Naval War College president's removal was a successful mutiny. Here's why | Opinion
Bruce Elleman is a William V. Pratt Professor of International History at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport.
On Nov. 2, the U.S. Naval War College finally honored Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Harley USN (Ret.) for his service to the Navy and to the nation. After many unconscionable delays, Rear Admiral Harley’s official portrait was ceremoniously unveiled in Newport before a large crowd of onlookers.
More: Former Naval War College president Harley builds new life in academia, consulting
The Naval War College is unique. It is the only Professional Military Education Master's-granting institution to focus on the prerequisites and strategic possibilities for maritime power. For the Naval War College to be anything less than a top-tier graduate institution risks U.S. national security, because it is the only graduate institution to study sea power, in other words the actual geopolitical situation of the United States.
In June 2019, documents leaked to the Associated Press unfairly forced Naval War College President Harley to step down. This was in fact an “on-land naval mutiny” conducted by a small cohort of dissatisfied ex-Navy employees. It has been a trying time at the War College ever since. Dozens of professors have left the institution, many in secret protest against this mutiny. But the portrait unveiling earlier this month graphically demonstrates Harley’s full exoneration more than three years later.
Why do I say that the anti-Harley incident was the first – and arguably only – fully successful mutiny in U.S. Navy history? Because the goal of the mutineers was to oust Harley. They clearly succeeded. And, there was zero punishment for the mutineers. So the mutineers achieved their objectives and they were not punished. That is the textbook definition of a successful mutiny.
Those mutineers who ruined Rear Admiral Harley’s career remain at large and unpunished. No top-tier institution does business this way. When asked, the Navy inspector general even claimed to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on Dec. 8, 2022 that it had “no information” on the AP leaks. This is either an outright lie, or a complete dereliction of duty. Either way it is damning that the Navy inspector general refused to conduct an official investigation into the AP leaks.
It is wrong that the Navy inspector general has continued to drag its feet on investigating the anti-Harley Associated Press leaks.
Rear Admiral Harley has now been fully exonerated, but there still needs to be a full investigation of why he was forced out in the first place. It is never too late to do the right thing. The Navy inspector general must initiate an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding the June 2019 AP leaks.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Those mutineers who ruined Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Harley’s career remain at large and unpunished.
