The admiral selected to be the next Chief of Naval Operations has been recognized throughout his career for his leadership, integrity, and concern for his Sailors, and brings extensive experience in the Pacific at a time of increased military and economic focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
Admiral Gary Roughead also has a well-founded understanding of how Congress works and a reservoir of good relations on Capitol Hill, another valuable asset in light of the recent strains between the military and the lawmakers.
Based on his actions and statements, he would maintain the emphasis on rebuilding the Navy's antisubmarine warfare capabilities, which he called "my top warfighting priority," and would continue the current CNO's initiatives on the 1,000-ship navy and the Global Fleet Station. Roughead also would support the troubled littoral combat ship program, which he said "is going to be a ship of the future for the U.S. Navy." And he has stressed the need to embrace the power of network-centric warfare in Fleet operations.
"The war will be won and lost on the initial battles that take place on that network battleground. That is something that we must all be mindful of and ask ourselves the question, 'Are we prepared to fight in that environment?'" he said at a June conference co-sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.
Knowledge of the Budgetary Ropes
But Roughead also has indicated that he understands the budgetary constraints he would face as he tries to sustain and modernize the Navy during a costly war on terrorism. "I do not believe you can have the Navy of the future without having a suppressed appetite. In order to build that Navy of the future we have to be able to make hard decisions about what capability we think we need," he said recently.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced on 2 August that President Bush had nominated Roughead to take the Navy's helm, replacing Admiral Mike Mullen, who had just been confirmed by the Senate as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Roughead's nomination also must be confirmed by the Senate, which is expected because of the favorable reputation he acquired as the Navy's chief of legislative affairs and the fact that he was confirmed early this year to his current post as commander of Fleet Forces Command.
Roughead, 55, is a native of Buffalo, New York, and is a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he demonstrated his leadership both as a midshipman and 20 years later as Commandant of Midshipmen during difficult times in Annapolis. In his first-class year, he was brigade commander, the lone midshipman authorized to wear six stripes, denoting his rank atop the brigade leadership organization.
Although ragged a lot about his last name and given the nickname "Rodney Warhead," Roughead was highly regarded by his classmates.
At the Naval Academy
George Watt, president of the Naval Academy Alumni Association who was in Roughead's company, recalled that their class was divided between a group of mids "who were very irreverent, not as respectful of the rules" and another group that was "very serious minded, took no risks at all."
"Gary was unique. He was good at transitioning between both of those extremes, had friends in and was respected by both sides," Watt recalled. Roughead also was known for his military performance and his focus, he said. "Gary was locked on early on. He understood why he was he there." Watt also noted that Roughead was the class honor representative and believed deeply in the Academy's honor code. "No one ever questioned his integrity."
Vice Admiral John Cotton, Chief of the Navy Reserve and another classmate, said of Roughead: "From an early age, he has been recognized as a leader. He has had some of the best leadership positions throughout his career."
A surface warfare officer, Roughead has an impressive record of commands, from a destroyer to a carrier strike group, two fleets and his current post as the de facto leader for all the Navy's operational forces.
Roughead and the LCS
Early in his career he served on two Asheville-class gunboats, small craft designed for the coastal operations the LCS is expected to perform. Because of that experience, Roughead expressed a concern about how the Navy would train and support the LCS crews so they can perform their missions. "As we look at LCS, we simply can't home in on the number of people on the ships. We have to look at the entire effort and scheme that will be in place to support those ships," he said in a published interview.
Roughead also served as executive officer on the USS Spruance (DD-963) under future CNO Vern Clark, impressing one of the many Navy leaders who would help advance his career.
Another of those leaders is retired Admiral Charles R. Larson, who was so impressed by Roughead's performance as his executive assistant at U.S. Pacific Command that when he was recalled from retirement for a repeat tour as Superintendent at an Academy shaken by scandals he insisted on Roughead as Commandant of Midshipmen. "He's very intelligent, very capable, has a wonderful temperament; he's a good leader," Larson said.
Roughead remained at the Academy to serve Larson's successor, Vice Admiral John Ryan, who had a very different task for his Commandant. While Larson had "plugged the holes in the ship, I wanted to get the ship moving forward by developing a new plan for the Academy's future," Ryan said. "I put Gary in charge."
"People give John Ryan credit for the great strategic plan. I give credit to Gary Roughead," the retired officer said.
Retired Vice Admiral John Nyquist said he observed Roughead as a new commander in Washington and was impressed by his professionalism and engaging personality. What he learned about then-Commander Roughead applies to Admiral Roughead, Nyquist said. "He has strong convictions, he sticks to them, and he makes you glad that he did. He'll take those same characteristics with him into the CNO's office and do the Navy proud."
Wide Range of Experience
Roughhead's first command was the guided-missile destroyer Barry (DDG-52). He later commanded the guided-missile cruiser Port Royal (CG-73), becoming the first officer to command both classes of Aegis warships.
While he commanded the Port Royal, the ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Golden Anchor Award for excellence in retention and crew support programs, indications of his leadership and his concern for his Sailors.
Roughead also commanded Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two and the USS George Washington (CVN-73) Carrier Strike Group on a deployment to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, and the Second Fleet.
What may set Roughead apart from all recent CNOs is his extensive experience in the Pacific. Admiral Larson recalled that when Roughead was his aide at Pacific Command in 1993-94, "he traveled extensively throughout the Pacific, sat in with me in all of my meetings with the leaders out there."
"He has an extremely good grasp" of the region, Larson said, noting Roughead's tours as deputy commander of Pacific Command in 2004 and then commander of Pacific Fleet, from July 2005 to this April.
But he said Roughead's experience in the Atlantic as commander of Second Fleet and Fleet Forces Command would give him great geographic "balance."
In the Pacific
On taking command of Pacific Fleet, Roughead told the Honolulu Star Bulletin: "I think everyone realizes that the changes that are taking place in Asia are tied to our future prosperity and security and where the 21st century is going."
And on taking over the Fleet Forces Command, he said he would take his Pacific experience to help shape the future Navy, which he could do even more effectively as CNO.
While at the two Pacific commands, Roughead helped direct relief efforts after the disastrous tsunami in 2004 and the hospital ship Mercy's (T-AH-19) tour through Southeast Asia. He followed that by creating the "Pacific Partnership," which involved regular deployments to bring engineering capabilities from the sea to refurbish schools and to provide new facilities for preventive medicine.
He also fostered expanded ties with the navies in the region, including China.
Roughead said he does not consider China a threat. But when he looks at it, "I see a nation that is growing economically and is developing a military at a rate that is not insignificant. It is developing a very modern and capable military. The question I would have is, what does it intend to do with it?"
Commander Kreisher is a former Marine as well as a retired Navy Reserve officer. A veteran Washington correspondent, he served as the military writer for the Copley News Service.