The Navy has reaffirmed its opposition to giving promotional boards access to photographs of applicants after comments from Vice Adm. John Nowell Jr., the chief of naval personnel, triggered speculation that changes were in the works.
Then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper decided to mandate the Department of Defense no longer use the photographs in an attempt to eliminate “discrimination, prejudice, and bias in all ranks” last summer, though Nowell said last month that the Navy “should consider reinstating photos in selection boards.”
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“In July 2020, then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper issued a memo instructing the Department of Defense to remove photographs from consideration by promotional boards and selections processes and develop additional guidance, as applicable, that emphasizes retaining qualified and diverse talent,” Lt. Travis Callaghan, a Navy spokesman told the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
“This was then followed by a change in the FY21 NDAA to 10 USC 615 prohibiting the use of pictures in boards,” he added. “The Navy remains committed to complying with the law and policy on this matter.”
Nowell explained that the diversity actually “went down with photos removed” during the annual Sea Air Space conference on Aug. 3, according to Military.com, though the Navy hasn’t released that data. “We’re very clear with our language to boards that we want them to consider diversity across all areas. I think having a clear picture just makes it easier.”
A group of Republican lawmakers wrote to Nowell on Aug. 24 asking for clarification regarding the Navy’s stance on the policy.
“We are concerned that the back and forth on this issue may be causing officers in the ranks to question whether the Navy’s true goal aspires to meritocratic values or whether these values may be juxtaposed against the political vicissitudes of the day,” the Republicans wrote. “Our understanding is that promotion selection boards are supposed to be devoid of bias and by their very nature, represent meritocratic values that ensure the most qualified officers are selected to lead our Navy.”
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Rep. Mike Gallagher, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Personnel, was one of the six signers of the letter, and he told the Washington Examiner, “Officers should be promoted based on their talents — nothing else. Nowell’s comments earlier this year seem to suggest he believes otherwise. He needs to immediately clarify these comments and explain whether he believes an officer’s looks matter just as much as their ability to complete the mission at hand.”
