John H. Dalton was sworn in as the 70th secretary of the Navy on Saturday and said he welcomes the challenge of helping lead his branch of the military into a post-Cold War world.
"I have often been asked why I would want the job as secretary of the Navy in this most controversial time . . . what with investigations, personnel policy changes, down-sizing, closing bases and other contentious issues," Dalton said at his swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy."President Clinton has tasked me with dealing with these tough issues, and I welcome the tough decisions that have to be made," he said. "I know that other controversies will emerge, but the true values of the naval service will remain."
Dalton also said Clinton is committed to maintaining a U.S. military that is the strongest in the world.
"The future as always remains uncertain, and there are challenges that face us both here and abroad," he said. "The need for a strong Navy and Marine Corps has remained, and the American people continue to look to the sea services to deter conflict."
Dalton, 51, takes over during a time of particular controversy for the Navy.
Numerous Navy bases, as well as other installations around the country, are slated for closure as military operations adapt to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
Also, investigations continue in the Tailhook sex scandal, in which female officers and other women were grouped during a convention of Navy aviators in Las Vegas.
And last week, a bipartisan group of senators asked Defense Secretary Les Aspin to launch an investigation into the deaths of 50 sailors whose families question the Navy's findings that they committed suicide.