New Naval Reactors Admiral Nominated
From the Senate webpage, we see this piece of intel:
Jul 11, 12 PN1807 Navy: The following named officer for appointment to the grade of Admiral in the United States Navy while assigned to a position of importance and responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., section 601 and title 42, U.S.C., section 7158: Vice Adm. John M. Richardson, to be AdmiralThe 42 U.S.C. Section 7158 portion confirms that this nomination is to head Naval Reactors. Personally, I think it's a great choice. VADM Richardson has done an excellent job looking for ways to move the Force into the 21st century while heading SUBFOR, and I expect he'll continue the good work of his predecessors at NR.
posted by Bubblehead at 2:41 PM
33 Comments:
First!
7/12/2012 2:54 PM
It seems like only yesterday that Admiral Donald took over for Admiral Bowman. Time flies!
7/12/2012 3:33 PM
If thats the case, that will make 3 former commanding officers from the former USS Honolulu (SSN 718) that have 4 stars. Greenert, Haney, and Richardson!
WTG Hono! So damn good, they had to put the front half on the San Fran just to make her a good boat!!!!
STSCS(SS/SW) USN RET
7/12/2012 4:16 PM
Hey STSCS(SS/SW), what boats were you on? Look me up on FB. www.facebook.com/rustyb78
STS1(SS)
7/12/2012 6:24 PM
John - if you read this, Congrats! You earned it!
s/one of your old bosses
7/12/2012 6:39 PM
Personally, this nomination makes me very happy considering alternatives in the cards. For instance, we have all considered safety lapses connected with the catastrophic fire on Miami last month. In that case, were you aware that PNS's Shipyard Commander and Deputy Commander are skimmers? the CMC alone has actual submarine service.
The Deputy Commander has tender and skimmer experience, and the shipyard commander was a skimmer. This investigation is going to be very interesting on many levels.
7/12/2012 7:26 PM
Yeah John, if you read this, how about making some change for good while you are at NR. If you plan on keeping the status quo for another 8 years at NR, good ahead and retire now. Read all the comments on the cheating scandal to see what the fleet really thinks. The nuclear navy can remain safe without remaining rediculous.
7/12/2012 7:27 PM
His biography states he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1982. Does this mean he will be the first Director of Naval Reactors to NOT be interviewed by Rickover?
PW
7/12/2012 7:27 PM
Dear VADM Richardson,
You have a snowball's chance in hell of actually reading this, but in case you do I am challenging you to demonstrate that your Design wasn't just a paper project to get you another star...
Get rid of some of the nuclear navy's ridiculous practices like weekly RCAS monitors, electrical safety to hook voltmeters to 15vdc jacks. Get rid of the edom/nucnotes that micro-manage the training programs. Walk boats at 0800 and light up skippers when crews have a waiting list to get permission to start work instead of planning the work ahead and starting right after quarters.
-MMCS(ret)
7/12/2012 8:28 PM
Dear VADM Richardson,
You have a snowball's chance in hell of actually reading this, but in case you do I am challenging you to demonstrate that your Design wasn't just a paper project to get you another star...
Get rid of some of the nuclear navy's ridiculous practices like weekly RCAS monitors, electrical safety to hook voltmeters to 15vdc jacks. Get rid of the edom/nucnotes that micro-manage the training programs. Walk boats at 0800 and light up skippers when crews have a waiting list to get permission to start work instead of planning the work ahead and starting right after quarters.
-MMCS(ret)
7/12/2012 8:28 PM
Dear VADM Richardson,
You have a snowball's chance in hell of actually reading this, but in case you do I am challenging you to demonstrate that your Design wasn't just a paper project to get you another star...
Get rid of some of the nuclear navy's ridiculous practices like weekly RCAS monitors, electrical safety to hook voltmeters to 15vdc jacks. Get rid of the edom/nucnotes that micro-manage the training programs. Walk boats at 0800 and light up skippers when crews have a waiting list to get permission to start work instead of planning the work ahead and starting right after quarters.
-MMCS(ret)
7/12/2012 8:28 PM
Dear VADM Richardson,
You have a snowball's chance in hell of actually reading this, but in case you do I am challenging you to demonstrate that your Design wasn't just a paper project to get you another star...
Get rid of some of the nuclear navy's ridiculous practices like weekly RCAS monitors, electrical safety to hook voltmeters to 15vdc jacks. Get rid of the edom/nucnotes that micro-manage the training programs. Walk boats at 0800 and light up skippers when crews have a waiting list to get permission to start work instead of planning the work ahead and starting right after quarters.
