Were NAVSEC Modly's comments to the crew of the USS Roosevelt appropriate? If not, what actions should be taken?

He was HIGHLY inappropriate... For a civilian political appointee to address a crowd of service members and shit talk a Commissioned Officer? It's low class at best.

The irony is not lost upon me. First, he fires the Captain because the letter went outside "normal, secure" channels, and then Modly makes comments that are derogative and done outside "normal, secure" channels, and now his head is being asked for.

No, they were not. Personally, I think Captain Crozier is the sort of officer who would likely fly his Hornet on one engine into the Valley of Death to drop ordnance and save lives... he's a good man. I still think what he did was technically wrong and worthy of censure, if not the firing he received. There are things you do, and things you don't do... and ways to fall on one's sword that minimize the collateral damage. What the acting SECNAV did after the fact may have been worse, however... much worse. The Sailors on the TR love Crozier for sticking his neck out for them... they should. There's not amount of "tough talk" that's likely to change that... nor should "Big Navy" try. Get the new Skipper on board, let him take the reigns, move on. Oh, and stand and deliver on the assistance that was indicated to be in the works at the time of the original incident. Do that, and the SECNAV "proves" the justification for Crozier's dismissal; do it not... and all you prove is that he may have had a point.

Several things went askew. The original communications outside the CoC, the unauthorized publicized video of the departure, and the awfully poor choice of words by SECNAV. The brutal truth is SECNAV was essentially correct. The problem is publically rubbing noses in it. Dirty laundry never airs nicely outside the fenceline. The loss of confidence was driven by a lapse in judgement and lack of understanding of the consequences. Seen it before. As the TR Skipper was passed over for Flag twice and had to be out within a year, it's anyone's guess if he went into martyr mode. Unfortunately, with my 42 years total rattling around the Navy (32 in uniform), the ability to work the public/internal interface has frequently been abysmal. I too had my fights with the Flags, but always kept it private.

That is an emphatic no. It shows all of the acting SECNAVs subordinates (which is technically two branches of the military) that he can't be trusted. He has now lost all credibility as a leader in their eyes since it shows that even if he does the right thing, he will gloat about it and throw them under the bus. It also destroys morale at a time when it is probably most crucial, specifically to those sailors. I am not going to defend the actions of the captain in question, nor am I going to say that a reasonable person in his position wouldn't take similar steps to take care of their people, however, I will say that a long hard look should be taken at the position of the acting SECNAV.

Good news!


https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/politics/modly-resign-crozier-esper-trump/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0USHffA9iAA8DutSo2GOpLPWOjH2qQz1EX0NN_fz1xiWISq2eOL-nat9M

Look he is a civilian appointee, only the POTUS can fire him. Inappropriate for saying that a flippin CPT (COL) violated regulations, OPSEC and everything else that Intell lives for by sending a email to anyone who was not cleared for it or in his direct chain of command, plus didn't send it classified??? My God folks, if a Brigade Commander announced on the news that the Bde in A-stan, was 75% combat effective/sick.couldn't do its mission, just what the hell would the Taliban do- go home or hit us damn hard!. He wasn't fired for taking care of his people, but for voilating damn near every security regulation in the book, Yes he's fired, probably have to retire, but thats better than a COURTS MARTIAL which is the other choice.

SSG Carlos Madden His choice of words was insulting and demeaning. By violating the cardinal leadership/management principle of "praise in public, criticize in private" he has had a severe negative impact on the credibility of the most senior management of the Navy. He needs to resign, or be quietly dismissed.
He needed to understand what the name Crozier means - a bishop's staff/symbol of authority derived from the shepherd's crook. The shepherd used the crook to protect his flock from marauders, which is what Capt Crozier did. Protect his flock from the invisible marauders, and from bureaucratic delay.

While I disagree with CAPT Crozier's actions (transmissions of combat capabilities via unsecured channels to multiple recipients), what Modly did was low brow, unprofessional, and beneath the dignity of the position he was holding. Were I holding the office of POTUS, I would have bounced Modly by close of business the same day he made the comments.

Were I to be SECNAV, at first I said I would have removed Crozier. After more thought and reflection, I'd have probably pulled him in for a private conversation, given appropriate verbal chastisement, shook his hand, and sent him back to work. Depending on details not made public, MIGHT have quietly removed him without fanfare at a later inconspicuous manner.