Baumgartner, Luke A

28APR15
AMS 202-001: MAJ Morse
Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, USN
Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy was a Navy SEAL Officer in the United States Navy
who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Redwings, in the
War in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Murphy was a transformational leader who lived the Army values
day in and day out. Lieutenant Murphy also displayed tremendous character, presence, intellect,
and leadership. In this paper, I will be providing a basic biography on Lieutenant Murphys life,
the operation that defined him as a leader, analyzing his leadership style and attributes, as well
as expounding on the legacy that he has left behind.
United States Navy SEAL Officer Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy was born on May 7,
1976, in Smithtown, New York, to Maureen and Daniel Murphy. Michael was known simply as
Murph to his close friends. In 1994, Murphy graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School
and enrolled in The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). In 1998, he graduated with a
pair of Bachelor of Arts degrees from Penn State -- in political science and psychology
(navy.mil). Upon graduating from Penn State, Murphy was accepted into several law schools.
However, he had elected to attend SEAL mentoring sessions at the United States Merchant
Marine Academy. In September of 2000, Murphy accepted an appointment to the United States
Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign that December. In January
2001, he began BUD/s and graduated with Class 236 and was assigned to SEAL Delivery
Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1) out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In October 2002, Murphy was

deployed to Jordan as a liaison officer in Exercise Early Victor and later to Qatar in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Operation Red Wings would be the mission that defined Lieutenant Murphy as a leader,
a sailor, and would also be the mission that ultimately took his life defending his country against
the Taliban. Operation Red Wings was a counter-insurgency mission conducted in the Kunar
Province, Afghanistan. The mission was led by Murphy and included three other Navy SEALs,
Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and Marcus Luttrell, who would ultimately be the only survivor.
The four-man reconnaissance team was on a mission to either capture or kill a top Taliban
leader, Ahmad Shah. They were inserted into a remote area of Asadabad in Kunar Province,
near the Pakistani border. While conducting reconnaissance, the team was discovered by local
goat herders, who then alerted the local Taliban fighters of their position. Shortly thereafter, the
team was attacked with heavy small-arms fire and RPGs. While in the middle of heavy fighting,
Murphy repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire and left his cover in order to gain a clear
signal and communicate with headquarters. Murphy radioed for help from a QRF, but the MH-47
Chinook they were traveling in was shot down by an RPG, killing all 16 personnel aboard; eight
Navy SEALs and eight members from the 160th SOAR. Murphy continued to return to his
fighting position until he died from his wounds on June 28, 2005.
When looking at Lieutenant Murphys leadership style, it is clear that he displays the
traits of a transformational leader. Transformational leaders value diverse backgrounds, which
leads to individualized consideration, and inspiring their subordinates through motivation.

Murphy was able to take the backgrounds of the sailors under his command and apply it to the
leadership style that he displayed to each one of them.
If we are to further analyze Murphys leadership style, we can compare it to the Army
Leadership Requirements Model in ADRP 6-22. Murphy displayed the following attributes:
character, presence, intellect, and leads. Murphy showed character through living the Army
values everyday, despite being in a different branch. He ultimately lived up to the values of
selfless service and personal courage on the day that he lost his life in combat. Murphy showed
presence by being confident in his abilities as a leader and in the qualities of those he was in
charge of, and by also being one of the most physically fit SEALs in his unit. He also showed
intellect through his quick thinking (especially during Operation Red Wings when he left his
position of cover in order to get a clear signal to communicate with headquarters), and
expertise, by being knowledgeable in all areas of combat and the enemy he and his men were
up against. Lastly, Murphy led. He was able to build a huge amount of trust between him and the
other SEALs he fought with, as he was close friends with them on and off the battlefield. Murphy
also led by example, never asking others to do something that he himself would not do. These
are the attributes that made Murphy a great leader.
Although Murphy left behind a soon-to-be wife, he also left behind a legacy that
stretches far beyond just his military decorations and awards. For his brave actions during
Operation Red Wings, Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in
the United States. There is also a park in his hometown of Smithtown, New York, named after
him, as well as a US Navy Guided Missile Destroyer, the USS Michael Murphy. Also, Murphy

was known as being someone who was highly dedicated to his personal fitness. CrossFit
headquarters publishes what are known as Hero WODs in honor of fallen servicemen and
women, policemen, firemen, and first responders. Murphys favorite workout was known to him
and his men as Body Armor, which was later named Murph. It is a one mile run, 100 pull-ups,
200 push-ups, and 300 air squats, followed by another one mile run, all for time.
In closing, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was a heroic leader who lived the Army values
every day of his life and paid the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation and his legacy and
leadership still resonate throughout all branches of the military as an example of what a good
military leader should be.

Works Cited
Lt. Michael P. Murphy USN. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2015, from navy.mil website:
http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/bio.html
U.S. Army. Army Leadership. Department of the Army. ADRP 6-22. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 2012.