Shortney Rising

By lex, on January 24th, 2012

Bill “Shortney” Gortney was one of my instructors at the FA-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron in 1987. He was a (senior) lieutenant when I was a (junior) lieutenant. He’s also one of the guys I (mistakenly, it seems) attributed to a rather high-larious event ** at around the same time frame. Which if you haven’t read that story, you really orta.

Yesterday I got the news that Mrs. Gortney’s son is all growed up:*

President Obama has nominated Vice Adm. Bill Gortney as the next commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, a move that if approved by the Senate would likely occur this summer.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made the announcement Monday.

Gortney, director of the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, would be promoted to admiral and replace Adm. John Harvey, who has commanded what was once known as U.S. Atlantic Fleet since July 2009. Gortney reported to the Pentagon in July 2010…

Naval observers and industry insiders told Navy Times in late December that Gortney appeared to have the inside track on the job, saying he possesses the right combination of experience in preparing ships and aircraft to deploy, knowledge of overseas combatant commander requirements and understanding of wartime fleet operations.

How time passes: Lieutenants together, and he a four-star in charge of train/man/equip Navy-wide while I’m a retired O-6 cooling my heels in the Comfort Inn at Fallon, NV.

But I still get to fly.

Congrats, admiral!

 

* 11-08-2018 Link Gone; no replacements found – Ed.

** 11-08-2018 Original link gone; no replacement – was Jo-Love from NeptunusLex.com – 02-17-2007  – Ed.

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