-MMCS(ret)
7/12/2012 8:29 PM
Sorry for triple post. If i were good with electronics I'd have been an et.
7/12/2012 8:31 PM
He's not going to be more likely to read it if you post it four ties
7/12/2012 8:36 PM
Anon @ 7:26PM:
Were YOU aware that the PNS Shipyard commander has been working on submarine repair projects for longer than most people's careers? The Deputy is an nuke LDO, I believe (former enlisted submariner) - no slouch either. Both exceptional leaders - the fire on MIAMI had nothing to do with what vessel they served on as an O1-O3.
How PNS recovers and moves on from this tragedy will be a true reflection of their leadership so judge them 3-6 mos from now.
7/12/2012 10:54 PM
First, as to VADM Richardson, what a fantastic (should I say super) choice. He is an ideas man with few peers. And if he graduated in 1982 he was probably interviewed by Rickover in late 1981.
As for the MIAMI fire and PNS fault, as I recently heard a 4* say, "we seem to have convinced ourselves that a big fire couldn't happen. Just look at the way we operate in the SY: firefighting topside, no crew on board forward..." There is a bigger problem than any one SY or SY commander.
7/13/2012 1:42 AM
"As for the MIAMI fire and PNS fault, as I recently heard a 4* say, "we seem to have convinced ourselves that a big fire couldn't happen. Just look at the way we operate in the SY: firefighting topside, no crew on board forward..." There is a bigger problem than any one SY or SY commander."
Where was the below decks ship safety watch? I decommed the Tullibee in PNSY and it was strictly enforced. I NewConned the Miami, and it was the same at EB, even before we had a topside safety watch. Are there no longer ANY supervisory watches forward for a unit in overhaul that are required to stay on board?
Too many questions on this issue besides the "HOT" vacuum cleaner excuse.......
God bless to the Miami, but I think she will be an MTS after PMS392 gets done with the hull.
Good luck to the new selectee for 08, it's not an easy job.
hagar
7/13/2012 2:40 AM
"...the fire on MIAMI had nothing to do with what vessel they served on as an O1-O3. " - Anon 10:54 PM
Yep, PNS's CO and deputy have been skimmers fduring their O-4, O-5 and (the CO O-6 as well). The US Navy, not this taxpayer, is investigating the obvious safety and security lapses involved with the catostrophic Miami fire ($440Millions and counting). Expect one or both of these brilliant skimmers to take a fall tantamount to what has befallen failed sub COs over the last several years --- how does a sober Admiral excuse greater failure by skimmers?
Does anyone reading this blog believe that command of a nuclear submarine does not demand safety, security and oversight attention greater than a ship that never dives, regularly flies in food and repair parts as necessary, and flies out medevacs whenever sea states permit? Get real!
7/13/2012 12:48 PM
Yes, the notion that you can "Live on the barge" and let the shipyard run rampant with hotwork, and the SDO / EDO didn't even have to inspect the site beforehand? Where were the CPOs, who allowed a stack of vacuum cleaners to be stored in "an unmanned area". Where was the crew at SY turnover time? That is where the yardbirds cut corners!
You get what you inspect, not what you expect.
Probably why USFF appointed a RADM to collected all investigations and finally get to a conclusion and assign at least $440 million of accountability. I predict that heads will roll for this and MIAMI will never to to sea again.
Thoughts?
7/13/2012 3:52 PM
You people need to stop asking dumb rhetorical questions like you're pretending to be on law and order.
The fire occurred at 1745. Where do you think non-duty section personnel including CPOs were? The BDW conducted his rounds like any normal watchstander and did not notice anything abnormal. He finished up with his 30 min topside check and began turnover when the fire alarm was pulled. Even if he turned over belowdecks, same result... the space became smoke-filled so quickly that no one could locate the source of the fire. Most "fires" that occur underway are really overheated equipment and don't create nearly as much smoke as this. If you don't believe me, light your trash can in your kitchen on fire, have your roommate hide it, and come back 60 seconds after you hear your smoke alarm go off and tell me you can find the source.
It's not possible to overhaul a ship and keep habitability intact. Realistically there are two types of fires in the Navy... those you put out in 2 minutes and those you put out in 12 hours. No amount of finger pointing will change the fact that unless the BDW loitered at the wardroom head (a keep out area for enlisted guys) the only way to prevent this is to rely on the shipyard workers to do the right thing.
The fact that there is "shared accountability" in the shipyard will mean that this will happen again. The Navy needs to turn the ship fully over to the yard and send the crew to trainers or to take the next ship up out of the yards. Implicating the Miami's crew for the shipyard's carelessness (assuming no foul play, which I'm not convinced of) only lets PNSY off the hook. This is the same organization that sank the Thresher after all.
