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Head of U.S. Naval Academy Resigns
Yahoo! News ^ | June 4, 2003 | ROBERT BURNS

Posted on 06/04/2003 2:59:02 PM PDT by El Conservador

WASHINGTON - The superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy has resigned in response to findings by Navy investigators that he had improper contact with a Marine sentry last New Year's Eve.

The Navy said in an announcement Wednesday that Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton submitted his resignation Tuesday during a meeting with the Navy's top officer, Adm. Vern Clark, and Clark accepted it.

Naughton, who had been in the job only one year, was accused of improper contact with a Marine sentry at the Naval Academy after he grabbed the sentry's wrist. An investigation by the Navy's inspector general substantiated the allegation as well as a "general failure to promote good morale."

The incident with the sentry happened last New Year's Eve. The (Baltimore) Sun reported that Naughton, who was dressed in civilian clothes and with a group of friends, became upset after the guard asked for his identification.

Witnesses have offered differing accounts of what unfolded, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Pauline Storum said in February. According to The Sun, Naughton flashed the identification quickly and the guard asked for a closer look, leading to the confrontation.

At one point, the guard backed away and reached for his canister of pepper spray, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified academy official relaying a witness' account.

The Navy inspector general also investigated a number of "interactions" between Naughton and academy faculty and staff, which were allegedly overly confrontational or demeaning, the Navy announcement said.

The report by the inspector general was reviewed by Adm. William J. Fallon, the vice chief of naval operations, who agreed with the substantiation of improper contact with the Marine sentry. Fallon met with Naughton on May 28 and "counseled him on his lapse in judgment and conduct," the Navy said.

In his meeting with Clark on Tuesday, Naughton said it was clear that he had a disruptive effect on some elements of the Naval Academy faculty and that his continued service as superintendent "could adversely impact" the academy's mission, the Navy said. He asked to step down and retire from active duty.

He will be temporarily replaced by Vice Adm. Charles W. Moore Jr. until a successor can be nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

Naughton, an Iowa native, began his Navy career in 1964 as a cadet at the academy. Before being named Naval Academy superintendent last year, he was in charge of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, a "Top Gun" training ground for Navy pilots in Nevada.

Naughton also served as executive officer and commander of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (news - web sites). During the 1991 Persian Gulf War (news - web sites) he commanded the USS New Orleans, which landed Marines in Kuwait and led mine-clearing operations in Kuwait's harbor.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: annapolis; canoeu; goarmybeatnavy; navalacademy; navy; resignation; squidlydiddly; usna; williamfallon
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Libs have to find ways to smear the military...
1 posted on 06/04/2003 2:59:03 PM PDT by El Conservador
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To: El Conservador
Georgy Patton never would have made Captain in todays military ( I know, it's a Navy story but George was known for his temper ).
2 posted on 06/04/2003 3:02:44 PM PDT by Arkie2
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To: El Conservador
Seems a bit harsh if the article is accurate .
3 posted on 06/04/2003 3:05:18 PM PDT by Ben Bolt
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To: El Conservador
Libs have to find ways to smear the military...

TRUE..but not applicable in this case.

This guy is an arrogant ass that needed to go.

4 posted on 06/04/2003 3:06:26 PM PDT by evad (Lying..It's WHAT they do, it's ALL they do and they WON'T stop...EVER!!)
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To: El Conservador
A Naval officer who inappropriately touches an enlisted Marine smears the military. The Admiral can be thankful the Marine didn't smear the sidewalk with his remains.
5 posted on 06/04/2003 3:07:27 PM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: El Conservador
Actually, couldn't have happened to a "nicer" guy. Served with Naughton in a fighter squadron, and he was a prick then. He was a prick as a squadron CO and a prick as a CV skipper. It all finally caught up with him...
6 posted on 06/04/2003 3:07:33 PM PDT by quark
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To: El Conservador
Libs have to find ways to smear the military...

Whoa there hoss. The Marine was doing his job, the shmuck in question acted like the martinet that he is. This was just the straw that broke the camel's back and he deserved to join the unemployment line. In case you haven't noticed we crushed Iraq with minimal casualties because the services understand the teaming process a lot better than we did 40 year ago. Martinets do not belong in today's military.

