Navy Designates Next-Generation Zumwalt Destroyer

Navy NewsStand ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has announced April 7 that the first DD(X) destroyer will be designated DDG 1000. As the lead ship in the class, it will also be named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt, Jr.

Developed under the DD(X) destroyer program, Zumwalt is the lead ship in a class of next-generation, multimission surface combatants tailored for land attack and littoral dominance, with capabilities designed to defeat current and projected threats as well as improve battle force defense.

Zumwalt was appointed Chief of Naval Operations in 1970. As the youngest man ever to serve as CNO, Zumwalt cemented an acclaimed reputation as a visionary leader and thoughtful reformer. July 4, 2000, then-President Bill Clinton celebrated Zumwalt’s accomplishments and memory with the naming of the class and lead ship shortly after the admiral’s passing in Durham, N.C., Jan. 2, 2000.

Zumwalt was born in San Francisco in 1920 and grew up in Tulare, Calif. He was a cum laude graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942.

As CNO, Zumwalt initiated wide-ranging reforms in a dramatic effort to revitalize the Navy. Time magazine hailed Zumwalt as "the Navy's most popular leader since World War II." As the Navy's senior officer, he increased the warfighting capabilities of the dwindling U.S. fleet by outfitting remaining ships with more efficient and sophisticated weapons. He retired in 1974. In 1996, he took over as chairman of the board of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation.

In addition to numerous decorations received from the U.S. Navy, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit (two awards) and Bronze Star with combat "V," he received decorations and awards from a number of foreign countries. In 1998, Zumwalt was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to the United States.

Zumwalt authored two books about his life in the Navy. On Watch (1976) recounts his Navy career and warns Americans about the Soviet naval threat. My Father, My Son (1986), co-authored with his late son, Elmo III, is an account of their Vietnam experiences and his son's tragic illness.

Compared to current U.S. Navy destroyers, the Zumwalt-class destroyer will triple both current naval surface fire coverage, as well as capability against anti-ship cruise missiles. It has a 50-fold radar cross section reduction compared to current destroyers, improves strike group defense 10-fold and has 10 times the operating area in shallow water regions against mines. The Zumwalt class fills an immediate and critical naval warfare gap, meeting validated Marine Corps fire support requirements.

Last year, Congress fully supported the DD(X) budget request, and the Zumwalt class is ready to start construction. In November 2005, the Department of Defense granted Milestone B approval, authorizing entrance into Phase IV of the program, including the detail design and construction of the two lead ships.

Under the Navy’s dual lead ship acquisition strategy proposed in the President’s budget for fiscal year 2007, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works will concurrently build the dual lead ships. Zumwalt will be delivered in 2012.

[John Geyer]

Zumwalt was a PoS, why the heck do we honor someone who was basically a liberal politican disguised a naval officer!?

[Thunder90]

We should build Arsenal ships. Thousands of missiles, cruise, IRBM, anti-ship, and Air Defense, ready to go at a touch of a button.

[John Geyer]

Zumwalt instituited affirmative action in the Navy. My father dislikes him, and I'm not too happy either.

[Cheburashka]

Now is the time to express your opinion to your congressman and senators.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

[sasportas]

Zumwalt instituited affirmative action in the Navy. My father dislikes him, and I'm not too happy either.

Thanks to Zumwalt, the Navy has been sissy-fied. There is a world of difference in the Navy pre-Zumwalt and the one we have now.

[concentric circles]

In his defense, Zumwalt had to navigate some treacherous waters. Those were difficult times for all services.

[Quix]

Wasn't my experience of him. Maybe you know things I don't. I was in the Navy during his reign. He made things more humane without compromising readiness. No small feat, imho. I found him very patriotic as well as practical.

He was not a robotized letter of the law authoritarian idiologue. He wanted what was done as well as even policies to make sense from all perspectives and in all aspects as much as practical.

He had a heart for the lowest ranking sailor doing the dirtiest work and was insistent on talking to such routinely. That's a rare quality in any high ranking military leader--sadly. Far too many are quite comfortable hearing what their subordinates think they want to hear.

[Quix]

In the context of our wider culture, would any CNO have had any choice about affirmative action?

[Quix]

I found Zumwalt anything but a sissy.

