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by Thomas B. Modly (Author)
Thomas Modly had an eclectic career in the military, academia, business, and government when he answered the call to service in 2017 and returned to the Navy where his career began. His experience, as chronicled in these pages, tells the story of Secretary Modly's quest to advance the Department of the Navy's preparedness for the challenges of this century. As Acting Secretary of the Navy he held fast to the mantra of "acting, not pretending," and thus advocated aggressively for the Navy and Marine Corps' future -- a future he believed would be defined by uncertainty and unpredictability. Every Friday he wrote a personal message to the entire Department regardless of rank. Those messages were called SECNAV Vectors. Each Vector was intended to clearly communicate his priorities and to establish a rapport with all levels of the organization. The subject of each Vector was inspired by real events that occurred in real time. As these events unfolded, the Secretary's unyielding emphasis on being prepared for unpredictable events are proven to be prescient as the Navy found itself, unintentionally, in the center of COVID-19 crisis.
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A REFLECTIVE VOYAGE OF PATRIOTISM AND PURPOSE
In November of 2019 Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly was unexpectedly elevated to the position of Acting Secretary of the Navy. Vectors critically details his nineteen weeks at the helm of the Department of Navy--a rollercoaster ride of peaks and valleys that ultimately ended with his resignation in the wake of his decision to relieve the commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis. Secretary Modly passionately describes the many challenges facing the Department of the Navy during his tenure, and why he chose to be particularly outspoken and active in his role. In so doing, he admiringly identifies the American heroes he met along the way. These heroes are unknown to most, but they share a common bond of service defined by love, honor, and integrity. He also highlights the multitude of villains he encountered. These villains, he contends, threaten the future of the Navy and Marine Corps' ability to address the emerging threats of this century. Vectors is an entertaining, spiritual, and emotional glimpse into the world of Pentagon politics that raises serious questions about the agility and viability of organizations tasked with defending the nation. It also provides critical lessons for leaders faced with addressing the broad array of perplexing issues produced by unexpected events.
