Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

PACIFIC OCEAN – The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took one more step toward returning to a deployment-ready state, completing its first post planned incremental availability exercise while underway in the Pacific Ocean Sept. 27.

The culmination of the training evolution was a Final Evaluation Problem (FEP), a command assessment tailored to the unique training portfolio and requirements of Nimitz, as well as the ship’s upcoming deployment. Passing the FEP moves Nimitz into the pre-deployment phase, beginning the ship’s preparation for the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and eventual deployment.

“We’ve overcome the first major hurdle of Nimitz’s pre-deployment training and evaluation process,” said Capt. Douglas Graber, Nimitz commanding officer. “It was difficult evolution, but the long hours of training and preparation we put in really paid off. I couldn’t be more proud of our crew and their performance throughout the evaluation process.”

For more information please contact the USS Nimitz Public Affairs Officer at pao@cvn68.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

With decades of public service, Panetta offered frank advice and lessons learned to the more than 1,300 students, faculty and staff gathered in the packed NPS King Hall auditorium.  

“Fundamental to everything our democracy stands for is leadership, and that requires character, integrity, and courage,” said Panetta. “Those qualities are abundant in this room, and being selected to come to NPS further sets you apart. When you graduate, you will carry the additional obligation to do more, take risks, make hard decisions and lead solutions to complex national defense challenges if we’re going to remain the world’s strongest democracy.”

In his opening comments, Panetta stressed the importance of alliances in addressing today’s conflicts, and terrorism instigated and supported by a growing axis of autocracies lead by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

“Our adversaries are actively working to undermine trust,” Panetta remarked. “When our nation is distracted, tyrants will fill the void. The leader’s job is not to point fingers, but to point out falsehoods and elevate reality so we can agree on the problem, then work together to address it.  Across the aisle, or across alliances, that’s how leaders get things done. That’s how we win.”

The “Fireside Chat” was moderated by retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt, a former Special Forces Green Beret and current professor of practice in the school’s Department of Defense Analysis, and an NPS distinguished alumnus. When asked the one thing he would do to improve DOD today, Panetta responded, “There are many things, but the one thing I am most concerned about is speed.”

“We need DOD bureaucracy to move at the speed of technology,” added Panetta. “I’m concerned that we can’t act swiftly enough to ensure our advantage by leveraging and learning about cutting edge technologies. Industry is setting the pace, and much of it is American innovation, but we need to apply innovative thinking to how we acquire, adapt and adopt technology to meet capability needs. I believe NPS and the future Naval Innovation Center at NPS are parts of the solution.”

During his visit, Panetta also spoke with Defense Analysis students in the DA 3900 Command and Leadership course taught by Wendt, where he further encouraged students to apply their operational experience, NPS education and research to solving the most vexing challenges facing DOD.

Before leading the DOD, Panetta served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, director of the Office of Management and Budget, White House Chief of Staff, and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Today, Panetta co-directs with his wife, Sylvia, the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay. The Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit center that seeks to instill in young men and women the virtues and values of public service.

• For more information on the Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture program at NPS, and to watch past lectures, visit https://nps.edu/sgls

Learn more about the NPS Department of Defense Analysis at https://nps.edu/web/da

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), the Honorable Franklin R. Parker visited the University of Alabama on October 12, 2024, in partnership with the Navy Submarine Industrial Base program. As the Department of the Navy’s senior representative at the University’s football game against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, Secretary Parker helped carry the message for the Department’s Maritime Statecraft and educated attendees on the endless career opportunities available – both in and out of uniform.

The state of Alabama’s role in U.S. naval history has been steadfast for centuries, and it continues to be vital to building the Department’s maritime workforce. Thousands of Sailors, Marines, and Civilians hail from the state. The National Call to Maritime Service, an initiative to attract talent to naval careers, and BuildSubmarines.com were co-sponsors for the game, demonstrating a whole-of-government and whole-of-industry partnership necessary to ensure national security.

“In an era where the stakes are incredibly high, we must attract and retain top-tier talent,” Secretary Parker stated. “We are committed to raising awareness of the critical openings available for individuals to leverage their talents, develop their skills, and pursue their passions through a career of public service.” The Department of the Navy offers a unique proposition—a chance to serve on the front lines of freedom and an opportunity to grow personally and professionally.

This visit comes at a crucial time as the Navy expands its submarine industrial base. The Department of Navy recently supported the purchase of an Alabama Shipyard, a strategic move that will boost submarine production capacity and create approximately 3,000 new, sustainable jobs in the region.

“This public and private sector partnership demonstrates our commitment to building vital   capability and capacity required for the submarine industrial base,” Matt Sermon, Executive Director, Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines said. “By investing together with industry in Alabama, we’re not just increasing our ability to build the next generation of submarines but creating a hub for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development. For University of Alabama students, alumni, fans, and stakeholders, this represents an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and contribute to our national security.”

For University of Alabama students, the submarine industrial base offers a specific opportunity to hire and train the next generation of workforce members who are mission critical to building the submarines and systems the Navy needs.

For more information about the National Call to Maritime Service and future military and federal employment opportunities, please visit https://www.secnav.navy.mil/calltomaritimeservice/Pages/default.aspx.

