Destroyer Captain: Lessons of a First Command

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1591141850 ISBN 13: 9781591141853

Publisher: Naval Institute Press, 2014

Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) commanded the destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) from 1993-1995 and Barry won the Battenberg Cup as the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet while under his command. In 1998, he commanded destroyer Squadron 21 and deployed to the Arabian Gulf, winning the Navy League's John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership. He became Commander of European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe in early summer 2009.

About the Author:

Adm. James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) is a 1976 distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who spent over 35 years on active service in the Navy. He commanded destroyers and a carrier strike group in combat and served for seven years as a four-star admiral, including nearly four years as the first Navy officer chosen as Supreme Allied Commander for Global Operations at NATO. After retiring from the Navy he was named the dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 2013. In addition, he currently serves as the U.S. Naval Institute's Chair of the Board of Directors. He has written articles on global security issues for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Atlantic Magazine, Naval War College Review, and Proceedings and is the author or co-author of several books, including Command at Sea 6th Ed. and Destroyer Captain.

Review:

"Destroyer Captain is a quick and enjoyable read. The writing flows like a good conversation with an old friend. This occurs in part because the chapters are short and succinct, enabling the reader to zip through the prose. Particularly valuable are transcripts of Stavridis' speeches to his crew on Memorial Day and during the Change of Command at the end of his tour...It is recommended for anyone who is interested in or has fond memories of naval service." -- Naval Historical Foundation

"This is a stirring tale of leadership challenge and the responsibility of command. How fitting that Admiral Stavridis' command experience was shaped by the adventures of guiding the USS Barry and her intrepid crew--a ship named for Irish American John Barry, a courageous warrior who led during the formative days of our fledgling republic. The 'good fortune and great heart' Admiral Stavridis ascribes to Barry is manifest in Destroyer Captain as timeless truths about leadership that accrues great benefit to all Americans thanks to those like Admiral Stavridis who defend us." --Sean O'Keefe, Secretary of the Navy, 1992-93

"Jim Stavridis' Destroyer Captain--a REQUIRED read for all who aspire to command at sea and anyone who wants to know what Conrad was really talking about. Stavridis tells you how it was--the ups and downs, the good and the bad--not how somebody thinks you ought to hear it. I loved it!" --Adm. Robert J. Natter, USN (Ret.), Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, 2001-04

"With all the joy, doubt, self-examination, hope, and fear of a first command, Stavridis offers an honest assessment of his experiences from the bridge to help readers grasp the true nature of command at sea. Officers from all the services, especially surface warfare naval officers aspiring to command, will find these lessons of a first command by one of the Navy's most respected admirals both entertaining and instructive." -- Sea Classics

"With his insider details about the real worries and triumphs of command, Destroyer Captain is a must read for all naval officers and a fascinating adventure for everyone who loves the U.S. Navy." --Robert N. Macomber, Award-winning author of the Honor Series

"Ought to be read by those aspiring to leadership positions at sea (and land) from lead petty officers to future skippers."

-- Great Lakes Bulletin
"Destroyer Captain is interesting and entertaining and educational to anyone who has a leadership role at sea--or even on land. In an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable way, Admiral Stavridis explains the highs and lows of his first test in running an organization--in this case more than 300 Navy personnel deployed on a major U.S. warship. One can easily see why the qualities he exhibited as commanding officer of USS Barry have earned him his current position as an incredibly well respected four star admiral in charge of the U.S. Southern Command."
--Mel M. Immergut, Chairman, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. New York, New York
"The window into the thoughts and feelings of one of the Navy's most successful officers of the era makes this a captivating read and is one of the most valuable aspects of the book. Every military officer and member of the joint and interagency warfighting team will gain precious insight into what it is really like commanding a U.S. Navy ship and leading sailors."

--Joint Force Quarterly
"Designed to be a good read for anyone fascinated with what life is like behind the doors of the captain's cabin. Fortunately, Stavridis is a writer who is not only good with the small details of daily life but shares a sense of history and awe of the sea. Simply, he is in love with command at sea, and you feel it throughout the entire book."

-- Naval War College Review