Photo By Sean Castellano | 211116-N-BL637-1730 WASHINGTON (Nov. 16, 2021) Capt. Bradley D. Geary, left,...... read more read more
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNS) – Capt. Brad Geary, commanding officer, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Basic Training Command (BTC), was recognized as a one of two recipients selected from across the Navy for the 2020 Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award, receiving the award during a ceremony at the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, Nov. 16, 2021.
The annual award recognizes two individuals serving as commanding officers who demonstrate inspirational leadership both professionally and personally while also contributing to the improvement of leadership in the Navy.
Geary received the award for his previous command tour of SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1), during which the command masterfully handled operational requirements while fostering an exceptional command climate. However, Geary was quick to recognize the quality people under his command that made the award possible, as well the various senior leaders, senior enlisted and teammates that have mentored him throughout his career.
Geary held in especially high regard Vice Adm. Stockdale’s philosophy of leadership, describing Stockdale’s brand of leadership as including elements of a moralist, jurist, teacher, steward and philosopher. He stated during his acceptance remarks that the process of leadership is “painful, continual and difficult – to be done by kindness, by waiting, by warning, by precept, by praise, and by example. By stewardship you must tend to your flock; even wash their feet.”
Quoting Francis Bacon, Geary continued, “Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.” He noted that as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Stockdale ignored the lure of promised favors from his captors, and instead chose the more difficult path to set an example of virtuous conduct for his fellow prisoners. This happened at a time when the NSW organization was testing its cultural values against the shock of close combat, a challenge today’s generation of NSW operators understands.
“Now, after twenty years of adversity faced in the mountains, deserts, and cities of Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen, NSW pivots back to our partnership with the Fleet,” said Geary. “As we leverage that relationship toward strategic competition, the Navy has its commandos back.”
First presented in 1980, the award is named for the late Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, a Naval Academy graduate and naval aviator. On Sept. 9, 1965, Stockdale was commander of Carrier Air Group 16, flying from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34) when his A-4E Skyhawk was hit by enemy fire over North Vietnam. Forced to eject, he landed in a small village and was captured. A prisoner for eight years, Stockdale was the highest-ranking naval officer among the Americans held captive in North Vietnamese prisons. Leading by example, Stockdale resisted his captors from the start, establishing a culture of defiance among the prisoners. He worked against heavy odds to find ways to communicate with other prisoners, continually working to give his fellow captives hope.
Stockdale’s inspirational leadership continued throughout captivity until his release in February 1973. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976 and served as president of the Naval War College from October 1977 until August 1979.
Active-duty Navy commanders and below who are serving in command of a single ship, submarine, aviation squadron, SEAL team, naval special warfare squadron, SEAL delivery vehicle team, special boat team, explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit, mobile diving and salvage unit, or Navy special clearance team are eligible for the award. They must be nominated by personnel eligible for the award themselves.
Geary is the fourth Naval Special Warfare member to be recognized for his inspirational leadership. Capt. Robert Smith (2008), Capt. Leif Mollo (2013), and Capt. Brian Drechsler (2017) were previous recipients of the Stockdale Leadership Award.
Naval Special Warfare Center, located on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, executes the outreach, assessment and selection of SEAL and SWCC candidates and the subsequent advanced training to the Sailors who make up the Navy’s SEAL and Special Boat communities. These communities support NSW’s mission as the US Navy’s Commandos, providing maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, to support national objectives. For more information on the NSW assessment and selection pathway, visit https://www.sealswcc.com/.
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2021 13:35 |
| Story ID: | 411328 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 4,457 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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