Today Navy Admiral James Stavridis becomes the American and NATO commander in Europe. There is a nice piece featuring him and the challenges he will face in his new position in today's New York Times. As a professional communicator, I've been very impressed with Admiral Stavridis's savvy in using social media to communicate not only with his internal audiences -- service members, DoD families and former military -- but also his external audiences. Specifically, the media.

I hate to admit that I didn't always feel this way. When about six months ago I first heard of Admiral Stavridis personally authoring entries for the U.S. Southern Command blog "In the Americas" (superb, by the way) or his penchant to use Facebook to respond directly to media queries (and thereby, in my mind, usurping the responsibilities of his command public affairs officer), I thought for someone in his position of authority he was being a bit cavalier in communicating with his external audiences. But as I learned more about his impeccable professional background and personal leadership style through both people who've served with or under him AND media sources, I began to understand and respect his incredible talent as a Navy communicator. And I also began to understand and respect the incredible power of social media; began to embrace what it offers to every single one of us who chooses to use it and its undeniable influence on more traditional, main stream media resources.

I believe for someone of his military position (a four-star admiral, currently it doesn't get any higher than that), he is blazing a trail for other flag level officers to follow. And from the accolades he gets for his professional accomplishments, I can only surmise he is exceptional at all faculties of his job, no matter what challenges are placed before him. That is what I expect from a leader -- military, corporate or otherwise. Someone who is exceptional in every area of their command, and I don't think that's something easy to come by no matter what sector you consider. Yes, at the helm of our military forces are some of our nation's finest thinkers, leaders and talent, period. I'm proud to serve under them.

I think the Times put it best with the title of its article, "For a Post in Europe, a Renaissance Admiral." At this particular time in our nation's history, I think Renaissance leaders are just what we need.

One of the many perks of being stationed in New York City is the numerous business luncheons and social benefits I get invited to as a representative member of the military. Often times local businesses and organizations want to include the military as part of their honoree or awards functions, sometimes even honoring military members as awardees. This past Wednesday's Women of Concern annual awards luncheon was such an event I found especially enlightening.

Concern Worldwide, I learned this week, is an NGO dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries. Their work for displaced women and children in the Darfur region of Sudan was highlighted at the awards luncheon, as Ernst and Young's Global Vice Chair Beth Brooke and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairperson of the American Ireland Fund, were honored.

I considered myself very fortunate to be included as a guest to this luncheon because I was reminded of just how important it is for our government to foster diplomacy in troubled regions of the globe by leveraging closely coordinated relationships with not-for-profit organizations and NGOs. During her speech, Brooke spoke of how great business leaders today understand that companies, NGOs and organizations around the world need to work together for all societies, big and small. She then followed with a comparison of statistics involving strategic investments in women -- domestically, if a business invests in women at the top of their organizational structure, those institutions perform financially better than those that do not; globally, it's proven that if you invest in women of third world countries, those women turn around 90 percent of their earnings and feed it back into their societies. Brooke concluded her remarks by saying that now, in today's financially troubled times, is an opportunity to collaborate and invest in an improved business model, leveraging diversity.

An impressive and uplifting notion, indeed.

Yesterday's Memorial Day ceremonies throughout NYC reminded me of why I love this great city -- because I believe there's no place on Earth quite like New York where people are so outwardly grateful and appreciative of their men and women in uniform. New York Fleet Week serves as a great testament to that belief. In fact, it's a rare day when I wear my summer whites out and about the City that I'm not stopped by several people on the streets saluting me and asking me what I do in the service. Many times they look shocked to hear that I'm stationed right here in Midtown Manhattan. "I do public relations for the Navy," I say. They usually respond with a confused look on their face and then mumble something about not knowing there were ships stationed in New York City.

I smile as we part ways because I know how lucky I am to be assigned here. In fact it's down right humbling to serve as the City's face of the Navy, representing some of the hardest working people in the military. I'm talking about our deck plate enlisted Sailors who are manning 12-hour port and starboard watches in ships' CIC and still find time to get their warfare quals so that they can advance in their rate. Or the brand spanking-new ensign, otherwise known as the "George," who gets stuck with the mid-watch in three section rotation. Or the countless other watches, duties and responsibilities our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen take on everyday -- many of them (Sailors) deployed as boots on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan that people don't even know about much less consider on a semi-regular basis.

