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Leaders stress importance of ethics
2/20/2008 12:14 AM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By ROB NOVIT

Senior writer

Ethics helps people steer a course and provides stability in all they do in life, Vice Adm. Charles L. Munns (retired) said at an Ethics Forum held at Aiken Technical College on Tuesday.

Serving as keynote speaker for the event, Munns is the president of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions - the consortium of three companies that recently won Department of Energy approval to take over management of the Savannah River Site. Current manager URS Washington Division has formally protested the DOE action.

The ethics forum is the third conducted by its sponsors every other year, said Dr. Susan Winsor, president of Aiken Technical College, one of the event's co-sponsors, along with the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce and the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. The four Rotary clubs in Aiken County also coordinated the forum.

The topic of ethics is older than Aristotle, Winsor said. Ethical questions are often complex, and on the news every day are situations in which ethical standards have been ignored by people and organizations.

"Aiken is blessed to have so many entities devoted to improving quality of life," Winsor said. "That is built on our ability to collaborate and partner in this community. I applaud the Rotary clubs that have continued to hold this dialogue. It is the role of us as individuals to uphold ethical standards."

Other presenters and panel participants included new Aiken County school Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt, USC Aiken business professors Dr. Mike Ritchie and Dr. Mick Fekula, and Thomas O'Neil, FBI chief division counsel.

A 34-year Navy career gave Munns the opportunity to travel around the world. He has come to believe in the expression that life is a journey, not a destination.

"It really is the journey about our experiences and how we did those things," he said. "It's not so much about the outcome but how you deal with successes and mistakes along the way."

Ethics also provides the foundation for the rules of individual success and also the trust that allows a team to perform and achieve, Munns said.

The three companies that make up Savannah River Nuclear Solutions -- Fluor, Honeywell and Northrop Grumman -- will bring that approach to the management of SRS, he said.

"We will bring their leadership here," Munns said. "We'll connect with the workforce at the site and continue with the incredible record there. Fifty years is a remarkable journey, and we pledge another 50 years and going forward. This is a tremendous opportunity before us."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.





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