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Forney received the Legion of Merit (Gold Star in lieu of Third Award), which noted "(i)n command of the largest Fleet school in the Navy, Captain Forney's superb leadership to a staff of more than four hundred and management of forty-three trainers worth in excess of eight hundred million dollars ensured exceptional training was provided to more than three thousand officer and enlisted pipeline students per year.
Focusing on training as the foundation of operational excellence, he instituted fundamental changes to initial accession training, dramatically improving the technical and professional capabilities of officers and enlisted Sailors delivered to the Fleet."
Forney, whose next assignment is Professor of Naval Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in Blacksburg, Va., told an audience of staff, shipmates, family and friends that "As a submarine officer, your exposure to Submarine School is limited to your time in the Basic and Advanced (Officer training) courses and visits to the Attack and Navigation trainers."
"It's not until you arrive on staff that you understand the full scope of the undertaking at the school. At any one time, there are between 1,200 and 1,500 students in residence. Most of them are very young enlisted Sailors - they average 19-years-old.
"They arrive here excited to be in the Navy and excited to be entering the world of submarines and submariners. They really have no idea what they've gotten themselves into, but they are all hoping it is something great...The leadership challenge is formidable...Our goal is for every one of these young men to walk out of Submarine School still excited to be in the Navy, still excited to be in submarines and now confident that he can report aboard his first ship and contribute to the team immediately."
Capt. Kenneth Swan, Commanding Officer, Submarine Learning Center and the ceremony's guest speaker, after offering an anecdote about Saturdays, chain saws and safety that brought smiles to the audience's faces, observed about Forney, "(y)our unselfish, personal engagement, active participation, encouragement and wisdom were instrumental in the many successful personal and professional accomplishments by the Officers, Chiefs and Sailors that ARE the Heart and Soul of the Submarine Force....You have touched the Submarine Force and your finger prints remain as a testament to your wisdom and leadership."
In brief remarks as he assumed command, McHale congratulated his predecessor.
"Your significant accomplishments ensured the over 1,200 students at Naval Submarine School on any given day received the best and most relevant training available....I am honored to have this opportunity to serve as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine School."
