Marc Mitscher Leadership Style

1104 Words3 Pages

Admiral Marc Andrew Mitscher, or “Pete”, was never interested in the Navy at a young age. It always seemed as though he would choose to do some type of outdoor work. However, after his father got him an appointment to the United States Naval Academy against all odds, he started on the path to become an officer. Being a Naval Academy graduate, he put his training to good use as he rose through the ranks of the US Navy. ADMIRAL MITSCHER’S INNOVATIONS ON THE USS LANGLEY HELPED TO FULLY INCORPORTAE AVIATION INTO THE NAVY AND ARE IN USE ON MODERN CARRIERS. AS A LEADER, HIS DECISIVENESS THROUGHOUT HIS COMMAND IN WORLD WAR II AND AFTERWARDS PROVED HIM TO BE ONE OF THE NAVY’S BEST OFFICERS. Born in a small Wisconsin town, Marc Mitscher never seemed …show more content…

Early on in life, especially during his time at the Academy, Mitscher had a lackluster approach towards school, leadership, and overall performance. This abruptly changed once he started to receive real-world training. For example, early on in his career, he began to help test new flight innovations aboard the Langley. He also was a part of an attempt to cross the Atlantic in a flying boat, which resulted in a Navy Cross for Mitscher and the other pilots. Being Naval Aviator Number 33, he helped to start integrate aviators more into the Navy. His actions clearly prove boldness, bravery, and willingness to put the mission first, all of which are key aspects of a great officer in the Navy. Perhaps his most famous examples of exceptional leadership, though, were his decisions to turn on the lights so his pilots could see to land after attacks, both in the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In both cases, the safety of hundreds of pilots and aircraft returning safely far outweighed the threat of Japanese submarines in his mind, so he made the tough choice that proved overly successful. Even though his ship, the USS Hornet, was a key part of the victory at Midway, he thought he could have performed far better. However, he tended to be forgiving of his subordinates, even though he was harsh on himself. This is further proof that he shed his past of mediocrity and became a significant naval commander. Admiral Arlegih Burke was quoted as saying, “Yet so great was his concern for his people−for their training and welfare in peacetime and their rescue in combat−that he was able to obtain their final ounce of effort and loyalty…” Mitscher’s record speaks for itself on the subject of leadership and serves as remarkable evidence that a person’s early

Open Document