Haverford School, Head John Nagl, To Resign
He will complete the 2020-2021 school year.
On Monday (Augusts 24), John Nagl and Maurice Glavin,
Chair of The Haverford School Board of Trustees, jointly
announced that the 2020-2021 school year would be Nagl’s last, as Headmaster of The Haverford School. Nagl has become a lightning rod of controversy since August 11, when an open letter that he co-authored (with retired U.S. Army Colonel Paul Yingling) appeared in Defenseone.com.
Addressed to General Mark A. Milley, Chariman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the letter contained a stinging rebuke of Donald Trump’s presidency (The president of the United States is actively subverting our electoral system, threatening to remain in office in defiance of our Constitution). It suggested that a Trump loss on Election Day could result in a less than smooth transition of power; and that it might be necessary for Milley “to give unambiguous orders directing U.S. military forces to support the Constitutional transfer of power.”
On August 16, Nagl sent a letter to the Haverford Community in which he apologized for expressing his political opinions “openly in a way that reflected on The Haverford School.”
Neither of this week’s letters to the Haverford Community from Glavin and Nagl mentioned the controversial nature of Nagl’s letter in Defenseone.com. However, this website has received an unusually large number of comments about Nagl. Although some of those comments were supportive, the majority were highly critical of Nagl and called for his removal.
Click here and scroll to bottom to see comments.
I served alongside John Nagl in the most hostile place in the world at that time. Make no mistake, John Nagl is a great American. Many Americans and Iraqis alike are still alive today because of John’s leadership. Regarding his letter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff…… far be it from me to speak to the right or wrong doing of his opinions, but, he has actually fought for the right to freely speak his mind. Politics aside, one could only hope to have an leader even half as good as John, and I could not have been luckier to have John Nagl on “our” side in combat.
Charlie Mike sir!
Dr. Nagl did not give up his citizenship or moral responsibility when he became head of Haverford School. Those who continue to cry foul whenever the actions of this president are questioned are supporting the end of constitutional law and all that our ancestors fought for and believed in.
All this is hearsay. “What if…?” Your ignorance if prediction is preposterous. If you believe President Trump would do this then all of what they say about Biden’s cognitive impairments are true. Your insanity along with these two bozos reeks of stupidity and insecurity.
Dear Ms. Dann, you are confusing constitutional law, military law and the what vs. how we fought for — the Haverford School is a private, civilian institution which is one thing, but what’s missing from your understanding is that Mr. Nagl is also a “Retired” Lieutenant Colonel and as such he is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and specifically Article 88 (Contempt toward officials) and I would also add Conduct Unbecoming, both of which is clearly in breach. If he had chosen to “Resign” his Commission he could say anything he wants.. I’d encourage you to read the UCMJ and to seriously contemplate the importance of “military discipline” and ultimately “civilian control of the military” . The Haverford School did the right thing and is within its rights (at-will employment provision), and Mr. Nagl should immediately do the right thing to Resign his Commission if he feels so strongly, and/or the US Army Judge Advocate Corps should do theirs. If he doesn’t or they don’t, then you should be very very worried about the constitution, because it’s a slippery slope and you can’t control and may not like the direction.
That politically charged opinion piece riddled with historical errors and dubious fantasies sealed the outcome. There is no room at schools for the leadership to be promulgating political views. Period. Schools are meant to foster independent critical thinking. Diversity of thought is to be encouraged not stifled.
Maybe you should worry more about your grammatical errors. Dr. Nagl is a wonderful man that fought for our freedom!