Inspiring leaders, building community

Over 200 Navy ROTC students took their seats in Carey Auditorium at the Hesburgh Library this past Friday, kicking off Notre Dame’s 19th annual Naval Leadership Weekend (NLW).  Notre Dame Navy ROTC’s signature event ran from February 20-23.  Midshipmen came from all around the United States, representing over half of the Navy ROTC units in the country.

Throughout the weekend, the midshipmen attended multiple lectures and discussed the meaning and methods of military leadership in the 21st century.  Among the distinguished speakers were Admiral John Richardson, director of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program, and Chief of Naval Research Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder.  The conference occurred at the same time as the Notre Dame-Navy Research Forum on campus, co-hosted by Klunder.  Colonel Frank Rossi, Commanding Officer of Air Force ROTC Notre Dame, and retired Air Force Major General Robert Latiff, a professor with the Reilly Center on campus, also spoke.

“The value of this conference is huge,” said Captain Mike Ryan, the Commanding Officer of NROTC Notre Dame.  “It is an opportunity for the midshipmen to interact with senior leadership and gain perspective on what they see as the keys to a successful career as a Junior Officer.  These leaders come because they see that [the midshipmen] are the future—they are the legacy that they are leaving with the Navy, and this is their way of handing over the torch to the next generation.”

This year’s theme was “Military Leadership and Contemporary Issues.”  Symposia focused on both current technological advancements and professional military development, targeted to prepare the midshipmen to become exceptional Navy and Marine Corps officers.

MIDN 1/C Mitchell Lopes, a senior in Knott Hall, leads midshipmen in Ethical Decision Games (EDGS).

Other events included an Ethical Decision Games (EDGs) session and a panel discussion on the technology and ethics of emerging cyber warfare.  Panelists were current Notre Dame faculty members (Mike Chapple, Michael Desch, Carolyn Nordstrom and Don Howard) from the highest echelons of their respective fields.  At every event, midshipmen engaged with the speakers and asked difficult and thought-provoking questions.

“Not only were we able to hear more about the current events that we study in class, but we had the opportunity to talk in a meaningful, personal way with the people that made those decisions,”  Max Brown, MIDN 2/C and Notre Dame junior, told the Rover. “Getting their personal insights is imperative to being able to understand what their decisions mean, and it enriches the experience when we return to classes and learn more about these topics.”  Brown led a team of over 20 other Notre Dame midshipmen in the planning, organizing and execution of the weekend, working closely with LT Sarah Smith, Assistant Professor of Naval Science.

The speakers represented diverse backgrounds, including the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and nearly every Navy community. They were both officers and senior enlisted, and each had a unique perspective to offer on the topic of leadership.

“As a graduating senior, it’s good to hear someone of years of experience talking about the job that you’re about to enter.  You can never get enough advice from someone who has been that successful and risen to a level like that,” MIDN 1/C Joel Robbins, a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, explained.  “I am now able to go back to my unit and share what I’ve learned from NLW with them.”

Another integral part of the weekend was the opportunity for midshipmen to interact with their future coworkers, as relationship building is one of the most crucial aspects of a military career.  Visiting midshipmen had plenty of free time in the evenings to explore Notre Dame’s campus and spend time together outside the lecture hall.  Notre Dame NROTC’s Grogan Society hosted a barbecue on Friday night that included a performance by Zahm Hall’s student band, Rednight.

“It’s amazing what a small world the Navy really is.  This weekend we were able to continue fostering relationships that will serve us throughout our careers.  These are the people that we’ll be working with in the future,” added Robbins.

The weekend ended with a farewell dinner in Club Naimoli and a keynote address by Vice Admiral John M. Bird.  Bird reminded the Midshipmen that leadership is not a natural talent—it is a skill to be practiced and perfected through years of hard work.  He encouraged them to continue developing themselves professionally after Naval Leadership Weekend.

“This conference was by the midshipmen for the midshipmen.  It was a success because each and every one of them was involved and committed,” Ryan said.  “MIDN 2/C Max Brown and his team developed, planned, and executed the entire weekend.  It was a success because of the amazing time and effort the entire Battalion dedicated to making it so.”

“Remarkable is an understatement.  It is absolutely inspiring to see young people doing such great things for our country,” said SgtMaj Bradley E. Trudell, USMC (Ret.).

Meadow Jackson is a freshman Navy ROTC student majoring in French and political science.  If you have any comments, concerns or questions, especially regarding ROTC on campus, feel free to email her at mjacks12@nd.edu.