Surface Warfare Officer's Department Head Guide

by Frederick W. Kacher, Joseph Gagliano, Samantha Ann O'Neil

Overview

The at-sea department head is among the most challenging surface navy assignments. Prospective and serving department heads will find this collection of best practices and helpful advice invaluable in preparing for these demanding roles. Offering an overview of the relevant billets, the practical guidance from successful department heads provides pragmatic advice in employing effective leadership and management tools, supporting command leadership, and integrating sound watch-standing practices. The Surface Warfare Officer's Department Head Guide is an important addition to the professional libraries of surface warfare officers seeking success in their coming tour and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682477731
Publisher:	Naval Institute Press
Publication date:	04/15/2022
Series:	Blue & Gold Professional Library
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

RADM Fred W. Kacher has deployed multiple times at sea and commanded Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN, Destroyer Squadron SEVEN, and USS Stockdale (DDD 106). An author of numerous articles on naval affairs and recipient of the Elmo Zumwalt Award for Visionary Leadership and the U.S. Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership, he has also served ashore at the White House and the Pentagon. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Harvard’s Kennedy School, he is also the author of the Newly Commissioned Naval Officer’s Guide, 2nd edition, and co-author of the Naval Officer’s Guide to the Pentagon.

CAPT Joseph A. Gagliano is a surface warfare officer, naval strategist, and politico-military specialist. At sea, he has served as the commander of Task Force 65,
commodore of Destroyer Squadron 60, commanding officer and executive officer in USS Independence (LCS 2), and combat systems officer and weapons officer in USS Cole (DDG 67). Ashore, he has served as the director for defense policy and strategy for the National Security Council at the White House, a strategist on the Joint Staff in the Asia political-military affairs directorate, and the strategic planning team leader for OPNAV N00X. Captain Gagliano holds a PhD and a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts Universityand a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is also the author of Shiphandling Fundamentals for Littoral Combat Ships and the New Frigates.

CDR Samantha A. O’Neil is a surface warfare officer who served at sea as a division officer in USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and as the chief engineer in USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), where she was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award. Ashore, she served as a company officer at the United States Naval Academy and as a staff member in the Commander’s Action Group at Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific. As a Navy reserve officer, she served as executive officer of the Navy Reserve Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific Headquarters unit and executive officer of the Navy Reserve Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center headquarters unit. She is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, the University of Maryland, and the U.S. Naval War College.

Table of Contents

List of Photos and Figures ix

Acknowledgments xi

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations xv

Introduction RADM Fred W. Kacher, USN 1

Part I The Beginning 5

1 Getting Prepared LCDR Kurt Albaugh, USN 7

2 Department Head School and the Command Assessment CAPT Peter Halvorsen, USN 17

Part II The Department Head 31

3 Department Head Leadership CAPT Joseph A. Gagliano, USN 33

4 Management CDR Sam O'Neil, USN 45

5 Supporting the Executive Officer CDR Robert C. Watts IV, USN 56

6 Supporting the Commanding Officer RADM Fred W. Kacher, USN 68

Part III The Watch 77

7 Tactical Action Officer CDR Katie Whitman, USN 79

8 Special Evolutions Officer of the Deck CDR Christopher H. Bland, USN 89

9 Senior Watch Officer CDR J. D. Kristenson, USN 100

Part IV The Billets and Future Opportunities 111

10 Operations Officer CDR Doug Robb, USN 113

11 Staff Operations Officer CDR James Hagerty, USN 125

12 Weapons Officer LCDR Dylan Ross, USN 138

13 Combat Systems Officer LCDR Carleigh Gregory, USN 151

14 Engineer Officer CDR Sam O'Neil, USN 160

15 Staff Readiness Officer CDR Rob Keller, USN 173

16 Shipboard Plans and Tactics Officer LCDR Ashley O'Keefe, USN 181

17 First Lieutenant LCDR Audrey Herrington, USN 192

18 Air Department CDR Jonathan "Shank" Lushenko, USN 203

19 Preparing for Early Command CDR Cameron Ingram, USN 213

Appendix 1 Notional Turnover Schedule 227

Appendix 2 "So You Want to Be a Department Head" Revisited RADM Fred W. Kacher, USN 231

Index 237