Commander McKearney is a retired surface warfare officer whose 20 years of service included both destroyer and amphibious forces, including command during wartime. In his civilian career, he has analyzed operations and evaluated new technologies for the fleet.

Articles by Terry McKearney

u.s. navy (alan warner)

Now Hear This: Four-Star Flagship

By Commander T. J. McKearney, U.S. Navy (Retired)
October 2008
The formation of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has been met with both praise and skepticism. The praise has been centered on the logic of establishing this new unified command to ...
U.S. NAVY (DD-21 PROGRAM OFFICE)

The DD-21 as Deus ex Machina

By T. J. McKearney
July 1998
The Navy's plans for its next-generation destroyer, the DD-21, tout the new ship as the "land-attack destroyer," a nickname that bears some consideration given the ship's mission—and its implications. Apparently ...
U.S. NAVY

CNEF, We Hardly Knew Ye

By T.J. McKearney
January 1998
McKearney discusses the concept of the Naval Expeditionary Force (NEF), which would have merged Navy and Marine forces. McKearney speculates on the demise of the NEF due, in part, to ...
U.S. NAVY (W. EVERETT)

The Dark Side of Expeditionary

By Commander T. J. McKearney, U.S. Navy (Retired)
September 1997
Busy touting the benefits of expeditionary operations, the Navy and Marine Corps have ignored the side effects. Carrier-based S-3 squadrons, for example, have become more focused on intelligence gathering and ...

The Offensive Surface Ship

By Lieutenant Commander T. J. McKearney, USN
December 1983
Tomahawks, combined with Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles, enlarge the traditionally defensive role of our major surface combatants to include an offensive purpose as well.