Rear Admiral Tim Gaullaudet Addresses Oakcrest Students with an an Inspiring Talk on Authentic Leadership

Gallaudet currently serves as a strategic advisor for technology startups, research institutions, and philanthropies. He previously served as Under Secretary of Commerce and Administrator of NOAA and, before that, as the Navy’s chief oceanographer, meteorologist, hydrographer, and navigator. He holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and is a fellow at The Explorer’s Club, among numerous other honors.

Gallaudet began by recalling his early days on an aircraft carrier, where he first discovered that leadership does not require severity or authority to be effective. “He was a warrior with all those medals on his chest—combat over Vietnam—but what I remember most was that he was also a very authentic human being,” he said of one commanding officer. “He talked to me. He asked me how I was every time he saw me on the ship. He was very approachable. I realized you don’t have to be mean or dictatorial to be a leader. You can be genuine and uplifting.”

He also spoke of the devastating experience of losing his home to Hurricane Katrina in 2005—and how his wife’s perseverance in recovering what remained taught him resilience and hope. “Every house was swept to the foundation,” he said. “I was ready to leave, but my wife Karen wanted to stay and see if anything we possessed still remained somewhere.”

Miraculously, they found his grandmother’s wedding china, nearly every piece intact and “stuck in the mud a mile north of our property.” That discovery, he said, became symbolic of a deeper truth: “The best leaders grow through challenges. They never lose hope and never give up when the going gets tough.”

Throughout his years at NOAA, Gallaudet made a point of being present to those he led. “The most important thing I did that day wasn’t the speech—it was the hour before,” he said, describing a satellite launch at Kennedy Space Center. “I shook hands with the volunteers and thanked them for being there.”

Years later, he received an email from one of those volunteers: “Senior leaders never even look at us—but you did.” The admiral took this as a lesson and advised, “Never underestimate the enduring impact of a kind word.”

He closed by encouraging Oakcrest students to see themselves as future leaders and “cheerleaders for their organizations,” inspiring others through example, courage, and service. His forthcoming book, he noted, will expand on these themes—offering stories and lessons that remind us that great leadership begins with authenticity, humility, and a generous heart.