on USS NARWHAL (SSN 671) a Cold War nuclear attack submarine. As part of my Command Qualification...

Human-proofing your Operations

Last week marked the twelve year anniversary of the Texas City Refinery Disaster where 15 workers died. I study this tragedy because it is so rich with lessons. I would rather study positive success stories but I guess my natural inclination is to gravitate to these...

It Is The Critic That Counts…Wait, What?

It Is The Critic That Counts…Wait, What? Actually I really like the quote from President Theodore Roosevelt about “The Man in the Arena.” I like it so much I included it in my change of command speech when I was leaving USS KEY WEST (SSN 722). I wanted my crew to know...