THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 25, 1996 TAG: 9609250391
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 103 lines
Adm. William J. ``Bud'' Flanagan Jr., the Navy's Atlantic Fleet commander for the past two years, has announced his intention to retire after 29 years of naval service.
The 53-year-old, who heads the Navy's largest operational command from his Norfolk headquarters, was to submit his request for retirement today.
His replacement, Adm. J. Paul Reason, is to take over the two-year position following a command change ceremony Dec. 13. He previously served in Norfolk as commander of the fleet's surface-ship force.
Flanagan and his wife, Barbara, will make their home on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The admiral, who was commissioned as a Navy ensign in 1967 after three years as a deck officer in the merchant marine, has not said what he plans to do after retiring.
His retirement was not unexpected, however. The close of Flanagan's tenure in the Atlantic Fleet post comes at a time when no other top-echelon Navy jobs are available.
As Atlantic Fleet commander, Flanagan has become widely recognized for his efforts to bring a more businesslike approach to Navy operations. He also has opened many of his bases to the public and has encouraged private developers to take over some Navy services.
``We haven't lost focus of what it is we do and that is to provide combat ready forces worldwide and have them perform in a manner this entire country can be proud of.
``The things we have sent people out to do, whether it is to recover bodies (from the TWA Flight 800 crash) in New York or to go strike critical targets in Iraq . . . all goes without a flaw.''
While calling today's Navy ``the world's best,'' Flanagan acknowledged improvements can be made, and ``we are making them.''
Among those improvements was a reorganization of the Atlantic Fleet and the creation of the Western Hemisphere Group. Ships based in southern Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico coastline are in a better position to respond to counter drug operations and other contingencies in the region, he said.
``We can now apply our forces in a manner that makes greater sense. The western hemisphere is experiencing explosive growth in trade with this country. It is important that we embrace our neighbors in Central and South America, and the Western Hemisphere Group helps us do that.''
Moving the dozen or so ships to the southern borders provides an added bonus to his sailors, he said. ``By reorganizing and adopting a more efficient training program, they are able to spend more time at home with their families and we can invest the money we save on fuel into providing them with better war-fighting tools.''
In the area, Flanagan boosted a drive to strengthen the economic posture of the area by helping to form the Hampton Roads Partnership.
``We have become a greater community together. . . . We have been more open and we've taken a new look at how that relationship plays into all of our futures. I think there is great wisdom and reward in that.''
Flanagan said he wants to see improvement to the economic climate in this area because it is home to so many of the Navy's sailors.
One of the projects Flanagan spearheaded is a cooperative venture among the Virginia Port Authority, the state, Norfolk and the Navy to create an intermodal transportation system.
``The potential is here to more than triple this area's ability to import and export goods,'' he said. ``That could be a tremendous boost for the economy of the whole region.''
The benefit for the Navy will be to improve mobilization capability by transferring some of its cargo loading and unloading functions off the base.
``It's a win-win situation,'' he said.
Flanagan also has encouraged all Atlantic Fleet bases and facilities to share ideas for saving money. It was an informal procedure a few years ago. Now it is officially encouraged among the 136,000 people and 206 ships he commands.
One of the largest money-savers undertaken during the past two years has been restructuring the way equipment is maintained, he said.
``Over the years we had developed some redundant capability for many of our operations. That may have been the right way to operate then, but not anymore,'' he said.
Such maintenance operations became streamlined by consolidating operations like motor rewinding, engine repair and gauge calibration.
The Navy's future will remain bright, Flanagan said, ``as long as its thinking is as aggressive as its war-fighting skills.''
``It is no time to return to the familiar. It is time to look at the future and see what it holds, then find out what new things will get us there with the same kind of fidelity that we have been able to do in the past.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Flanagan, 53, who hasn't said what his retirement plans are, will be
leaving the Navy for a home on the Eastern Shore.
Graphic
FLANAGAN FACTS
Born March 27, 1943, in Jessup, Ga.
Graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
After three years in the merchant marine, commissioned in the
Navy as an ensign in 1967.
He served extensively at sea, aboard the amphibious helicopter
landing ship Dubuque and guided missile destroyer Parsons in
Southeast Asia. He later commanded the frigate Bronstein in 1975 and
the destroyer Kidd, as its first commanding officer, in 1980.
Other assignments: duty in the Pacific as commander of Destroyer
Squadron Five aboard the carrier Kitty Hawk.
1992 - took command of Navy's 2nd Fleet, NATO's Atlantic Striking
Fleet and Joint Task Force 120, while based aboard the command ship
Mount Whitney.
October 1994 - became Atlantic Fleet commander. by CNB