Lieutenant Spears is a submarine officer, a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and a 2014 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School. He currently is the weapons officer on USS Columbia (SSN-771).This essay won Second Prize in the Leadership Essay Contest sponsored by Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International.

Articles by William Spears

The commanding officer of the USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720) observes the officer of the deck and navigation control team as the submarine makes its 1,000th dive. A prospective OOD develops technical skills through years of training in high-tech classrooms, simulators, and prototype propulsion systems, but the interpersonal skills required to lead a watch team are not taught in any formal setting.

Leading a Submarine Watch Team

By Lieutenant Commander William Spears, U.S. Navy
October 2020
The interpersonal skills required to lead a watch team are not taught in any formal setting. These skills must be developed, honed through practice, and hardened by failure and reflection.
division officers perform zone inspections

Integrity Is Not Binary

By Lieutenant William Spears, U.S. Navy
January 2017
Throughout their most basic training, prospective division officers are repeatedly taught they must be persons of integrity. It is driven and rehashed to the point that it borders on cliché ...