Memorial Day is a great reminder of the daily sacrifice these service members make because it is a time when we honor and remember those who have served and gone before us. Perhaps it's fitting that Memorial Day falls toward the end of our week of fun, celebration and festivities. Tomorrow the ships leave for their home port stations in Norfolk and Mayport.

Last call for New York Fleet Week.

If you've been following my Twitter updates you know that I've had the privilege to attend Fleet Week events and talk to the media with 24 Sailors from the pre-commissioning unit USS New York (LPD 21), including the prospective commanding officer, Commander Curt Jones. Commander Jones is a native of New York, having grown up in Binghampton, and is in my opinion a perfect fit for the commissioning CO of the latest warship to be named after this great city and state.

Yesterday I had the honor of accompanying Commander Jones to the 9/11 Tribute Center located near ground zero. Though I've been tweeting from the myriad locations we have traveled to about the City over the past couple of days, as we entered the center my brain was completely stilled with imagery and audio recalling that fateful day on September 11, 2001; tweeting was the furthest thing from my mind.

The mission of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center is to offer visitors to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the September 11th community. Through walking tours, exhibits and programs, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.

This week Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participating in New York Fleet Week are taking tours of the 9/11 Tribute Center. Of those, the Sailors from USS New York pre-commissioning crew took their own personalized tours of the center. With seven and a half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center site in the bow of the ship, for these Sailors the 9/11 Tribute Center visit carried with it an even deeper meaning of duty and sacrifice.

After having spent the past couple of days with them I can tell you that it is humbling to be in the presence of the USS New York commissioning crew. They know that theirs is a special warship, and they are proud to be a part of this exceptional time in the life of the ship. Somehow, by virtue of being assigned to New York City at the time of the commissioning, I, too, am fortunate enough to be a part of this extraordinary experience. On November 7, 2009, from the very pier where USS Iwo Jima now sits, USS New York will be commissioned. I can't help but allow the New York Sailors' enthusiasm to rub off on me. I'm so proud to serve the Navy in New York and I look forward to the fall, when the USS New York Sailors bring their ship to life.

The kick-off to New York Fleet Week '09 is finally here! Whether watching the Navy Band Northeast play on the Today Show; seeing the Commander, Second Fleet, Vice Admiral Melvin Williams throw out the Yankee's first pitch; or celebrating with Joan Jett at the Hard Rock Cafe crew's party, today the fleet is on the street. It's a great day to celebrate the sea services and its rich heritage rooted here in New York.

So let's 'splice the main brace' and celebrate!

Today, Navy ethics training. Tomorrow, the world. Well, at least the City and all its offerings for what promises to be another successful New York Fleet Week. Over one hundred Fleet Week support team members have descended upon NYC, including active duty, government civilians and reserves. The one training topic that proves critical in ensuring continued Fleet Week success? A lesson in our Navy Ethos.

Now ethics training isn't exactly what I consider the most riveting topic I've had to learn, but I'd be remiss not to mention that it makes me very proud to be part of an organization that, I believe, not only practices but embodies the code of ethics that we are taught. Do I consider myself an ethically-obsessed military member, constantly thinking and rethinking my every action as if the weight of the world rested upon my own moral, mortal judgement (sorry, OJAG)? Hardly. But I think it's the common thread that binds every Sailor to what we hold near and dear to our hearts. And that's the privilege to serve our nation as a member of the United States Navy.

Today was an entire day's worth of New York Fleet Week '09 final planning for all those last-minute details that needed to be addressed. I suspect with all the fun that's to be had celebrating our sea services as our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen take to the City on liberty call, many people are left completely unaware of all the dedicated people, parts and processes that go into an event on the scale of Fleet Week New York. Of course, if we did our jobs correctly, that's exactly the effect we'll achieve. Over six months' worth of coordination and meetings go into the planning; an enormous community and multi-service event, all the dizzying details are enough make any special events coordinator's head spin! With Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard participation, New York Fleet Week is a superb example of our maritime strategy's concept and coordination in action.

Let's hope this year's Fleet Week planning will provide an enjoyable, smooth sailing experience for our service members and New Yorkers alike!