Another Note on the USS Hampton Incident

Here’s the CO’s (the one that was just relieved) bio (I cut and pasted it before the Navy took it down):

CDR MICHAEL B. PORTLAND
Commanding Officer, USS HAMPTON (SSN 767)
Commander Portland was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  In 1986, he joined the Navy via the Nuclear Power Officer Candidate Program. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned an Ensign in November 1987. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in September 2000.  In 1988, during his initial nuclear power training phase, he was selected and served as a staff instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho Falls, ID.  His initial sea tour was on USS OHIO (SSBN 726) where he served as Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant and Damage Control Assistant.  He conducted four deterrent patrols from 1990 to 1992 and qualified in submarines.

In 1992 he was selected for the Advanced Education Program.  He attended the University of Washington where he earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accounting.  He was also awarded a Financial Management Subspecialty Code (3110P).  Upon completion of the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in 1995, he was assigned as Engineer Officer in USS SPADEFISH (SSN 668) from 1995 to 1997, deploying twice and qualifying for command.  The second deployment went around the world and once ended, the ship inactivated and defueled in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Following inactivation, he transferred to USS HAMPTON (SSN 767) and served as Combat Systems Officer from 1997 to 1998, deploying once to the North Atlantic.  He reported ashore as the OPNAV N81 Fellow to the Center for Naval Analyses in July 1998, with subsequent assignment to OPNAV N814 in August 1998 where he was the Navy analyst for Tomahawk missiles and Ship Depot Maintenance.

From August 2000 to December 2002, he served as Executive Officer in USS PARCHE (SSN 683), deploying twice and thrice earning the Battle “E”.  In December 2002 he reported to the Joint Staff Chiefs of Staff (J6) and served as the Department of Defense Defense Message System (DMS) Program Manager until November 2004.

Commander Portland’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Gold Stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 Gold Stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star.

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I know that a bio doesn’t mean much … But does that sound like a poor leader?