7/13/2012 4:37 PM
You people need to stop asking dumb rhetorical questions like you're pretending to be on law and order.
The fire occurred at 1745. Where do you think non-duty section personnel including CPOs were? The BDW conducted his rounds like any normal watchstander and did not notice anything abnormal. He finished up with his 30 min topside check and began turnover when the fire alarm was pulled. Even if he turned over belowdecks, same result... the space became smoke-filled so quickly that no one could locate the source of the fire. Most "fires" that occur underway are really overheated equipment and don't create nearly as much smoke as this. If you don't believe me, light your trash can in your kitchen on fire, have your roommate hide it, and come back 60 seconds after you hear your smoke alarm go off and tell me you can find the source.
It's not possible to overhaul a ship and keep habitability intact. Realistically there are two types of fires in the Navy... those you put out in 2 minutes and those you put out in 12 hours. No amount of finger pointing will change the fact that unless the BDW loitered at the wardroom head (a keep out area for enlisted guys) the only way to prevent this is to rely on the shipyard workers to do the right thing.
The fact that there is "shared accountability" in the shipyard will mean that this will happen again. The Navy needs to turn the ship fully over to the yard and send the crew to trainers or to take the next ship up out of the yards. Implicating the Miami's crew for the shipyard's carelessness (assuming no foul play, which I'm not convinced of) only lets PNSY off the hook. This is the same organization that sank the Thresher after all.
7/13/2012 4:38 PM
"The fact that there is "shared accountability" in the shipyard will mean that this will happen again." -Anon 4:37
No, the fact that there is no loss liability in the government yard means it will happen there again, unless the leaders are fired.
Had this happened at EB, taxpayers would not be on the hook for $440 million - General Dynamics would be. Get the difference?
7/13/2012 7:09 PM
Cheating on BEQ exams and weekly exams happens. The Nuke navy is planting its head in the sand again. Just like loss of remote operability happens and sailors keep finding new creative ways to defeat interlocks, shut valves etc...
Guys that are repeat failures and suck at taking tests have few options other than to put their integrity on the line.
Fix the stupid Rickover reqs and bring some reality back to the fleet. If the coners can do it why cant the nukes.
7/13/2012 7:47 PM
Anyone else having a hard time believing that a yard worker actually cleaned up something?
7/14/2012 7:44 PM
A Four-Star in 30 years.
Is that a non-war record?
7/15/2012 7:34 AM
ADM Donald was commissioned in 1975 and put on 4th Star in 2004 (29Yrs).
7/15/2012 8:11 AM
I find it funny that the crew thinks that they aren't responsible for a commissioned warship, and everything that happens to it, both good and bad.
Pathetic, really.
7/15/2012 3:23 PM
Regarding Richardson: A classmate of his was a former shipmate and I never met another man for whom I have higher regard. He wears two stars now, so I can only imagine what a superstar Richardson must be.
I can't wait to meet him.
7/15/2012 5:06 PM
Maka Ala Mau!
7/16/2012 11:21 AM
"Had this happened at EB, taxpayers would not be on the hook for $440 million - General Dynamics would be. Get the difference?"
Nope.
Guess who insures EB? Uh yup...the U.S. taxpayer, by way of the U.S. Navy.
See Rickover's profile on Wikipedia, and search for "Electric Boat."
In that case, as EB's insurers, the Navy actually paid EB off for their own defrauding of the Navy (falsified weld inspections).
7/30/2012 6:33 PM
I remember Admiral Richardson when he came aboard the George C. Marshall (SSBN 654) as the Gold Crew Engineer in 1989 or 1990. He was a great guy back then and it seems everyone above him has felt the same way.
8/02/2012 10:01 AM
Don't know how I stumbled upon this website, but it was an interesting read. The technical Miami info I don't completely understand; but it is a nightmare, no doubt. I'm Admiral Richardson's sister-in-law. I've known him since High School. I'll be sure to pass this webpage on to him to read. Thanks for your kind words. John is a great guy. (And yes to the Rickover interview-I took a picture of the 'chair!').
11/11/2012 4:02 PM
Richardson is a piece of crap. He has fired more excellent Chiefs than any other Admiral. Additionally, he is one of the dirtiest guys in the business. He will screw you administratively and not even give you an opportunity for Courts Martial. This guys is a coward. Dont be fooled NR is fucked. Ill bet money on it
1/19/2013 4:07 PM
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