Commanding Officer’s Philosophy

Over my time in the Submarine Force and the Navy, I have identified three key pillars that set conditions that enable us to build and sustain high-performing teams regardless of the nature of the mission. I refer to these pillars as the “other three R’s”:

Respectful, Right, and Ready.

Be respectful: Our Navy is comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds that results in a vast array of differing perspectives. Leveraging those differences is a big part of what makes our Navy and Marine Corps the strongest in the world. Instead of using our differences to divide, we harness them positively by cultivating a culture of personal and professional respect. Anything less is simply unacceptable. Respect fosters both trust and value. Individuals that feel valued share their unique perspectives and examples; this builds bonds that strengthen the team. We don’t have to agree with each other, but we do have to respect each other’s opinions and approaches. Teach and show your midshipmen to do the same.

Be right: My angle here is integrity and doing the right thing. When a submarine Sailor reports that a submarine space is rigged for dive or an aviation mechanic reports satisfactory completion of pre-flight maintenance, the entire crew must trust the accuracy of the report. Trust is built upon a foundation of honesty and doing the right thing. Each Sailor and Marine must fully commit to acknowledging and reporting mistakes or shortcomings when they arise, regardless of their perception of any negative consequences (missed underway, e.g.) that may result. We are charged with the development of young leaders that are ready to be right and ready to have the courage to call away wrong when they see or sense it; again, regardless of any negative consequences they perceive.

Be ready: To achieve and maintain high performance, we must strive for excellence. From flight training to ship-handling to the application of nuclear power in warship propulsion, we’ve been rigorously trained and challenged to pursue excellence throughout our careers. For the NROTC team, this means we must develop Sailors and Marines that will lead and fight from a solid foundation of knowledge and ethics. We must challenge our Midshipmen with realistic training scenarios and we must embrace and practice continuous learning. The only way to do so is to be exquisitely prepared to teach, lead and show what being ready looks like at every opportunity.

— J. A. Morrow

Financial support from our alumni, friends, and family members helps to enrich the ROTC experience for all of our cadets and midshipmen. For example, donations help offset increasing costs for various activities, like training competitions and formal events (e.g., the annual military ball), so that our cadets and midshipmen can more readily participate.

You can donate to support our ROTC efforts at this Division of Military Education link. Thank you for helping prepare America’s future military leaders!

Air Force ROTC : Boston College, Brandeis University, Bridgewater State University, Emmanuel College, Northeastern University, Simmons University, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts at Boston, & Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Army ROTC: Babson College, Bentley University, Brandeis University, Bridgewater State University, Curry College, Fisher College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Stonehill College, & University of Massachusetts at Boston. (In May 2024, the U.S. Army Cadet Command elevated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to satellite status in our partnership, which means Army ROTC will be providing two cadre members who will be assigned full-time to the MMA campus at a future date.)

Navy/Marine Corps ROTC: Boston College & Northeastern University, with MIT, Harvard University, & Tufts University also falling under BU Navy/Marine Corps ROTC command, but with separate facilities.