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Navy Chief Charts Course to Develop 'World-Class' Leaders

Navy Leader Development Framework

by Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
16 April 2018 Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced the formation of the College of Leadership and Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College and released an updated version of the Navy Leader Development Framework (NLDF 2.0) in Newport. "World-class leadership is our Navy's decisive advantage over our adversaries," Richardson said. "Our operational and warfighting success depends on developing leaders who learn and adapt to achieve maximum possible performance. Opening a College of Leadership and Ethics and providing a Fleet-centered development framework will create opportunities for us to become better leaders, build winning teams, and maintain America's maritime superiority."

Richardson released the initial NLDF in January 2017, providing a road map to develop leaders of "competence and character" through a network of formal schools, on-the-job training, and self-guided learning.

The released NLDF 2.0 document includes:
- Updating to the Navy's "Charge of Command", citing the expected standards of excellence for all Commanding Officers.
- Adding the concept of mentor advocacy as a way to more actively develop and promote winning leaders.
- Re-issuing Richardson's September 2016 memo "One Navy Team" on inclusiveness.

"The concepts discussed in NLDF 2.0 apply to the entire Navy team - everybody should read and use it," Richardson said. "By executing this framework, our Navy will produce leaders and teams who are ready for decisive, winning operations and combat. This is what will keep us the best Navy in the world."

The mission of the new College of Leadership and Ethics is to imbue Naval War College students with a desire for continuous learning and development as leaders of character. In addition, the college will supplement and support each Navy community in their community leader development, and maintain a strategy for leader development beyond major command. The school expects to offer courses to about 1600 graduates per year from the in-residence and distance education programs, including U.S. and international officers, and civilians from various U.S. government agencies and departments.

"In order to prevail in an environment of rapid change and complexity, we need to increase our investment in leader development to improve our advantage over potential adversaries," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, president, U.S. Naval War College. "The establishment of this college demonstrates our Navy's commitment to develop leaders who pursue excellence in accordance with our Navy's core attributes of integrity, accountability, initiative and toughness."

Link to Navy Leader Development 2.0 - http://www.navy.mil/cno/docs/NLDF_2.pdf