Submarines and Leadership with Rear Admiral Tom Kearney, USN (Ret.)

Retired Rear Admiral Tom Kearney speaks about his career path from Seaman Recruit to Vice Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the role of submarines in the Navy, his experience setting a submarine record, handling an emergency at sea, and leadership – both externally and internally of a group.“Rear Adm. Thomas Kearney grew up in Dover, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Navy in 1978. He was commissioned via the Villanova University Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in political science (international relations) from Villanova University and is certified as a level III program manager from the Defense Acquisition University.Prior to command, his sea tours included assignments as a division officer and Navigation Department head aboard USS New York City (SSN 696); engineer officer aboard USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655 Gold), and executive officer aboard USS Helena (SSN 725), where he conducted deployments and patrols to both the North Atlantic and Western Pacific.Ashore he served as an NROTC instructor at Villanova University, executive officer/engineer officer of the Moored Training Ship (MTS) 635; squadron engineer, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 7; and as first commanding officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit USS Virginia (SSN 774).Kearney commanded the USS Alexandria (SSN 757) from June 2003 to December 2005. During this period, his ship was awarded the Battle E for operational excellence; was runner up for the prestigious Battenberg Cup Award for top ship in the Atlantic Fleet; and received the Navy Unit Commendation for operations conducted during the first around the world deployment via the Arctic by a U.S. submarine.Following command, Kearney entered the acquisition professional community in 2006 and served as the deputy director of the Navy’s Test and Evaluation Policy Office, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N912. He then served as the Foreign Military Sales Program manager in the Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404) and as deputy program manager in the Submarine Acoustic Systems Program Office (PMS 401).Kearney served as the program manager for Undersea Weapons and Targets from October 2009 to October 2012. During this period his program was awarded a Secretary of the Navy Excellence in Acquisition Award and he was the recipient of the 2011 Naval Submarine League’s Vice Admiral J. Guy Reynolds Award for Excellence in Submarine Acquisition. He served as vice commander, Naval Sea Systems Command from June 2013 to April 2014 when he established the Acquisition, Commonality and Expeditionary Warfare Directorate (SEA 06) as a new directorate within NAVSEA.His awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), and various other personal, campaign and unit awards” (United States Navy).Hosts: Nathaniel Cameron and Galen OdellBob Feller Act of Valor Award FoundationSupport the show