Robert Francis

Captain Francis is a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer who served as the commanding officer of the USS Lassen (DDG-82) and as reactor officer on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).

Articles by Robert Francis

Warrior Spirit, Fickle Heart

By Captain Robert Francis, U.S. Navy, with Lieutenant Commander Phillip Perrinez, MC, U.S. Navy

March 2021

Taking care of yourself is as important to the mission as it is to your family. You may not get a second chance.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) command master chief hands out cake to sailors to commemorate the ship’s three-year commissioning anniversary. The Ford’s sailors are executing battle messing in spaces that accommodate six-foot social distancing.

Navy Personnel Challenges and the New Normal in the Age of COVID

By Captain Robert Francis, U.S. Navy

October 2020

The Navy has asked a lot of sailors during the pandemic. The toll is becoming evident. The Navy needs to do more to reward them.

A machinist mate third class conducts a tagout audit.

Implement an Electronic Tagout Program

By Captain Robert Francis, U.S. Navy

March 2020

By now the Navy should have a technologically aided tagout system that eliminates the more common tagout errors, but overconfidence can never be eliminated entirely.