Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee graduated from the Na- val Academy in 1951, served on eight submarines, com- manding USS X-1 and USS DACE (SSN 607). He served as Commander, Submarine Group EIGHT; Superinten- dent of the US Naval Academy; Commander, Third Fleet; Director Naval Warfare, Office of CNO; and, in 1982, he relieved Admiral Rickover as Director Naval Reactors. He retired from the Navy in 1988. Admiral McKee died December 30, 2013.
Extract from Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee, USN, Oral History, Naval Historical Foundation, 2000.
I had been told I would make three patrols (as XO on SAM HOUSTON following an XO tour on NAUTILUS). I was getting ready to go on the third one when the officer who had been Bill Behrens’ relief on SKIPJACK became the detailer. He called me down to Washington and said, “You’re going to command after this patrol.” I asked for an ice capable SSN that had recently completed a refueling overhaul. I got orders to SEADRAGON before we sailed on patrol. I left feeling pretty
good about everything.
However, about ten days from port, on the way home, I re- ceived a familygram from Betty Ann. It said, “Your orders (to command) are cancelled. You will relieve Dan Summitt in Naval Reactors.” That would delay my command tour for two more years. It was almost a guarantee of being the last guy in my class to go to command. I didn’t mind going to the job, but the timing was unfortunate. Jim Watkins (later CNO) had something to do with those orders. He was just leaving the senior line officer slot in the NR staff. I would be number two of three line officers there.
When I returned, I asked the detailer who I would have to see to get the orders changed. He suggested that I talk to Admiral Rickover. I decided to go see him. By this time my old skipper, Bill Behrens, was a Captain on shore duty in Washington. Betty Ann and I went down there, spending the first night with them when we arrived. After supper, Bill got me aside and asked what I was doing in Washington. “What’s on your mind?” – he asked. I told him I was going to talk to Admiral Rickover about getting my orders changed. He thought about that for a moment, then smiled and said, “Why don’t you just shut up and carry out your orders? You’ll be a better commanding officer. You’ll have a better ship; and your operational opportunities will be livelier when you come out of your shore duty tour in Naval Reactors.”
I went back to New London and carried out my orders. That was the best advice I ever got, in my whole career. I would have made a fool of myself otherwise. It would not have helped; it would probably have hurt me. I’ve used his words many time since then. “Why don’t you just shut up and carry out your orders?” That’s good advice for almost any situation.
