VIRGINIA BEACH
The city hired an armed forces liaison this month, but the decision has cost the services of retired Rear Adm. Fred Metz, a vocal advocate on issues such as the Naval Aviation Monument Park and veterans’ parking.
Metz resigned from the Military Economic Development Advisory Committee on Sunday, soon after the city named Cmdr. Sali Gear, a retired Navy pilot, as its military liaison.
Gear doesn’t have enough knowledge of the Navy’s command structure to do the job, Metz said, in quitting.
Metz encouraged City Council members to form the committee earlier this year to lure more military-related businesses to Virginia Beach. The liaison works with the committee and is a bridge between military leaders, business officials and the city.
The city had advertised a preference for a Navy captain or a colonel – the equivalent rank in the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force. Gear retired one step below the advertised threshold.
There were two applicants who indicated they met the preferred rank, city officials said.
“They just slapped me in the face,” Metz said . “They didn’t hire anybody that I thought was qualified for the job.”
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. John Panneton also resigned from the committee after the hiring. He said his decision had nothing to do with Gear or the liaison job. Panneton, who also held a rank one level below that advertised, had interviewed for the position.
Gear spent 23 years in the service, 16 of them on active duty while serving in three air squadrons as well as the Naval Special Warfare Command and the Joint Forces Command. She was carrier qualified in the
A-4 Skyhawk. She owns a company that trains officials from federal agencies and the Navy to board moving ships. She also runs a farm in Virginia Beach for rescued racehorses.
Deputy City Manager Steve Herbert said Gear’s experience in the Navy and as a business owner qualifies her for the liaison job.
“She had a remarkably strong resume, and she did well with her interviews,” Herbert said.
Until last year, retired Navy Capt. J.B. Dadson was the liaison. Dadson primarily kept City Council members and officials aware of homecomings and local military activities and helped city officials with research on military issues.
Gear said she is aware of the two resignations but that she hasn’t focused on them. As one of the first wave of female jet pilots, Gear said she learned to deal with unhappy peers.
“I’m not saying that their quitting was related to my gender,” Gear said. “They didn’t think I was qualified when I walked into the squadron to fly jets.”
In his resignation e-mail that outlined his contributions to the city and holes in Virginia Beach’s approach to the military, Metz said his concerns about Gear were not personal.
“I have nothing against Sali, a fine lady,” Metz said, but he questioned whether she had spent enough time on active duty during her career to be an effective liaison. “You can’t teach the experience of 20 plus years, going through the ranks,” he said, “understand what the Navy is all about. I have dealt with the City for years, they just don’t get it.”
Councilman John Uhrin who worked with Metz to develop the committee said the resignations are a loss.
Metz “deserves direct credit for any positive outcomes that come from this committee,” Uhrin said.
High-level military leaders continue to sit on the committee, including several admirals, who will continue the city’s economic development efforts, Uhrin said.
Uhrin said he doesn’t have any concerns about Gear.
“She seems like a nice, capable, enthusiastic person,” Uhrin said.
Gear will be paid $2,500 a month.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Now do you get it
Guess my last comment was too strongly worded so I'll resubmit it. Saying most or many or even several corporations are headed by former flag rank officers is wrong. Take a good look at statistics and you'll find very very few flag officers go on to head any business. By the time these guys retire they have spent 10 or more years being waited on hand and foot. They are surrounded by yesmen. Soldiers and sailors jump when they clear their throat. Adm Metz can't get the city or anyone else to jump when he gives orders and its a problem. He lacks the communication skills to deal with real people. Again, ask anyone he deals with daily and you'll find his way of talking to women regardless of position is to belittle then scream. Is that a trait of a leader?
SALLI GEAR---GREAT CHOICE!!
Heck, i'm an active duty 06 w 25+ years of military experience so i fit the paygrade RADM Metz says should have been hired for the job....but i tell you what, Salli Gear has it all over me for the job of Military liaison...besides her active and reserve military experience, she's got things in her resume that make her supremely well qualified for this position: she ran a successful business, she's a long term local resident, she's got enought enthusiasm and energy for 10 people, and big ticket item here, she's got a real heart for serving others...i'd hire her in a snap! Well done to the selection committee who called it the way I would have, and congratulations to the City for securing the services of this exceptional person!
Has A Right To Voice His Opinion With His Feet
As a founding member of the military liaison committee, RADM Metz knows what the job is and what is will take to get the job done. In his opinion, the hiring did not meet his approval and as a volunteer has the perfect right to walk.
If Beach officials were smart they would have listened to him. Hopefully, RADM Metz will serve in a similar capacity with Norfolk or Chesapeake. They might listen to him and attract some great military serving companies. Many of these companies are run by retired flag rank executives. This is what RADM Metz was talking about...now do you get it?
