Frameworks for dissent and principled resignation in the US military: A primer
Steven Katz
A few weeks ago, the acting secretary of the Navy (A-SecNav) fired the commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Capt. Brett Crozier, for circumventing his chain-of-command in sounding the alarm to senior civilian leadership on serious COVID-19 health and safety concerns on his ship. Ignoring the A-SecNav’s subsequent statements and eventual resignation, this relief incident has led to intense discussion on the propriety of the captain’s actions.
The Crozier affair should prompt senior military officers to contemplate situations in which ethics may demand a leader to express dissent, to resign, or even to disobey orders. This primer seeks to prompt that dialogue by outlining three ethical frameworks, which analyze such unconventional conduct.
https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2020/04/21/frameworks-for-dissent-and-principled-resignation-in-the-us-military-a-primer/
