Zimble’s Rubber Chicken: An Overlooked Symbol in a Navy Surgeon General’s Portrait
BLUF – The article recounts how Vice Adm. James Zimble, the 30th Navy Surgeon General, famously kept a rubber chicken in his desk and used it during meetings to defuse egos, encourage humility, and remind leaders not to take themselves too seriously—a tradition preserved by including the chicken in his official portrait at BUMED. For Navy Medicine, the story illustrates how leadership culture extends beyond policy and strategy, highlighting Zimble’s belief that humility, approachability, and humor are essential traits for building cohesive teams and leading a high-performing medical organization.