“Navy Bob” sails back home with new book | News, Sports, Jobs

Robert Roncska will be in the northern county early next month.

“Navy Bob” sails home with a new book in tow.

Robert Roncska, originally from Dunkirk, commanded a nuclear submarine during his time in the Navy and carried the codes for nuclear weapons for President George W. Bush. His new mission, which he describes in his book, “Behind the Sea,” he calls “Lead with love.”

Roncska will be in Dunkirk and Fredonia from August 7-9. On August 7, there will be a book signing at the Dunkirk Library from 5-7 p.m. On Thursday, August 8, Roncska will be signing at the Shorewood Country Club at 5:30 p.m. and hosting a social at Demetri’s at 8 p.m. On August 9, he will go to the Opera House in Fredonia from 6-8 p.m. where he will also be signing.

The homecoming is a grand finale of his book tour, which will visit naval bases with submarine presence in Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut and Washington, DC.

“The title is ‘Beyond the Sea’ because I worked in healthcare for five years” after leaving the Navy, Roncska said in a recent phone interview.

The book uses examples from Roncska’s career in chronological order to show how leadership with care and consideration for subordinates produces better results than more distant and brutal methods. He said his local upbringing laid the foundation for his philosophy.

“I have travelled around the world and seen so many different countries,” he said. “Without a doubt, Dunkirk-Fredonia is home to some of the greatest people that have ever lived. They are so caring. That’s what I grew up with.”

Roncska told the story of what he called “toxic leader.” Ronscka served under him on a naval ship. Under his command, the warship occasionally ran into buoys.

Navy Bob was about to leave the Navy, but then he met a captain “who taught me how to lead with love, that this is also possible in the workplace. He was not the best tactician or technician. He cared about people.”

Roncska eventually took over the USS Texas. “There were so many problems that it was like a game of whack-a-mole,” where every time something got done, more problems would arise. “It’s not safe in the nuclear Navy. It’s the culture that caused this.”

Because morale on board was miserable, the Texas almost failed an inspection. “I got to the bottom of the root cause,” said Roncska. “The crew didn’t care about the ship because the ship didn’t care about them.”

After his “Lead with love” leadership style, the Texas became the highest ranking ship in its squadron. “I am convinced that this leadership style was the cause,” said Roncska.

With his book he wants to help make his successful style known. “I want to make this world a better place by teaching leaders to lead with love. Many people have been taught to lead with fear. That doesn’t work.”

Roncska ended the conversation by emphasizing once again how much he feels attracted to Dunkirk-Fredonia (his wife is from Fredonia).

“You are the best people I have ever lived with and met,” he said. “I wanted to give something back and appreciate the culture there.”