Category Archives: Seamanship and Leadership
VADM Ryan’s Reflections on Leadership
You could hear a pin drop in the room. Retired Vice Admiral John Ryan, U.S. Navy, had the group of 35 midshipmen captivated as he recalled a remarkable young woman he’d met. She had been born without arms and legs, but she took her mother’s advice to focus on what one can do instead of [...]
A Tale of Three Fires
USS Manley (DD 940) On April 9, 1979 a fuel line ruptured in the boiler room aboard USS Manley (DD 940). An officer standing nearby was soaked with fuel which then burst into flames. LT Gilbert Johnson was burned over two thirds of his body as his polyester uniform melted to his skin and continued [...]
Read MoreConning the Constitution
When I reached Charlestown Navy Yard on August 19, 2012, it seemed like a perfect morning to be underway in the harbor: clear skies, a forecast high in the mid-70s, and the ship going to sea was USS Constitution, set to sail on her own power for the second time in 131 years. Reporting as [...]
Read MoreMeteorology Rules
An interesting post on gCaptain for professional mariners as we enter hurricane season proposes an update to the Mariner’s 1-2-3 Rule. I admit that unlike its 3-2-1 Rule brother for operating with aircraft carriers, I’d never heard of the 1-2-3 Rule. Most of the hurricane tracking, forecasting, and avoidance in the U.S. Navy is distributed to ships by [...]