Every request for orders from the sailors under his command was met with “Well, what do you intend to do?” And at first they were unsure. No one had ever asked. But in time, they came prepared. “Captain, I intend to submerge the ship.” Marquet would simply reply, “Very well.” He primed his people to think for themselves and claim the freedom and responsibility to run the ship. In the years that followed, the USS Santa Fe went from worst to first, setting the bar for retention, operations, and promotions.