7 posted on 06/04/2003 3:08:52 PM PDT by Archangelsk ("Why can't we pick out our own colors?")
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To: El Conservador
He's lucky the Marine didn't kick his a$$.
8 posted on 06/04/2003 3:09:18 PM PDT by StormEye
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To: El Conservador
Witnesses have offered differing accounts of what unfolded, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Pauline Storum said in February. According to The Sun, Naughton flashed the identification quickly and the guard asked for a closer look, leading to the confrontation.

At one point, the guard backed away and reached for his canister of pepper spray, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified academy official relaying a witness' account.

The Admiral got off lucky. Marines do not budge an inch on guard regulations and general orders.

9 posted on 06/04/2003 3:10:03 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (We are crushing our enemies, seeing him driven before us and hearing the lamentations of the liberal)
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To: quark
He was a prick as a squadron CO and a prick as a CV skipper. It all finally caught up with him...

hehe..yes it did. Pompous ass..how did the Navy "acquire" this guy and how did he get to the level he did?

10 posted on 06/04/2003 3:12:17 PM PDT by evad (Lying..It's WHAT they do, it's ALL they do and they WON'T stop...EVER!!)
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To: evad
how did the Navy "acquire" this guy and how did he get to the level he did?

By treating his subordinates like crap and stepping on their backs on the way to the top. I absolutely loathed these types of officers and each one of them had a "special contingency plan" assigned to them by enlisted personnel.

11 posted on 06/04/2003 3:16:07 PM PDT by Archangelsk ("Why can't we pick out our own colors?")
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To: El Conservador
Another squid learns his lesson.


Wed Jun 4, 5:40 PM ET
Vice Adm. Richard Naughton poses in front of wall of photographs profiling his 54 predecessors as superintendent at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Aug. 9, 2002. The Navy said in an announcement Wednesday, June 4, 2003, that Naughton submitted his resignation as superintendent Tuesday during a meeting with the Navy's top officer, Adm. Vern Clark, and Clark accepted it. (AP Photo/Roberto Borea)

12 posted on 06/04/2003 3:17:22 PM PDT by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: quark
Conceding your inside knowledge, why does a monumental prick keep getting promoted in the Navy? They have things called officer fitness (evaluation) reports (known by various names) and those are supposed to be a written reflection of the officer's ability to lead.

How does a rotten attitude never show up on such a report?

If assholes rise automatically, there is a whole lot more wrong with the Navy than just this guy.

13 posted on 06/04/2003 3:30:44 PM PDT by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: Archangelsk
Naughton made his rise during the Xlintoon administration. Vern Clark is a really straight shooter. Times have changed, thank God!
14 posted on 06/04/2003 3:30:45 PM PDT by SubMareener
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To: El Conservador
GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
15 posted on 06/04/2003 3:32:31 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: El Conservador
I'm sorry, but I don't care who you are.

If I'm standing a guard post, I'll follow my orders.

If you're from echelons above God, and don't like that, you're perfectly free to use your influence to change those orders, but until they are changed, that's what I'm going to follow.

(And if you're the facility commander, and want the standing orders for the guard changed from "every person entering the facility will show ID" to "every person entering the facility will show ID except for the facility commander when he's drunk and in civilian clothing", go for it.)

I was had a show-down with General Shalikashvili, when he was ass't division commander of the 1st AD. He stopped and showed his ID, when I asked for it, and told his aide-de-camp to shut up, I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.)

16 posted on 06/04/2003 3:33:09 PM PDT by jdege
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
There are "operational" bubbas and "political" pretty boys. Both can rise through the ranks. Naughton was the latter.
17 posted on 06/04/2003 3:36:19 PM PDT by quark
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
A little off based maybe, but my son has interest in the academy.... Anybody have suggestions about the selection process and the process in general.

He has the grades, SAT, and is in great shape.

Thanks in advance.

18 posted on 06/04/2003 3:48:09 PM PDT by Quick Shot
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To: jdege
You are ABSOLUTELY correct. Having been with flag and future flag officers in similar situations they would agree with you, period.

The sentry's orders derive from the President. He has the right and obligation to carry out his orders, regardless. Until he acertains the identity of an individual, they have NO authority over him, period. If they die, too bad. I'll side with the sentry EVERY TIME.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

19 posted on 06/04/2003 4:01:02 PM PDT by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: jdege
I was had a show-down with General Shalikashvili

Gen. Shali (then BG Shali) was good people. I assume you were in Bamberg.

20 posted on 06/04/2003 4:05:31 PM PDT by Archangelsk ("Why can't we pick out our own colors?")
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