Captain’s Column

The holidays are always a special time of year. A chance to slow down a bit from our normally hectic routines; a chance for families and friends to come together; and a chance to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the new year. I hope everyone had the opportunity to unwind a bit and for those who stood the watch, the Fire Fighters, Security personnel, and Duty Officers… allow me to extend an enormous Thank You. Your dedication and devotion to duty allowed a safe and secure celebration for others.

Looking back on the previous year, it is important to remember the good times but also take stock in the lessons learned. A famous writer, George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". In today’s Navy, the biggest hit one can take on an inspection is a ‘repeat’ gripe with zero effort to fix it. Since the change of command in July, we have encountered numerous events; from these events I have built a list of lessons to remember in an effort to NOT repeat them. Some lessons are personal and will impact my daily routine while others have command implications which will be incorporated into various operational and emergency plans. Please take a look at your own past year of experiences for lessons you have learned and please share them if they could impact others, because many times it is better to learn from other’s mistakes.

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