Rear Adm. Phillip Greene steps down

I know there is already a tread going about the suprise meeting, but Adm. Greene announced at the meeting that he will be leaving the academy for a new postion in the DOT.

I figured there would be some discussion and that a new thread would be in order.

Unbelievable!!!

Just when you thought things were settling down. The revolving door keeps spinning!!!!

Dr. kumar Supe again???

So I guess Dr. Kumar will be the Supe for the 3rd time since our DS started at KP.

Maybe they'll find someone to be Supt for more than just 1 year...

As a mom of a plebe I find this really disappointig. What the heck is wrong with that job? Is it the job? Is it impossible within the guidelines and goals that are in place? Is there someone in the wings? Has this been a rumor for awhile? Is this a huge surprise? How does this effect the morale of the midshipman? Is this about funding? Does this revolving door say more about the academies future than about its past? Looking for sane and sound posting to explain this. If Admiral Greene goes to a position with the DOT does that mean we have a KP supporter within the vest possible place to have one? So many questions!

Admiral Greene

Okay all here is what we know so far. Admiral Greene accepted a new position within the Dept. of Transportation as DOT Chair to the National Defense University. There will be an official announcement and I'll let you know where it can be found.

Very disappointing; Admiral Greene inspired confidence, and seemed committed to the Academy based on his remarks to the incoming class this summer.

How are the Academy's superintendents selected?

Is it possible that while the academy is a changeover status it's budget will not be subject to chopping? I mean if it looks like no one is at the helm maybe it will be left alone until someone is fully in charge and responsible for changes? Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

The Superintendent is selected by a very arduous process with a selection committee. The Parents Association will have a representative on this selection committee so we can voice our opinion and concerns.

In the meantime, parents don't fret. The Superintendent really does not have much day-to-day contact or involvement with the Regiment, and, things will go on without missing much of a beat until a new Superintendent is chosen.

From usmma alumni foundation

Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Tuesday the appointment of Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. (KP ’78) to be the Department of Transportation Chair at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

Rear Admiral Greene served with distinction as Superintendent, United States Merchant Marine Academy since August 30, 2010. A native of Southern California, Admiral Greene, was our third Kings Point Graduate to serve as Superintendent.

Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. (KP '78), has been named the 2011 Alumnus of the Year by the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation. This prestigious annual award will be presented at the Homecoming Alumni Awards Dinner on Thursday evening, October 13th, in the Melville Hall Officers’ Club.

Prior to his appointment as Superintendent at Kings Point, Admiral Greene was Director, Navy Irregular Warfare. Prior to this assignment Greene was commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa where he led operations to build regional security capacity and counter extremism in the Horn/East Africa. He also served in Naples, Italy, as director for Policy, Resources & Strategy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa (February 2008 to February 2009).

Previously he commanded Destroyer Squadron 31 from November 2002 to May 2004, where he served as sea combat commander for the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Other sea duty commanding officer assignments include the Spruance class destroyer, USS Fletcher (DD 992) from March 1996 to November 1997; and the patrol missile hydrofoil, USS Taurus (PHM 3) from July 1989 to June 1991.

Significant shore assignments include duty as chief of staff to commander, Naval Surface Forces; and chief, North East Asia/China Division, the Joint Staff/Political-Military directorate (J5). In addition, Greene has served tours at the U.S. Naval Academy; the Secretary of the Navy's Office for Legislative Affairs; and the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

Greene is a 1994 graduate of the National War College (M.S. National Security Strategy) and a 1985 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School (M.S. Information Systems). In addition, he holds a Merchant Marine license as Master (oceans, any gross tonnage).

Greene has received various service and unit awards. His personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

On behalf of the entire KP Alumni, we thank RADM Greene for his extraordinary efforts, dedication and leadership provided under very challenging circumstances. We also thank Admiral Greene’s wife, Debby Greene, for her grace and dignity, and the valued work and contributions made to the Academy.

We wish Godspeed to our fellow Alumnus!

What Happened between March 2011 and Now?

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/03/int...uperintendent-us-merchant-marine-academy.html

I'm speechless and can't think of anything to say except we are sad and disheartened.

Looked up the DOT National Defense University. Isn't this just another college? If so, then he is just on the board there, isn't that what the Chair means? Leaving one college to be on the chair of another college. Hmmmmmm . . . .

quote from the President of the Alumni Association and Foundation

""In response to the feedback we have received from the “Important Message” released at 1300 EST regarding the Superintendent, I want to make it very clear that this is not a positive situation. The Superintendent has been “reassigned.” This is not Admiral Greene’s decision. The Dean is now the Interim Superintendent.

We are as deeply concerned about this turn of events as you are. As of now we only have the information that is in the previous release. I would like to answer all your questions but at this time that is just not possible. Thank you for your understanding and I hope this clears up any confusion.""

Capt. James F. Tobin '77
President
USMMA Alumni Association & Foundation, Inc.

nmlcfp said:

So I guess Dr. Kumar will be the Supe for the 3rd time since our DS started at KP.

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Lord, I hope not....that is all I will say on that.....oops too late I see the post above and he now is the acting Supe.

