The White Falcon - 22.10.1993, Blaðsíða 4

SECNAV releases Tailhook decision
Washington, D. C. (NNS) — A statement regarding the status of 35
flag and general officers, identified by the Department of Defense
(DoD) Inspector General (IG) as having been in Las Vegas during the
Tailhook ‘91 Convention, was released by Secretary of the Navy
(SECNAV) John H. Dalton October 15. The complete text of
SECNAV’s statement is as follows:
“I have made some very difficult decisions regarding the status of
35 flag and general officers identified by the DoD IG as having been
in Las Vegas during the Tailhook ‘91 Convention.
“These decisions were not easily reached. I have spent the vast
majority of my time in office carefully weighing the facts in an effort
to do what is right for the Naval service. With the help of the Chief of
Naval Operations (CNO) ADM Frank Xelso, the Vice CNO, ADM
Stan Arthur, the counsel of other senior government officials and with
the concurrence of Secretary of Defense Les Aspin, I have made
decisions which I believe deal firmly and fairly with those involved.
It is clear to me there was a failure of appropriate leadership at
Tailhook ‘91.1 strongly believe in the principle of accountability and
responsibility. It is the foundation of lead-
ership in the Naval service.
The greatest accountability lies with those
who were responsible for planning, organ-
izing, and running the convention and those
who were responsible for supervising the
majority of the active duty members who
attended it. For many years, the individual
who was responsible for coordinating offi-
cial Navy support of Tailhook was the
Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Air
Warfare. In 1991, this was VADM Richard
Dunleavy. More than any other individual,
VADM Dunleavy was responsible for the
failures at Tailhook. His performance of
duties after Tailhook was similarly flawed.
However, VADM Dunleavy was not
alone in his failure. His active duty and
reserve deputies, RADM Riley Mixson and
RADM Wilson Flagg, played key roles in
the organization and administration of Tail-
hook ‘91.
VADM Dunleavy and these two other
officers had an obligation to make them-
selves aware of the behavior of their juniors
in general and persons within their admin-
istrative chains of command in particular.
They were expected to ensure that such
conduct was not unbecoming of Naval offi-
cers, discreditable to the Naval service, or
otherwise unacceptable.
There were ample signals that trouble
could arise: Precedents of unacceptable
conduct at prior Tailhook conventions,
visible use of alcohol to excess, resistance and hostility toward
women entering what many aviators considered to be a male-only
professional domain, and widespread attendance at the event for the
sole purpose of having a good time. That potential was heightened by
an atmosphere in which rank and the rules of propriety and deference
toward rank were set aside for the purposes of Tailhook.
As a result of careful review of the facts, a detailed review of the
DoD IG’s report and personal interviews with the officers involved,
I have determined no action is warranted concerning two officers and
have taken the following actions concerning 33 flag officers:
I have issued a Secretarial Letter of Censure to RADM Dunleavy.'
RADM Dunleavy retired from the Navy last summer in the grade of
rear admiral, one star lower than the highest rank in which he served,
which could represent as much as $100,000 or more during his retire-
ment. I have determined he will remain on the retired list in the two-
star grade of rear admiral. This is no minor sanction.
RADM Mixson and RADM Flagg have also been issued Secretar-
ial Letters of Censure.
In the case of two officers, Maj. Gen. Clyde Vermilyea and RADM
William Newman, I have concluded that no personal accountability
or responsibility for Tailhook is warranted. These officers were
present only for an afternoon professional symposium and departed
immediately thereafter. They should not be identified with Tailhook
in any way.
The remaining 30 officers, including ADM Kelso, will receive
administrative action appropriate to them individually. Because these
actions are non-punitive, it would be unfair
for me to reveal the specific action taken in
each instance. However, I can state I have
issued ADM Kelso a non-punitive letter of
caution. None of these officers, including
ADM Kelso, personally engaged in any
wrongdoing. However, with regard to Tail-
hook, their performance was not all that it
could have been.
The Naval service has suffered greatly
a result of Tailhook. Some senior officei
who were there failed to exercise active’
leadership and take the necessary actions to
prevent behavior that was wrong. Effective
leadership requires constant attention and
positive action.
From these Tailhook actions, there are
important lessons to learn, lessons of lead-
ership, accountability and personal con-
duct. Those values have been the founda-
tion of our Naval service throughout its
history. They must guide and sustain us
throughout our challenging future.
As troubling as the incidents of Tailhook
are, we must not lose sight of the fact the
Naval service has made extraordinary strides
in emphasizing core values and in provid-
ing equal treatment and opportunity for all.
Inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated
in the Navy. The Navy department today
has one of the finest overall programs of
any institution in this country to prevent and
correct sexual harassment Our program
has served as amodel for government agen-
cies, colleges and universities, major industries and other organiza-
tions around the nation.
We are changing our institutional mindset. We are opening new
occupational fields to women, while providing stem discipline
those who sexually harass others and caring support for their victi
We are not doing so because of Tailhook, but because it is the righi
thing to do.”

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