Source: United States Navy
Thank you Admiral Chatfield! I appreciate your continued leadership and what an honor it was to join you at the Naval War College commencement last month.
I was particularly proud to see so many women among the graduating class, for these are the leaders who will chart the future of our Navy, our Nation and our world.
Chaplain Malana, thank you and your entire team at the Navy’s Office of Women’s Policy, for all you do for our entire Department.
I also thank the Sea Services Leadership Association for co-hosting today’s event, and for inviting me to speak at a gathering that could not be more relevant or timely.
Just one look at both the number and quality of leaders we have in this audience serves as yet another testament to the undeniable and growing impact women are making in the sea services.
Most of all, I want to thank all of the great Sailors and Marines here today.
Each of you is part of the remarkable chain of women to don the cloth of our nation.
Next month, our Country will observe Women’s Equality Day, marking the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment.
But we also remember that women were serving in uniform long before the right to vote was achieved – from the shipboard nurses of the Civil War, to the first female Marines in World War I.
We have come a long way in the century that followed, growing stronger every time the opportunity to serve was expanded.
So it is right to honor and learn from the past, but we must also stay committed to keep this momentum going.
Each of you is part of that greater march towards progress and you play a critical role in furthering the three enduring priorities of the Department of the Navy strategy to:
First, maintain and strengthen our maritime dominance so that we can deter potential adversaries, and fight and win decisively.
Second, empower our Sailors and Marines by fostering a culture of warfighting excellence, founded on strong leadership, dignity, and respect.
And third, enhance our strategic partnerships, across the Joint Force, industry, academia, and nations around the globe.
Right here in this room, the conversations you have and connections you make with each other are advancing those three priorities.
In commands across the fleet and on the front lines of our force, women are strengthening our maritime dominance through the Navy’s Navigation Plan and the Marine Corps Force Design 2030.
And I say this not just as your Secretary but as someone who has served with and worn the uniform alongside some extraordinary women in uniform.
As commanding officer, I was privileged to bring USS BULKELEY to life with some exceptional female shipmates as part of our commissioning crew, including now-CAPT Andrea Slough – XO of USS MAKIN ISLAND, who back then was my FCO who fired our first missile from the BULKELEY.
And now, women are commanding warships, strike groups and numbered fleets across the fleet, and I am proud that we have been joined by VADM Lisa Franchetti who has excelled in all three positions.
Meanwhile, women in the Marine Corps are leading amphibious and aviation units, bringing to life the Commandant’s vision of Force Design 2030.
And I’d be remiss if I did not recognize that one of our sister sea services also made history when Admiral Linda Fagan assumed duties as Commandant of the Coast Guard this June.
You and your shipmates – men and women – provide the security and peace that millions of American families count on as they gather this summer.
And as you move up through the ranks and help mentor and build the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps leaders, you are ensuring the security of many more seasons to come.
Betty and I appreciate the sacrifices you make for our Nation.
As your Secretary of the Navy, I am committed to do everything I can to ensure that every Sailor and Marine is provided the environment and support for to thrive in his or her profession.
Because I believe, more strongly than ever, that joining and staying in the Navy and Marine Corps is a great choice for any young person in this country.
And I believe that the choice to remain in service offers even greater opportunities as you move up the ranks and take on greater levels of responsibility.
But I also realize that this choice to stay in service is a deeply personal one, and that it is incumbent upon our department to ensure that you know you and your service are valued.
Quite simply, we could not do what we do in the Navy and Marine Corps without the grit, determination and adaptability of our female teammates.
So I feel a strong personal responsibility to ensure that our Department is responsive to your ideas, your concerns, and your career needs.
I know that deployments and PCS moves can add to the already demanding burden of service.
I know that for dual service and single parent families those burdens can be especially acute.
And a life of service presents many challenges to single service members as well.
That’s why we are investing in the My Navy HR program and the Marine Corps Talent Management initiative, to help you navigate and build your career.
We are investing in mentoring programs to improve leader development, engagement and advocacy across the Department.