Regarding Admiral Greene; Damn this is disturbing. The guy seems like a good leader and a class act. KP really could have used him at the helm for a few years.

I don't know what is going on with the bureaucracy in Washington and MARAD but I would like some answers as to why this happened. It seems unacceptable

Below is a letter from our National Parents President, MaryJane Fuschetto regarding Admiral Greene.

Dear USMMA Parents and Friends:
At 7:55 a.m. this morning I received a personal phone call from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. Since Sec. LaHood had never responded to any of my previous communications over several months, I looked at the caller ID to verify that it was NOT some sort of crazy USMMA alumni friend pranking me! For several minutes Sec. LaHood thanked me for my USMMA activities over the years and various issues that he mentioned as central to the success of the Academy. Then he casually said that the Parents Association would be "very heavily involved in the selection of the new Superintendent." I wasn't sure I had heard him correctly. He continued to discuss education and then again said something about "selection of the next Superintendent." That is how I learned that Admiral Phil Greene had been unceremoniously "reassigned."

By the time the call was finished, the "All Hands" convocation announcing Greene's resignation had also finished, and my phone began to ring off the hook with stunned, shocked and confused parents and alumni. Blogs were sending off all kinds of suppositions, inaccurate rumors and outright lies.

So here is what we know now as fact: No matter what rumors you may hear, Admiral Greene didn't do anything immoral, illegal, ethically wrong, or wrong in any manner. He merely was doing his best job of trying to organize and run Kings Point. He often butted heads with Washington bureaucrats. (We butt heads with them all the time, but they can't fire (reassign) us!) Greene gave it his best effort and he did not "abandon" us and "jump ship." PLEASE do not accuse him of leaving us when we needed him most! He was forced out of his position with nebulous charges of "not being a team player" or not "fully cooperating" with the DC organization. He is as stunned and devastated by this news as the entire Academy family is. We have no idea what to expect next and what will happen tomorrow. I have sent Debby and Phil Greene a personal note of support and encourage all of you to do the same. This is a very, very difficult time for the Greene's. His e-mail address is: Philip Greene <greenep@usmma.edu>.

Many of you know that Admiral Greene and I did not always agree in the beginning, but he was quick at learning that the Parents were a valuable asset in his desire to improve Kings Point. Over the last year I felt we had developed a positive and collaborative working relationship that was visibly successful over Parents Weekend. I am stunned and disappointed at this mid-academic year switch in leadership. Mid year academic administrative changes are not good for our midshipmen or our Academy. Certainly having 6 Superintendents since 2008 (including 3 times that Dean Kumar has had to step up as Acting Superintendent) is not a positive way to run a top-notch educational institution.

Blissfully, for the most part, our dedicated and overworked midshipmen continue to do their jobs and seem as unaffected by this political shake-up as they can possibly be. I have no other information to give you at this point. I will try to keep you posted as the situation evolves and we know more. Above all, please give the Greene's support and thanks for their sacrifice and efforts. I promise that I will continue to communicate with Sec. LaHood and all the Alumni Foundation leaders so that we can supply you with ONLY accurate and up-to-date information.

Acta Non Verba, Mary Jane

shutterbugC said:

Below is a letter from our National Parents President, MaryJane Fuschetto regarding Admiral Greene.

Dear USMMA Parents and Friends:
At 7:55 a.m. this morning I received a personal phone call from Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood............................

Acta Non Verba, Mary Jane

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Thanks for the post Mary Jane.

Damn this stinks.

Disappointing situation

Admiral Greene's untimely reassignment is truly a disappointing situation for all associated with KP; alums, current students, parents, faculty, employees, everyone. An individual with his impeccable credentials coupled with his breadth of experience as a graduate, mariner and military leader gutsy enough to stand up to the Washington machine is hard to duplicate. For those that have been around KP for many years, his appointment as Superintendent was one that inspired hope to move KP into the 21st century with strong leadership and expertise. It doesn't get much better than Phil Greene. Who in their right mind would want to take this job after seeing what happened to a highly qualified individual who stood up for KP and attempted to do the right thing for the Academy. Let's hope we are not once again saddled with a DC bureaucratic puppet willing to act at the whim of Mr. Matsuda and his cronies.

Thank you Admiral Greene and Debby for all your efforts. This is a sad day for Kings Point.

kpskilegac said:

Admiral Greene's untimely reassignment is truly a disappointing situation for all associated with KP; alums, current students, parents, faculty, employees, everyone. An individual with his impeccable credentials coupled with his breadth of experience as a graduate, mariner and military leader gutsy enough to stand up to the Washington machine is hard to duplicate. For those that have been around KP for many years, his appointment as Superintendent was one that inspired hope to move KP into the 21st century with strong leadership and expertise. It doesn't get much better than Phil Greene. Who in their right mind would want to take this job after seeing what happened to a highly qualified individual who stood up for KP and attempted to do the right thing for the Academy. Let's hope we are not once again saddled with a DC bureaucratic puppet willing to act at the whim of Mr. Matsuda and his cronies.

Thank you Admiral Greene and Debby for all your efforts. This is a sad day for Kings Point.

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DITTO. Couldn't say it any better than that. Our hearts are heavy and our inspiration diminished.