By the way, I'm a retired
By the way, I'm a retired Senior Chief MALE - I didn't mention it in my post. Some of the finest Naval Officers I worked for were women. They're often much better and much more professional because of the crap they have to put up with from guys like Metz and the good 'ol boys.
Shake up the status quo people!
Fred Metz needs to go away. The sexist "nice lady" comment says it all. I'm retired Navy - 22 years, enlisted. But look at this issue from a 50,000 feet perspective: this area is flooded with retired senior officers, many flags at that. This perpetuates the "good ole boy" hookup network in the Navy, Civil Service, and even in local politics. You can say that intimate knowledge of "the way the Navy works" is important, and I would absolutely agree. But behind Metz' comment is the more insideous true meaning of "know the senior people so the handshakes can take place". I think it's great that this retired CDR is isolated from that tradition. Shake things up! The Navy is still very subjective and personal when choosing people for its highest ranks. Unless you're an insider, you're not in the country club. New blood is what is needed. Secretary Gates saw the problem and fixed it in the Air Force. Even in local companies you can see that retired Senior Navy Officers control the way things run, and if you were prior enlisted or non-military, it's very hard to reach levels of importance in any endeavor around here. Put a Phd by your name and you'll still encounter the same b
resume inflation
" She owns a company that trains officials from federal agencies and the Navy to board moving ships."
I'm familiar with these contracts and can't say I've heard of her involvement. Does the company actually exist and hold contracts or is this claim just resume inflation??
Lets see.....Someone in Government who appears to be uninformed. No surprise there. or...are you just a another contractor who can't break the code. You may be familiar with the contracts but you obviously don't know everything. Several former NSW operators have worked for Ms Gear teaching VBSS. I never heard any of them question her suitability for the job.
Lisa
By citing her gender, do you mean because he called her a "fine lady" instead of a "fine person"? If so, that is an expression of his age, almost exclusively done that way in my generation (and I *am* a lady). You younger folks do "person first." If you ask me who I am, I will almost always put my gender out there as the first noun. It is not sexism, just the way earlier generations were taught to think. Okay, I am "a woman, wife, mother, naval officer, writer . . ." That is how we do it at age 50. Sorry if it disappoints you. Cheers, MGM
still no answer
" She owns a company that trains officials from federal agencies and the Navy to board moving ships."
As I said, I'm familar with this training and the contacts associated with it. Nobody seems to know what the name of the company is, if it exists and what her connection to it is...
From the City of VB Website
For the past 15 years, Gear has owned several military-related businesses in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and San Diego. She is currently owner of Marine Solutions Inc. in Virginia Beach, a company that specializes in maritime operations and training. In her spare time, she is a horse trainer, rescuing former race horses from auction houses.
Marine Solutions Inc has a teaming agreement with Tactical Solution Options (TSO) in Chesapeake. Ref. SEC Website
Didn't get the job? - Sali's Business
Hey Fred,
Give us a break. If you didn't apply for the job maybe that slap in the face you talk about was intentional. Maybe a little cheese with that wine would help you.
For those looking for Sali's business. Did a google search for rescued horses in VB turned up Calypso Farm Run. Their website is www.calypsorun.com
Realism
Naval reservists do a godd job serving, but my overall feeling is that they are clueless at Naval Policies and Politics. This is based on my 21 years of active duty as an aviator. Whomever picked this woman wants someone who is detached from Navy policy and politics to keep City Council uninformed, probably knows noone in Naval Ranks that can give VBeach a straight answer, and is a novelty.
Good job!
Pragmatism
"Seems Admiral Fred Metz is the "My way or the Highway" type leader, fortunately a dying breed."
Not in the military. Many civilian contractors even cut their hair to fit in on base. It greases the wheels. In the military or any job connected to it you do it their way only. In a pragmatic sense, the resignations have hurt the viability of any progress. Whether you deem it to be wrong or right, if you want results you pursue them in the most effecient manner. Making waves provides poor results.
VA Beach is better off
Fred Metz has the admirals’ complex of self importance and ego that's driving his decision. It's as if he thinks no one understands the military except him. I got news for Mr. Metz, being an admiral keeps you isolated and out of touch with the lower ranks. Admirals spend too much time playing golf, huddling with staff officers, hob-knobbing with other admirals, and having their commands followed exactly. In the real world we have to work with others and become informed by listening to many views and levels of experience. It's sad the admiral is whining and pouting in public and generally emabarrassing himself, VA Beach is better off. Let's support Sali Gear, she is exactly what we need.
Not Resume Padding
Come on people, it's too easy to just say she made up her training business. Or you can take 30 seconds to search for her name online and find Marine Solutions Inc., with offices on Pillow Drive in VB, is in fact a legitimate contractor. The 3rd hit down on pipl.com shows an SEC filing from a year ago, where she subcontracted out some work to another firm.
www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1357115/000111650207001828/tsomsifbiteaming11707.htm
Chauvanist...
