Submarine Close: Leadership Begins and Ends with People from Submarines to Boardrooms

Submarine Close is about building relationships and our fundamental humanity at the center of leadership, performance, and fulfillment.

Submarine Close is a refined version of a timeless truth: When people feel they belong, when they trust those around them, and when they share a clear purpose, they push past limits and achieve the extraordinary. This is more than a leadership philosophy—it is a way of life. It speaks to what we have always needed as humans: to be seen, supported, and empowered to succeed together.

Throughout this book, Captain John McGunnigle and John Ranelli—both veterans of the US Navy’s Submarine Force and accomplished leaders in private business—share the stories and principles that make Submarine Close an unmatched approach to leadership and teamwork. You will see how relationships come before issues, how many conflicts can be resolved before they arise, and how empowering individuals at every level creates an unstoppable force committed to excellence. These principles—tested in the crucible of submarine service—forge bonds stronger than steel, relationships deeper than the ocean, and leadership more resilient than any crisis.

But, these lessons aren’t just for those who serve beneath the waves. They belong to anyone willing to lead with courage, act with integrity, and create a culture of trust and mission-driven performance.

McGunnigle and Ranelli’s hope is that Submarine Close inspires you to build your own relationships—where trust runs deeper than rank, where people matter more than process, and where everyone commits to something greater than themselves.