I think a lot of that sort of thing was a twisted kind of knee jerk reaction formation against his insisting that folks be accurate and reasonable in their personnel handling decisions and actions rather than act like bulls in china closets and egotistical rank pullers for the self-serving h*ll of it.

He was as tough as anyone else in the areas that mattered and needed toughness.

People who had trouble reigning in their egregious excesses in rough handling of the lower ranks resented his insisting that they develop better people skills. So, they were happy to blame him for their inadequacies. Real tough he-man stuff, that kind of misplaced projection hogwash.

[John Geyer]

He probably was a great man. But he was a liberal, he ran as a Democrat for the US Senate in Virginia back in the 70s, or was it 80s. I'm glad to hear what he did right, all I know is what he did wrong.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[Whispering Smith]

"July 4, 2000, then-President Bill Clinton celebrated Zumwalt’s accomplishments and memory with the naming of the class and lead ship shortly after the admiral’s passing in Durham, N.C., Jan. 2, 2000. "
Seems to me this could be undone with the stroke of a pen.
As to affirmative action, there were mutinies in two carriers' laundry rooms in the early 70's. ADM Z took the action he thought was required to get in front of this problem. I haven't heard of any mutinous laundry rooms lately.
I didn't much care for the man but he had the responsibility and did take action.

[Quix]

I see.

I wasn't aware of the DIMRAT effort.

I corresponded with the BUPERS Chief who rode to work with him. That BUPERS Chief enabled me to get transferred against all odds to CREDO--the Chaplains ran human relations project that did a powerful lot of good.

Commands who sent even 15-20% of their personnel to it showed a statistically significant reduction in sick days out; AWOL; an increase in reup's; less alcoholism; less discipline/Cap'ns Mast incidents etc. Senior officer and senior enlisted personnel listened to and understood and responded to lower ranked personnel much more effectively to the good of the commands and the increased effectiveness of their missions.

I consider that rather worth a lot, myself. In any case, the 2 years I spent in that program on staff were amongst the most rewarding and productive of my near 60 years alive.

And I shall always be thankful to Zumwalt for those 2 years and for the Navy cultural changes that made them possible.

[Quix]

I also appreciated his honesty and candor in the dialogue with his son regarding agent orange, Nam, etc. I thought their integrity in what they both said--letting the chips fall where they would--was a good example for most any leader or follower to learn from.

[John Geyer]

My dad was under some guy called Blackburn, not Zumwalt.

[dk/coro]

John, I could not agree with you more relative to your assessment of Zumwalt. He was one of the most cravenly opportunistic Naval Officers I have ever observed.

When I was Personal Aide to Admiral Tom Moorer during his first years as CNO in 1967-69, Zumwalt was Op-61 -- and a close friend of another POS -- Jerry King, who was for a short time Op-002, the Executive Assistant.

Zumwalt would make his presence known for any number of nonsensical reasons proximate to the inner-sanctum, sucking up to both Moorer and King.

And, you got it. Zumwalt was assigned to SEA in the height of the Viet Nam conflict to relieve Vadm Veth as COMNAVFORV in Saigon in 1969, a plum, high viz billet. And, if you can imagine, Jerry King was promoted to Flag rank and relieved Zumwalt in very same black-shoe job. Two worthless bums, who would sell their mothers into prostitution for a plug nickel. And, both terrible operational commanders, to boot.

By that time I was back on the fast track in operational flying billets, and command; but,jaded beyond belief at what I had seen in Washington during a most horrific period in our national life.

I tossed an assured three stars; took retirement at the first opportunity during Watergate as a very young 0-6; joined Bechtel Corp., quadrupling my income, and never looked back.

However, When Moorer was appointed an assumed the job as CJCS and DID NOTHING to deter Zumwalt's appointment as CNO, I wrote the Chairman a letter voicing my extreme disappointment in his failure to exercise his veto. We were both Southerners, and had a close personal relationship, and I spoke very candidly to him about this matter.

Until Moorer's death in 2003, I never forgave him for his failure to ensure Good Order and Discipline in the Naval Service by stopping Zumwalt's rise to the ultimate leadership position in my beloved Navy. And, what Zumwalt did to the Navy during his short tenure as CNO is nothing short of criminal misjudgment and abuse of power.

[Miss Behave]

mark

[rlmorel]

Perhaps you knew my dad...CDR AA Morel?