United States Navy Public Affairs Alumni Association Volume 10 Issue 2 April 2004 It’s Not Your Father’s Navy Anymore Realigning and Re-purposing to Meet Today’s Realities President Announced During February Public Affairs Symposium Jim Finkelstein Sweeping changes that mean the Centers Vice Presidents “old Navy” will look even older to most ! Opening of a new Navy Office of Jim Mathews USNPAAA members were announced Information in Mid-America Dave Thomas during the 2004 Navy public affairs ! Increased professional development Secretary training symposium held in February. opportunities for officers Christine Miller This issue of SIGHTINGS explains ! Greater use of civilians in team some of the changes coming in the public affairs Treasurer active-duty public affairs force. Changes ! Zero-based review of CHINFO- Erick Kanter for naval reserve programs, which will sponsored enlisted ratings. Board Members see a 30 percent reduction in reserve ! Active-Reserve integration and Chris Baumann PAO billets and elimination of 25 career management Deborah Burnette reserve public affairs units, will be “As we face the global war on Ed Castillo Norma Connelly discussed in the next issue. terrorism and the Navy adapts to meet Dave Cullen Navy Chief of Information Rear those changes with a flexible and Donald Dvornik Admiral “T” McCreary outlined the surgeable force, we need to have a Jack Garrow forthcoming changes in what was flexible, surgeable public affairs team to Brian Gray Larry Hamilton termed a “Way Ahead” address to carry the story of our Navy to the public Mary Hanson symposium participants. The and to our sailors,” McCreary said. “The Brayton Harris recommendations resulted from Tiger only way to do this is to better align Peter Litrenta Teams that were tasked with creating with the operational forces.” Jim McCain Jim Noone “the most perfect world for public Harry Padgett affairs,” McCreary said. Team meetings Joint Public Affairs Support Element Steve Pietropaoli began in August, shortly after McCreary The Joint Public Affairs Support Edward Shackelford became Chief of Information. The Element (PASE), sponsored by the Joint Greg Slavonic George Vercessi changes are designed to transform team Forces Command in Norfolk, will Paul Weishaupt public affairs into a flexible, surge-ready provide joint public affairs teams to force for the operational Navy. support training, exercises and Webmaster “The mission of the Navy is contingencies. Such teams could deploy Alan Goldstein preparing for war and fighting wars,” as fully formed units or as detachments, Membership Chair McCreary said. “If we don’t know how according to Captain Greg Smith, Tom Coldwell to play, we ought to just put on our support element director. JPASE units coats, go home and do something else will emphasize the integration of public Sightings Editor with our lives.” affairs and operational planing. Brian Gray Among the changes announced during the symposium: Continued Page 8 ! Creation of a new Joint Public Affairs Support Element ! Opening of Fleet Public Affairs View from the Bridge pneumonia Jan. 8 in Fallbrook, Calif. He was 83. As we continue to remember our very successful Admiral Garrick was born in New Jersey, but at January reunion, our thoughts remain with Norma an early age moved with his mother to Los Angeles, Connelly and her personal struggle since following the death of his father. In the late 1930s experiencing a brain aneurysm in San Diego. She he set a cycling record in a race from Los Angeles spent well over a month in surgical intensive care in to San Diego. California and was brought back to Virginia on a According to an obituary published in the SAN civilian medical evacuation aircraft a few weeks DIEGO UNION, Garrick enlisted in the Navy shortly ago. Recently she was moved to a rehabilitation after Dec. 7, 1941, hoping to become a pilot. Poor hospital where staff hopes treatment will improve vision kept him out of the aviation programs but his her condition. It has been a nightmare for Norma journalism training from the University of Southern and her family, so please keep her in your prayers. California was put to good use as an enlisted Beginning with this issue of SIGHTINGS we combat correspondent on the staff of Admiral have a new editor. Brian Gray has taken over this Chester Nimitz. He served four years on active duty, notoriously “low paying” chore for the good of the working with civilian press and supervising the order. Brian is a disciplined, strong writer/editor— filming of newsreels, while advancing from just what we need to keep our newsletter on track. I Yeoman Third Class to Chief Yeoman. He received hope you all will let him know you appreciate his his commission in the Naval Reserve in 1948. He good work. John Hoshko is “retiring” after helping continued in the reserves following the war and was deliver 15 issues to the membership. Our sincere awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement in thanks to John for a job superbly done! And Tom 1980. Coldwell just continues contributing to Garrick pursued a civilian career in public SIGHTINGS and many other aspects of the relations following the war, working for several Association’s well-being. Observing the number of California firms. In 1951, he opened his own volunteer projects Tom is involved with in company, Robert M. Garrick Associates, which retirement makes me tired. He probably should eventually merged with Doremus & Co. He served return to active duty to get some rest. as director of research and policy development for On a sad note, the community lost its first the Reagan-Bush campaign committee in 1980 and, reserve flag officer when Rear Admiral Bob Garrick in 1981, became a deputy counselor to President died late in 2003. Many of you will remember Bob Ronald Reagan, reporting to Edwin Meese. He as a Naval Reserve professional who brought a returned to his civilian occupation after several healthy blend of Navy savvy and civilian public months. relations experience to the public affairs In addition to his professional successes, community. Admiral Garrick owned, bred and raced The Board of Directors is discussing preliminary thoroughbreds that competed on several California plans for Reunion X. Tentative date is September tracks. For 40 years he owned an avocado and 2005 in Newport, R.I. As always, we welcome orange ranch in Bonsall, Calif., which became his comments and recommendations from our principal residence in 1992. members. Building on our strong sense of community Norma Connelly Back in Virginia camaraderie, I hope we will continue to gather for Former CHINFO secretary Norma Connelly, luncheons and other events where it is possible who suffered an aneurysm during the January across the country. USNPAAA reunion, is recovering at a small Jim Finkelstein hospital in Richmond, Va. Norma's address is: Room 110, Health South Rehabilitation Hospital, First Naval Reserve Public Affairs 5700 Fitzhugh Avenue, Richmond, VA 23226. Admiral Dies Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Robert M. Garrick, who became the Navy’s first Friday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays reserve public affairs admiral in 1973, died of and holidays. Page 2 Sightings Endowment Fund Update from Tom Coldwell In the past, the board sought pledges of $1,000, USNPAAA's endowment fund is well on its way either in a lump sum contribution, as some have to meeting a goal of $100,000. But why is an given, or by installment over a five-year period, as endowment fund even necessary? USNPAAA does the majority of donors have given. Recognizing that not require large sums of money to operate, a $1,000 pledge with fulfillment over five years may generally just enough for printing and postage. be steep for some members, pledges in smaller The answer is that because so many members amounts certainly are welcome. are paid-up Lifers, the association will need more As an incentive for a pledge of $1,000 and an revenue than membership dues will provide in the initial contribution of $200, donors will receive a years ahead. That's why, in 1996, the association one-year subscription to the U.S. Naval Institute's established an endowment fund to produce in popular and authoritative magazine, Naval History. perpetuity enough interest and dividends to Subscriptions of current subscribers will be supplement regular income from annual dues. extended for one year. Thus far 83 members (including three who USNPAAA President Jim Finkelstein urged answered the call issued at Reunion IX) have members who have not yet pledged to consider pledged $76,600; 51 of these already have doing so. “I hope you will be able to help us contributed $1,000 or more. To date, the guarantee the organization's continued health by endowment has received $64,300, a splendid giving to the endowment,” he said. “Please join this achievement, but well short of the $100,000 goal for campaign. I make this appeal to your generosity and pledges and contributions. to your personal commitment to help sustain the At least for now, the stock market is working professional association and fellowship which you nicely for the fund, whose current value is hovering and I and our friends have shared and enjoyed in our around $78,000. But because that figure can waiver, years in the Navy.” the USNPAAA Board is holding fast to the original Members who would like to pledge are urged to goal of $100,000 in pledges and contributions. That notify USNPAAA by email or postal mail. means only $23,400 to go. The following members have pledged