NavList:

I believe this message from the Congress Critter may show a lack of exact knowledge of the US Navy. Enlisted personnel in the Navy have a Rating -- essentially, their job specialty -- electrician, cook, navigator, etc. US Navy officers, however, are expected to be jacks-of-all-trades -- a navigational officer today, an ships propulsion engineer tomorrow.

In both the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions, there was a clear lack of leadership by the officer on the bridge of the ship. What I suspect that is being suggested here is requiring Navy officers to be trained and certified far more than they are today before being allowed to be in charge of specific departments aboard a ship. There is a clear analogy in the civilian world -- mariners are either deck officers or engineering officers, with corresponding deep knowledge of either a ship's systems or navigation and handling of the ship.