Book Review: Debate on Surf When You Can by Capt Brett Crozier

This is debate on leadership concepts that are presented in the book Saving Sailors vs the Chain of Command. Debate includes around the leadership crisis surrounding Captain Brett Crozier and the COVID-19 outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The debate provides a personal look at Crozier’s career and his decision to prioritize sailor safety over military protocol, leading to his controversial dismissal and subsequent retirement. The debate includes formal academic case study that contrasts Crozier’s authentic and transformational leadership with the destructive and toxic actions of Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. Together, the texts analyze the friction between operational readiness and human welfare during a global pandemic. They also highlight how political interests and internal investigations shaped the Navy's response to the event. Ultimately, the materials present Crozier as a model of ethical command who accepted personal sacrifice to protect his crew.