Rowden out at Naval Surface Forces

[jpak]

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, the Navy’s top surface warfare officer, will depart the service on Thursday, the latest fallout in an ongoing probe into a rash of collisions in the Western Pacific that killed 17 sailors over the summer.

Nicknamed the “SWO boss” because of his perch atop all Navy surface warfare officers, Rowden also was tasked with training and equipping the crews of most of the the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s warships at his Coronado-based command.

On Sept. 14, Rowden asked Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson to let him retire earlier than planned — around April instead of in the summer.

"Today, I have informed the chief of naval operations that this Thursday I will step aside earlier than previously planned as the commander, Naval Surface Forces, and commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet,” Rowden told The San Diego Union-Tribune in an emailed statement.

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Read more: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-tom-rowden-20180116-story.html

[irisblue]

1. Wow...alot of changes today in the USN.

[Shipwack]

2. Amazing...

A high ranking officer actually ‘“suffering” the consequences of his errors?

Of course, “suffering” is in quotes because he’s being allowed to retire, instead of being busted or reprimanded.

Ah, there we go. Reading the article, he’s a major proponent of the abhorrent concept of doing “more with less”.... Fewer people on board to save costs, even though this puts more of a burden on the crew, leading to degraded training, fatigue, and (wait for it...) accidents.

Yet another data point on how the Navy has been going in the wrong direction, putting cool toys above a well trained crew. Which, of course will be ignored.