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LOS ANGELES — When educators and administrators from California charter schools gather in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 27, they will gain insight on school leadership from an unlikely source -- the U.S. Military.

Considered by many as the bastion of command-and-control leadership, the military is likely the last place some educators might look for advice on how to improve communication and achievement. But that stereotype is broken by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, the keynote speaker at "Leadership for Success: A Charter School Symposium," sponsored by the UCLA School Management Program and the California Charter Schools Association.

When he took command of the USS Benfold, the challenges Abrashoff faced included low morale and high turnover. In response the now-retired commander employed Grassroots Leadership, a philosophy he credits with decreasing turnover to an unprecedented level, tripling promotions, and cutting operating expenses by 25 percent.

Though the circumstances couldn’t be more opposite, the problems faced by naval commanders and school administrators are very similar. Both need to improve performance and morale while dealing with dwindling budget allocations.

Abrashoff, also the author of "It’s Your Ship," is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. at the symposium, which will be held at the LAX Airport Marriott Hotel. Other speakers include Accelerated Charter School Director, Yvonne Chan, State Board of Education member, Johnathan Williams, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the California Charter Schools Association, Caprice Young.