Ombudsman

Welcome Kearsarge Family!  

A command ombudsman is an appointed, official representative of the commanding officer to assist Navy families and act as a liaison between the command and its families. Ombudsman are volunteers who act as a liaison, troubleshooter, resource referral expert, roster coordinator… the list is endless!

A large part of an ombudsman’s role is to disperse information, keep lines of communication open, and be both accessible and approachable for all.

Aside from talking to families, I also work closely with the command’s top leadership, the CO, XO and CMC. I am often called upon to relay urgent messages to both the chain of command or to the families; such as birth announcements, serious illness or death in the family notifications. If you have a situation that arises, I can assist you in notifying the appropriate personnel. Every case is treated individually and in confidence.

While the majority of situations and conversations are confidential, there are some situations I am required to report:

• Suspected or confirmed child abuse/neglect

• Alleged domestic abuse (victims may make a confidential or restricted report to a victim advocate or healthcare provider)

• Suspected/potential homicides, violence or life endangering situations

• Suspected/potential suicide risks

As an ombudsman, we receive specific training to enable us to handle many different types of situations. Depending on the circumstances, I can assist you in solving the problem, let you know who to contact, or make the appropriate person aware of the situation. If I cannot answer your question, I have access to resources that can assist me in helping you.

Additionally, I am a contact that families can use in the case of any emergency situation or natural disaster.

These are just some of the duties an ombudsman handles on a day-to-day basis. Our assistance is available whether the ship is on deployment, underway or while here in Norfolk.

I can be reached by email and phone as well as command social events. Although I relay and disseminate messages and information in almost any form, the main way I disseminate information is through email.  We recognize and value the importance of the Navy spouse and family, and want you to be informed as much as possible.

Please feel free to call on me at any time, with any question.  That is what I’m here for! Again, welcome aboard!  We are happy you are here!

Ombudsman Email: kearsargeombudsman@gmail.com