...is the way I'd describe the Rear Adm. Citing her gender as opposed to recognizing her as a person is a sign that he has a problem with her being a woman regardless of her experience or qualifications. As a corporate manager, I've dealt with many similiar men. For the most part these types don't want to deal with women because then they would have to behave like adults...instead of acting like spoiled brats who think they should be catered to by everyone they feel is beneath them.
VBSS
" She owns a company that trains officials from federal agencies and the Navy to board moving ships."
I'm familiar with these contracts and can't say I've heard of her involvement. Does the company actually exist and hold contracts or is this claim just resume inflation??
Lets see.....Someone in Government who appears to be uninformed. No surprise there. or...are just a another contractor who can't break the code. You may be familiar with the contracts but you obviously don't know everything. I worked for Ms Gear teaching VBSS.
Overpaid and Underworked at 30K/year
The job can be done by surfing official Navy websites and reading the free local military newspapers. $30K a year? So easy to spend OPM (Other People's Money). The city needs to attract and bring in more real industry that creates jobs, more companies like Stihl. Relying on (and sucking up to) the government as an "employer" is "zero growth" with more noise pollution over an ever increasing zone over the city. Vote this whole bunch out of office.
ADM Metz comments.
By the comments concerning this a "Slap in the face" to the retired Admiral, it seems he has some difficulty dealing with those personnel who did not achieve what he considers a "Senior rank". Wonder if he looked down his nose at those below the O-6 level when he was on active duty. I am also curious as to her company that teaches VBSS to the Navy. I dealt directly with these schools for quite some time...and unless she ownes the Navy school in Chesapeake, Mayport or San Diego; who else teaches this school?
and so he leaves?
He leaves when it doesn't go his way? That helps. And I don't mean that sarcastically. No, it really does help. Can you imagine what it would have been like if he had stayed?
Clear the decks of any malcontents and full speed ahead.
Out with the old ...
She has the rank and the experience. This sounds like one hire the city got right!
anyone??
" She owns a company that trains officials from federal agencies and the Navy to board moving ships."
I'm familiar with these contracts and can't say I've heard of her involvement. Does the company actually exist and hold contracts or is this claim just resume inflation??
CORRECT !!
The Admiral is correct ! This affimative action gone amuck,.....again !!
Navy Laison
It would appear to me that Adm. Metz is being very unprofessional in his assertion that Cdr. Gear was unqualified for the position because she doesn't understand the Navy command system. One would think that after 23 years in the Navy (both active and inactive) and achieving the rank of Commander she better have an understanding of it. Sounds like "sour grapes" attitude to me or is it because the Commander is not part of the good ol' boys' club. Prove him wrong Commander.
Armed Forces Liaison
C'mon, Fred....grow up. You're acting like a spoiled child (and an admiral). The board was not set-up for you alone, but all of us and I think the lady will fit nicely into the situation. At least, she has some business to speak about. I always thought you were an okay guy, but now?????? C'mon, grow up.
Grow Up, Fred
Seems Admiral Fred Metz is the "My way or the Highway" type leader, fortunately a dying breed. Delusions of grandeur are not pretty in a senior manager or a senior officer. Perhaps a better tack, if his opinion was that the woman lacked experience, was to be her mentor. Not that I think that is needed. He did not even try to work things out, signs of a quitter. Perhaps there is more to his reason for quitting than he cared to share?
ADM Metz
With all due respect, Sir, the article says you were in charge of veterans' parking among other things. Does that connect the dots to you in the brouhaha a few weeks ago about setting aside Oceanfront parking for Purple Heart license plates (which I fully agree with), but which got shouted down by other veterans wanting free parking, too? As I recall, the free parking was ditched for everyone, including the Purple Heart guys. Not the outcome I wanted to see. Disclosure, I don't have a Purple Heart myself, just a soft spot in my heart for the people who do. Cheers, MGM
again....
Ms Gear claims to own a company that provides traing to government and military personnel. Does anyone know the name of the company??
Oh so sorry
“They didn’t hire anybody that I thought was qualified for the job.” Sorry she didn't meet your high standards but she met the city's. Perhaps you'd like to run for mayor since your judgement is so great...just an idea! She sounds fine to me.
Sour Grapes
This woman has 23 years of service AND she owns a company that already has experience dealing with the Navy? And she's somehow NOT qualified? Sounds like sour grapes to me. They didn't hire who the guy wanted hired, so he took his ball and went home. I've never heard of staff officers acting that way before. Goes to show you learn something new every day . . .
HM???
While I don't agree with the Admiral in his assessment can you please tell me where he "Trashed Her" on the way out the door? I don't see anywhere in his comments where he trashed her...