Keeping Up with the Jones

“In August, President Trump directed the Navy to figure out how to return to using steam catapults on aircraft carriers to hurl fighter jets into the air. For U.S. military officials, the order marked the return of an old foe: Bill Jones. Who? Exactly. Trump has described the man as a “catapulter” who served in the Navy for 25 years and loves the smell of steam. Jones convinced Trump the old technology was superior to modern methods of launching jets, the president said. The incident sent Navy leaders searching for Jones to figure out what he said that prompted the president to demand an overhaul of one of the most expensive weapons programs in history. They never found him, according to defense officials. But they’re still dealing with the consequences of the mystery sailor and his chance encounter with the president.” We think you know how weird it is, but we really don’t. The story of Trump’s order to abandon an electromagnetic system to launch planes from carriers using steam catapults serves as an apt metaphor for our current state of fly-by-night decision-making. As with so many decisions, the order came from the top. Then everyone else had to try to piece together the reasons behind the order. You could blame Bill Jones. If you could find him. WSJ (Gift Article): The Mystery of the Unknown Sailor Who Inspired Trump to Shake Up the Navy. (Alt link.)