NAVAL RESERVE FLAG E-GRAM 01-01
31 October 2000
From: Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR
To: All REDCOM SJAs and Personal
Staff
Subj: Naval Reserve Flag E-Gram 01-01
1. It is my distinct honor and privilege to serve as the Assistant Deputy Judge
Advocate General. As the Reserve Flag, I gratefully follow a long line of
distinguished officers, each of whom has left his own individual mark on the
Naval Reserve Law Program. With your help, I hope to do the same.
2. Today, our Navy faces new challenges, both in the operational arena and with
Fleet support. Our active-duty partners count on the talents and dedication of
the judge advocates and legalmen of our Program to meet those challenges. With
your help, we will respond with excellence in client service.
3. Effective communication is a key to success in today's Navy and Naval Reserve. I am pleased to be communicating to you via this first Naval Reserve Flag E-Gram. In this age of electronic and virtually instantaneous communication, I plan to utilize our new techniques, such as e-mail and our Web site, to insure the prompt delivery of critical and timely information to you, the leadership of our program, and through you, to all hands. I am pleased to announce that Rear Admiral Steve Glass has agreed to assist us in our communications to reach this goal. I would request that you forward this Flag E-Gram and subsequent messages to those under your cognizance promptly.
4. I am looking forward to the Leadership Conference in New Orleans, where I will have my first real opportunity to discuss with you my plans, policies and goals for my tenure as your Flag. Prior to this conference, my Deputy, Captain Mac Carter, and I will plan at least one meeting with our top active-duty leadership to discuss common goals and objectives. In this regard, as the third Flag Officer in our Corps, I am honored to let you know that, even at this early point in my tenure, I have been asked to serve at the Pentagon when both Admirals Guter and Lohr are on travel or leave.
5. I am pleased to announce
that, through the outstanding efforts of Captain Rich Ozmun, JAGC, USN, we have
added 19 new billets to the Law Program, one Commander, four LNCs, and 14 LN1s
and LN2s. A tip of the hat to Oz, whose devotion to the Law Program never stops!
6. I want to express my thanks to all those who served, voluntarily and without
pay, on Rear Admiral Sturek's staff. My staff will consist of:
Executive Staff
CAPT Mac Carter, Deputy
CAPT Steve Peterson, Law Program Manager (ex-officio)
LCDR Mike Pinette, OJAG Code 62 (ex-officio)
LNCM Byron Jones, Senior Enlisted Advisor
LNCS Tim Ayoub, Deputy Senior Enlisted Advisor
Special Assistants
CAPT Eileen Riley, Awards and Recognition
CAPT Norton Joerg, Planning
CAPT Bill Harbeson, Recruiting and Retention
CAPT Bob Huard, Manpower, Personnel and Training
CDR Jim Backstrom, Information and Technology Services
CDR Bernie DeLury, Flag Scheduling and Advance
CDR Bob Nelson, Public Affairs
Other Staff
RADM Steve Glass, Communications
CAPT Mac Carter, Webmaster
LN1 Woody Woodruff, Assistant Webmaster
7. Finally, I wanted to set out my vision for our program in this first Flag
E-Gram. It occurred to me that I could simply state the two main points that I
identified at the Change of Office ceremony. First, we thank Admiral Sturek for
turning over this superb program consisting of accomplished lawyers and legalmen
who have contributed so much and are prepared to perform even better. Second, we
must continue our tireless efforts to support the Fleet. So, for those of you
who could not make the ceremony, attached are my brief remarks. Please include
them when you forward this message.
8. I look forward to working with all of you. Thanks for your support!
R,
Steven B. Karntrowitz
Remarks of RADM Steven B. Kantrowitz at the Change of Office
Admiral Guter, Admiral Brunelli, Admiral Sturek, Admiral Lohr, Admiral John Jenkins -- My Mentor, Flag and General Officers, and All Other Honored Guests, Good Afternoon.
This is a great day, even the weather has cooperated.
But the real significance of this day is in the honor we pay to Admiral Cliff and Dottie Sturek for their dedication to this program over many years. Admiral Sturek’s exemplary military career was culminated in the last four years as our flag leader of the Reserve Law Program. This recognition is really the purpose of this ceremony. And I add my personal thanks for their generosity and support to my family and me since my selection for Flag Rank.
Now, at another change of command, Admiral Joe Hare described my role today as the officer assuming duties as being analogous to the deceased at an Irish wake –a necessary participant but from whom not much is expected. I think I can handle it, and I will be brief.
Thanks to all of you for coming, many from a distance. Special thanks to my civilian and retired friends who have come here to share this day with my family and me. Please accept our appreciation for all those who have supported us and helped me during my 26-year Navy career. Time precludes me from recognizing each of you, but I will make that into a positive because Admiral Sturek and I have arranged a reception at the Consolidated Club, immediately following the ceremony --just follow the crowd, you will not get lost—and I hope you all will attend so that I can express my gratitude to you for your help and support.
I thank my family for their love. My mom, who sacrificed so much to raise me. My children, Lisa and David, who have been the light of my life and so understanding when my Navy commitments caused me to miss some of their special events. And, of course, my wife, and best friend, Chris, for all her help, encouragement and support.
While this is Cliff and Dottie Sturek’s day, I must admit to excitement at taking this National Leadership position with the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. We have a great Navy/Marine Corps team: active duty and Reserve, civilians, legalmen and judge advocates. No wonder we have our own successful network television program.
I am honored to take my place as the third Flag Officer in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, along with my active-duty counterparts. Admiral Don Guter is not only my long-time friend and the dynamic leader of our Corps but also a fervent supporter of the Reserve. He makes meaningful use of and trains his Reserves. He sees the Reserve as an integral part of his Corps. Admiral Mike Lohr is a new friend who shares this vision.
Together, with the support of Admiral John Brunelli, Commander Naval Surface Reserve Force, we will capitalize on the current momentum to bring our program to new levels of achievement in support of the fleet. And that is what it is all about, a simple goal –ensuring the fleet is given every possible advantage as it operates throughout the world.
Thank you.