{"id":28798,"date":"2017-10-10T17:40:11","date_gmt":"2017-10-10T17:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/10\/10\/cno-junior-leader-empowerment-can-help-fix-navy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:36:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:36:15","slug":"cno-junior-leader-empowerment-can-help-fix-navy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2017\/10\/10\/cno-junior-leader-empowerment-can-help-fix-navy\/","title":{"rendered":"CNO: Junior leader empowerment can help fix Navy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fixing Navy problems that have come to light after the fatal at-sea disasters involving the destroyers Fitzgerald and John S. McCain this summer will involve empowering junior leaders, the service\u2019s top officer said in a message Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn too many cases, we have stolen leadership opportunities away from our small team leaders,\u201d Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said. \u201cWeve [sic] used a slide show instead of leadership by personal engagement. We have robbed our junior leaders of the ownership they so crave. We have smothered their initiative. We need to give it back \u2014 its [sic] why they joined the Navy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While a comprehensive review of basic Navy operations remains ongoing, Richardson said solutions to persistent lack of sleep, long work hours in port, basic watchstanding deficiencies and other issues lie in empowering junior officers and chiefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey can control so much if we give them clear guidance, responsibility, authority, and accountability,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cAllow them to own their situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issues involving training, crew manning levels and ship readiness have reemerged after the two 7th Fleet destroyer collisions killed 17 sailors this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\t