Were NAVSEC Modly's comments to the crew of the USS Roosevelt appropriate? If not, what actions should be taken?

He was HIGHLY inappropriate... For a civilian political appointee to address a crowd of service members and shit talk a Commissioned Officer? It's low class at best.

The irony is not lost upon me. First, he fires the Captain because the letter went outside "normal, secure" channels, and then Modly makes comments that are derogative and done outside "normal, secure" channels, and now his head is being asked for.

No, they were not. Personally, I think Captain Crozier is the sort of officer who would likely fly his Hornet on one engine into the Valley of Death to drop ordnance and save lives... he's a good man. I still think what he did was technically wrong and worthy of censure, if not the firing he received. There are things you do, and things you don't do... and ways to fall on one's sword that minimize the collateral damage. What the acting SECNAV did after the fact may have been worse, however... much worse. The Sailors on the TR love Crozier for sticking his neck out for them... they should. There's not amount of "tough talk" that's likely to change that... nor should "Big Navy" try. Get the new Skipper on board, let him take the reigns, move on. Oh, and stand and deliver on the assistance that was indicated to be in the works at the time of the original incident. Do that, and the SECNAV "proves" the justification for Crozier's dismissal; do it not... and all you prove is that he may have had a point.