NAVSEA is in its ‘survey era,’ writes top civilian in email loaded with Taylor Swift lyrics

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s love story with Taylor Swift continued this week, when the top civilian at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) urged employees to fill out a survey in an email peppered with the “Anti-Hero” singer’s lyrics.

The message from Chris Miller, who became NAVSEA’s executive director in March, is that when employees see the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, they shouldn’t shake it off, as feedback could be used to improve practices at the command’s shipyards, regional maintenance centers and warfare centers.

“Out of nearly 87,000 NAVSEA teammates, I’ve got a blank space, and I wrote your name — your participation in the survey will change the game,” Miller wrote in the June 26 email, obtained by Breaking Defense. “This survey will take you less time than listening to “All Too Well” (Taylor’s Version) 10 min edition — Thanks for my daughter, I know.”

The annual FEVS survey, which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management, assesses workplace conditions and culture throughout the federal government by asking employees about policies, procedures and leadership at their jobs. In short, it checks in with government personnel to make sure that working at the Defense Department doesn’t feel like working at The Tortured Poets Department.

Miller’s mastermind tactics may have led to a gold rush of engagement, as Miller wrote that NAVSEA’s participation in the survey grew from 12 percent to 27 percent over the past two weeks.

“Your feedback will never go out of style. … My wildest dreams are based on you completing the survey,” he wrote.

Miller’s email isn’t the first time Defense Department personnel exposed their Swiftie credentials.

Earlier this year, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh responded to a conspiracy theory that the Defense Department’s psychological operations unit had considered turning the pop star into an asset, with Singh delivering a denial laced with popular Swift lyrics.

Justin Katz in Washington contributed to this story.