Dissent Is Not Disloyalty
By Rear Admiral William J. Holland Jr., USN (Ret.)
There is a time for bold, aggressive thought and there is a time to fall in line." With these words spoken at the Naval Institute's Annapolis Seminar in April, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Vern Clark articulated a view shared by leaders of every hierarchical organization. Endless argument is tiresome and irritating—it gets in the way of action. Continuous questioning, like endless studies, postpones decisions and action. A decision is reached usually when some outside power requires it or when the decision maker judges that further information will add little value. At that point, the process progresses from argument to action. Without a decision, no "metal is cut," no "rounds are put on target."
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Rear Admiral Holland has been a contributor to Proceedings since 1975. His essays have won prizes in six Arleigh Burke Essay Contests as well as seven awards from the Naval Submarine League and recognition from the Surface Navy Association.
1. CAPT Robert H. Smith, USN (Ret.), "The Navy and its DDG-1000 — Heading the Wrong Way," Proceedings, August 2007, p. 10.
2. John T. Bennett and Vago Muradian, "Experts, Execs Debate U.S. Prototype Plan Merits," Defense News, 19 November 2007.
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