Chair Update - September 2024

Greetings shipmates, devil dogs, friends!

I hope you all managed to spend the summer season with family and friends, and took some time to relax, recharge, and perhaps explore this beautiful planet a bit. My summer somehow flew by in the blink of an eye; however, I did manage some much-needed fellowship with quite a few wandering minstrels rolling through our nation’s capital. Please let us know if you’re visiting the national capital region and would like to see some of your NIP family—we’re always eager and excited to reunite!

It’s hard to believe that the autumnal equinox is already here. Fall was my wife’s favorite season and holds a special place in my heart. She enjoyed the return of cooler weather, the change in the landscape’s colors, the return to school and daily routines, and the preparation for family gatherings to give thanks for all life’s blessings. We are fortunate to be citizens of this country and to be part of a community that values service to others. As I’m counting blessings this year, know that you all will be on my mind and in my prayers—especially those who will be spending holidays on a watch floor, or in a chow hall, DFAC, or galley away from your families. We thank you all for standing the watch.

Although the summer somehow flew by, you’ll notice from this newsletter, that the Naval Intelligence Professionals still managed quite a bit of activity and continue to make progress in all our focus areas. Here are a few updates on some key initiatives I want to ensure you’re tracking: 

Increasing and Improving Communications:

• Our website continues to be populated regularly with updates from across the community. I encourage you to visit periodically and see what we have going on across the enterprise (https://www.navintpro.org/). I also encourage you to create and contribute content. Take a photo or two during events of interest to the profession, craft a few sentences or paragraphs and send them to our phenomenal editor, Sue Himes, at navintproeditor@gmail.com. We value your voice. 
• As promised, we have redesigned and relaunched our social media presence on LinkedIn and Facebook. The newsletter includes more details on accessing the new sites. Be sure to “follow us” on LinkedIn and to join our new private Facebook group. Expect an increase in postings from us on LinkedIn starting next month.
• Our latest Virtual Speaker Series event provided insights on information warfare contributions to combat operations in the Red Sea from three recent deployers. If you’re not dialing into these events, you’re missing some great conversation and professional development opportunities. We continue to record the sessions and make them available to members for viewing on our members’ website, but I’d love to see the live audience grow. Consider inviting some non-members who would be interested to join us as well. It might even help us increase our ranks. 

Growing NIP Membership:

Speaking of which, our membership numbers are now over 870—a 9% increase from our size during last year’s Fall membership meeting. When I first met the great Sue Gordon, she told our group, “You’ll find that I’m always pretty happy…but never quite satisfied.” I share her positive outlook on life, coupled with herdeep desire to continually improve. I’m excited to see the progress we’re making, but I’m looking forward to the days when we cross over the 900 mark and eventually break 1,000. One way you can help us do that is by helping us raise awareness of our existence outside our own membership. Invite some colleagues to a VSS event. Bring a copy of your NIP READBOOK to work and let some others read it. Invite some friends to one of the NIP Chapter social events in your area. Remember, you’ve all been deputized to help us spot, assess, recruit, and retain talent. Help us spread the word!

Expanding and Reinvigorating NIP Chapters: As I noted in our last newsletter, one of the improvements to the NIP website has been a redesign of the NIP Chapter pages. If you haven’t done so, please check it out (login as a member for full access).

This newsletter highlights a few of the activities some of our NIP Chapters have been sponsoring. My personal thanks to the San Diego Chapter for another stellar golf tournament.

I also want to commend our newest chapter, the Pacific Chapter, for organizing and hosting an inaugural IW Pacific Dining-Out event coinciding with the visit of our Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence to the area, which allowed his participation in the event.

We thank everyone involved in setting up and running these events for your leadership and for setting the example for others to emulate. If you’re in a chapter that hasn’t been having events like these and you’re envious of some of the other regions, get involved. As the great philosopher Jeff Spicoli once said, “I've been thinking about this, Mr. Hand. If I'm here and you're here, doesn't that make it our time? Certainly, there's nothing wrong with a little feast on our time.” Pure wisdom. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and order some pizza…and invite some friends.

Increasing Awareness of the Value Derived from Naval Intelligence Professionals: I remain extremely excited about our ongoing partnership with the USS Midway Museum. As described in the newsletter article from Diana Guglielmo, we held a meeting earlier this month with the museum leadership and the team that is doing the conceptual designs. We discussed early design layouts and display concepts that I believe will help tell the story of our professionals’ contributions to USS Midway mission successes in a way that will both educate and inspire visitors. If you find yourself visiting the San Diego area, you may want to consider getting over to the museum for a visit and engaging with some of our NIP members who also serve aboard as docents. I’m confident they’d be happy to show you around. You may also want to consider a “save the date” and some San Diego trip planning for Memorial Day weekend 2025—the projected ribbon-cutting event for the new CVIC spaces. More to follow as we progress.

Another way to help us increase awareness of the value derived from our profession is to write about it. I want to personally thank everyone who submitted essays for this year’s Naval Institute and NIP Naval Intelligence Essay Contest. We thank you for the time, energy, and passion you all bring to our profession. The winners will be announced soon. If you didn’t submit an essay for last year’s contest, don’t fret—it’s an annual event, and you’ll have another opportunity coming up soon, so start sharpening your quills. 

Speaking of the essay contest and the winners to be announced soon, you can congratulate them in person by joining us for the NIP Annual General Meeting and Fall Luncheon on the 25th of October. Registration is open for the luncheon event, and for the 56th Annual Naval Intelligence Officer’s Dining-In. 

In closing, I want to give a special thank you to all those who were involved in putting together the 9/11 remembrance events held at ONI and at Arlington, and all those who were able to attend. I know that those who were unable to be there in person were there in spirit and prayer, and your presence was felt and appreciated as well. It’s always a hard day for me personally, but I walk away recharged and buoyed, confident in those who are currently standing the watch to get the job done. We will never forget!

Take care of yourselves and one another.

Best, Bob

NIP Chair