'Growing leaders' the focus of Naval War College forum

NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior officer and enlisted sailors from around the fleet came to U.S. Naval War College (NWC), June 22-23, to participate in a Junior Leader Forum, a two-day event designed to get leadership input from some of the best junior leaders throughout the Navy. 

The 34 sailors were petty officer 1st and 2nd classes as well as lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, and were selected by their superiors, community leaders and other representatives. 

The purpose of the forum was to collect information on leader, leadership and leader development; and how the Navy can better develop its leaders. 

“We want their thoughts on how to do this [develop leaders] better. We want to know what makes them better,” said retired Rear Adm. Jaime Kelly, dean of the College of Operational and Strategic Leadership (COSL) at NWC.

The event was part of NWC’s ongoing efforts to fulfill the Chief of Naval Operation's (CNO) Navy Leader Development Strategy by implementing a cultural shift in leader and ethics development.

The idea of including junior people to help steer leader development has been used by other organizations, but is new to the Navy.

“The most successful organizations accept input from those closest to the problem,” said Olenda Johnson, professor in COSL. “So as part of our conversation, we determined that it is vital that we understand leadership issues from the deckplate perspective from those who are experiencing them on a daily basis. This is an opportunity to get input directly from junior leaders.”

NWC is hoping to solicit insights on how these junior leaders are distinguishing themselves among their peers.

Over the two days, the group took part in discussions, exercises and dialogues intended to elicit information on how these young leaders understand the culture of leader development in the Navy and gather input on the future leader development initiatives.

Participants immediately saw the value of the event.

“To be able to all sit in the same room together, both officers and enlisted, and be able to exchange ideas and things that have worked and practices that have not worked, in this kind of structured forum I think is beneficial to everybody,” said Lt. Scott McCallum, special operations officer assessment and selection program officer and forum participant.

The faculty that facilitated the event was eager to collect input from the participants.

“We are in total receive mode. Wisdom lies with you,” Johnson said while addressing the group. 

One of the forum participants had been hoping to find a forum like this to help further her career.

“I’ve been asking for something like this for a really long time,” said Legalman 1st Class Angie Ruiz-Diaz. “I know as a junior sailor, I wasn’t really developed as a leader. It’s exciting to see that the Navy has made it important to create this forum. Everything we learned I’m hoping to take back to my command.”

McCallum agrees that bringing leader development information back to his job is important. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” said McCallum. “I look forward to bringing back all the lessons I’ve learned from this diverse group and helping to incorporate them into my own organization. I hope everyone else feels the same.”

The forum directly supports NWC missions to educate and develop leaders and to support combat readiness. It also supports the lines of effort spelled out in the CNO’s recent “Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority.”