We are working hard to improve quality of life issues like housing, childcare, uniforms and grooming.
We are investing in training and education, so you can build your career while serving.
These opportunities range from vocational training and certifications, to college credits and advanced degrees, at little to no cost to you while you earn full pay and benefits.
In May, I spoke at the United States Naval Academy graduation ceremony where over 300 women took the oath and commissioned as Ensigns and 2nd Lts.
They followed in the footsteps of the trailblazing women of the class of 1980, who trained me as Firsties when I entered the academy.
My staff and my family would both tell you that my training continues!
I want to ensure that all who take that sacred oath today have the opportunity to keep learning and excelling throughout their careers, with the finest education opportunities we can provide.
For our Navy and Marine Corps, education is not just about attracting and retaining quality applicants.
It is about creating a force of strategic thinkers and emotionally-intelligent leaders, capable of winning in combat, and fostering work environments rooted in collaboration, integrity, and respect.
Respect is at the core of our mission.
It is the heart of leadership.
And it is the firm expectation of all who serve.
As I have emphasized whenever I speak with Sailors or Marines, we all share a responsibility for building a culture of warfighting excellence, founded on leadership, dignity, and respect.
As part of that mission, we must all speak up, speak out, and take action to eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Disrespectful remarks, jokes, and actions contribute to an environment that increases the risk of assault, weakens our force, and puts our Nation at risk.
While I am deeply proud of the sea services, our work here is not done.
For we still occasionally have a culture where it’s possible for a talented aviator to be assigned a degrading call sign when they are in a ready room.
It is up to us to call out and correct these incidents when they occur. I can promise you that if and when I find out about any such incidents – immediate action is taken.
Over time, things like that risk us losing skilled and experienced leaders and denying the American people years of expertise and service.
It must be clear, at every level of command, that failure to take action in the face of destructive behaviors betrays our oath, betrays our fellow warriors, and betrays our country.
And it must be clear, throughout our fleet and force, that all who serve must have an equal opportunity to succeed and advance and feel valued.
General Berger, Admiral Gilday and I are determined to build a leadership cadre that truly represents our nation.
Our office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has developed an “underrepresentation framework” to ensure we examine barriers to employment and advancement.
I ask for your committed involvement in this effort as well. Reach back, and help us build that next generation of women in leadership.
To meet the demands of our complex security environment, we must recruit, educate, retain, mentor, and promote the best of all of America.
I know that building a culture of warfighting excellence starts right here. So let me be clear.
I want to retain your service.
I want you to thrive in service.
And I want you to lead our services into the future.
More than ever, we depend on patriotic and highly skilled women like you for the power and reach of our integrated Naval Force.
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from each other today, and actively build on the connections and networks you are creating today.
Maintain those lines of communication as you return to the fleet and the force.
Communication is at the heart of my third strategic goal, which is enhancing our partnerships.
Think about the message it sends to our Allies and Partners that the largest warship in the current RIMPAC exercise, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, is commanded by a woman.
Consider what it means to the business community to see female veterans assume high ranking positions within our industrial partners.
Think about what it meant to our country to see so many women in our medical professions partnering with communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
And imagine the impact it has on a kid who visits USS CONSTITUTION, to see our Nation’s flagship under a female Commanding Officer, Billie Farrell, the first in its long history.
Every first is a great achievement. But every first is also a poignant reminder of the many dreams deferred in our long Navy and Marine Corps history.
I want to get to the place where those firsts are commonplace.
We are not there yet. But you are leading us there, through the honor, courage, and commitment you bring to your service.
Let me know where I can clear the lanes for you. Where we fall short, let me know how we can improve.
In the end, all leadership comes down to trust. You trust your commanders and civilian leadership to put you in the best position to succeed.
And I trust that you put our naval force and our Nation first and make us better every day.
Thank you for the leadership, hard work and service you’ve demonstrated throughout your careers.
And thank you for your continued service today.
I am proud to serve at your side. Thank you.