United States Secretary of the Navy, Richard Danzig, Speaks to The Commentator

Commentator Exclusive

Recently, Richard Danzig was appointed Secretary of the U.S. Navy. The appointment marks the very first time a member of the Jewish faith has reached the commander level of one of the American Armed Forces divisions. The office is second in rank only to the Secretary of Defense.

Although a number of Jews, from Senators Arlen Specter and Joseph Lieberman to YU graduate Daniel Kurtzer, the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, have in recent years climbed to positions of prominence in American government, Danzig's appointment to a ranking military post is a much less common phenomenon.

At a recent social function, The Commentator caught up with Danzig and spoke with him about his role as a military leader and a Jew in Washington.

Observing that the prestigious appointment was duly noted within the Jewish community, I asked Danzig if he felt that his Judaism had played a significant role in his line of work. He pointed out that the structure of the military community is, in fact, quite similar to the Jewish community. Although some may think that the military's "warrior mentality" is at odds with the Jewish train of thought, Danzig suggested that they share the same qualities of togetherness and camaraderie, values essential both to military and religious strategies.

In addition, Danzig said, the idea of personal values is central to both communities. One of the Armed Forces' mottos, he pointed out, is "On our courage and commitment," a credo which would fit nicely with Jewish ideals. In terms of the role of a government official, Danzig stressed that religion shouldn't be part of anyone's public persona and therefore involvement with both religious life and secular government presents no conflict.

Commenting, "personal religious values shouldn't have any bearing on one's public responsibilities," Danzig pointed out that, practically, the military tries to be conducive to people of all faiths. However, he emphasized that the demanding life of a soldier might not be conducive for all Orthodox Jews. Although the military employs about 1,000 enlisted chaplains, many of them Orthodox Jews, the duties of men in regular ranks might not be practical for Orthodox Jews due to their "emergency" natures. For example, he added, it would be quite difficult, he said to strictly observe the laws of Kashruth and Shabbat on a U.S. Naval vessel. However, Danzig explained, "despite the rough-and-tumble nature of the military, there are other opportunities available in the Armed Forces that are more open to members of all religious creeds."

Danzig himself, despite his high official status, is a civilian, a non-uniformed officer. He began his career in the field of management and, early on, got involved with the management of police departments. His work earned him a position in the Pentagon during Jimmy Carter's administration in the late '70's. During the Republican years Danzig turned toward law, but when the Clinton administration returned a Democrat to the White House, Danzig found himself back at the Pentagon.

It is his own background that Danzig sees as the entrance point for religious Jews with interest in the military, especially administrative interests. Although his position as Secretary of the Navy is rare for a civilian officer, the military offers many jobs for civilians. These positions range from administrators, scientists and doctors, teachers in military universities, to employees of military child care centers. He stressed, in addition, the role of reservists who have limited participation in regular military roles and may be more easily able to maintain their religious observance.

As the evening drew to a close and Danzig prepared to leave, the sense of camaraderie with which he dealt with other Jewish leaders from all Jewish streams left the sense that he is a spokesperson for Jewish people generally in Washington.