For more information about amazing opportunities in the Submarine Industrial Base and how you can support your Navy without wearing a uniform, please visit https://www.buildsubmarines.com/.

Source: United States Navy

Introduction

Good evening, everyone. It is an honor to join you for this wonderful concert.

Mr. Loeven, thank you for the kind introduction, and for your hard work putting on this astounding weeklong event.

Thank you to the City of San Francisco, the Center for Humanitarian Assistance, and everyone who played a role in putting on this event.

Rear Admiral Meyer, Brigadier General Niebel, Rear Admiral Valdes, and Rear Admiral Rosen, thank you for joining us tonight and for your leadership of our Sailors and Marines throughout the region—and for your support to San Francisco Fleet Week.

And, to the 1st Marine Division Band, who we’re all here to see perform: thank you for sharing your gifts with us and choosing to serve your country.

Value of Service

The true strength of our Navy and Marine Corps is not in ships, submarines, aircraft, AAVs, or other equipment—but indeed our people.

Our service is powered by their spirit and dedication to our nation’s ideals.

Service is not an obligation; it’s a privilege—a chance to be a part of something greater than ourselves and to uphold the values that define us as a nation.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have built and maintained the world’s most capable teams thanks to that spirit of selfless service.

I vividly recall my time in command of USS Bulkeley, itself a testament to that enduring legacy.

In fact, on September 11th, 2001, I was in New York City preparing for the commissioning ceremony of Bulkeley.

I saw upfront the wreckage of the World Trade Center—the destruction and loss of life wrought by cowards with no respect for human life.

But I also witnessed firsthand the spirit of our Nation.

Americans from all walks of life, coming together in a moment of tragedy, resolving to stand up and hold accountable those who did us harm.

Then, as now, every man and woman serving in our Navy, Marine Corps, and all of our armed forces had chosen to serve.

Just as every single warrior we lost throughout our long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan swore an oath to defend our Constitution.

They came from every corner of our nation—representing the rich tapestry of our 330 million citizens and drawing from a global pool of talent.

Because, you see, service to our country and service in the armed forces are not merely jobs; they are fundamental aspects of our democracy, deeply ingrained in the very fabric of our nation—initially forged during the Revolutionary War and renewed in every conflict since.

The United States is built upon millions of individual acts of valor and courage, at home and overseas, throughout our history.

And each of us serving today carries the legacy of those who served before us.

Today, our Sailors, Marines, and Department of the Navy civilians are deployed around the globe, continuing to defend our Nation, as well as our international allies and partners, against the specter of terrorism.

Closing

At the close of World War II, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz wrote in his message to the Pacific Fleet that the fallen Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines were, and I quote:

“A cross section of democracy. They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation—the obligation to insure that their sacrifice will help to make this a better and safer world in which to live.”

That obligation remains, and that work continues.

On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you to all who have fought, served, and sacrificed in the long history of defending freedom around the world.

As I close, I would like to take this moment to speak directly to our Gold Star families who have lost loved ones.

You will forever be in our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers.  We will never forget the sacrifices of your loved ones.

I promise you that we—the nearly one million Marines, Sailors, and Civilians of the Department of the Navy—will continue to honor their legacy, and strive to live up to the examples of selfless service they set forth.

Thank you all here today for taking the time to remember their sacrifice.

May God grant us all fair winds and following seas. Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Introduction/Thank You

Good afternoon, everyone!

It is great to be here with you all here in San Francisco.

Ms. Washington, thank you for your kind introduction, and for your work removing barriers to entry for our small business partners—and for your tireless efforts growing their number.

Mr. Horton, Mr. Manalisay, thank you for helping coordinate this wonderful event and all the work you do on behalf of our small business partners.

Most importantly, I would like to thank you all—the members of our nation’s small businesses—for being here and engaging with us. 

From my vantage point as Secretary of the Navy, a healthy, diverse industrial base made up of companies of all sizes—founded by American entrepreneurs from all walks of life—is absolutely crucial to the success of our Navy and our Marine Corps.

I look forward to meeting with several of you today—to hear your business stories and to learn more about your products and services. 

I encourage all of you to engage with our DON Office of Small Business Programs team to identify ways we can work together.

We in the Department of the Navy are laser-focused on building and maintaining relationships with the small businesses that comprise our defense ecosystem.

DON Small Business Goals FY24/FY25

We are committed to investing in your businesses, procuring the goods and services our Department needs to be successful in our assigned missions.

In Fiscal Year 2024, we spent nearly $21 billion on contracts with small businesses. Breaking that number down further, we spent:

$7.9 billion on contracts with Small Disadvantaged Businesses,

$3 billion on contracts with Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses,

$3 billion on contracts with Women Owned Small Businesses,

and $2 billion on HUBZone prime contracts with small businesses.

The overall, Small Disadvantaged Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and HUBZone amounts are all records for the Department of the Navy.

We didn’t just break records—we exceeded our goals for the percentage of contract dollars awarded to small businesses across all four of the subcategories.

Those are the facts—and we aim to set new records and exceed our goals again in Fiscal Year 2025.

And these contracts didn’t just go to companies that already have existing contracts or relationships with the Navy either.

In Fiscal Year 2024, we had 1,538 new small businesses join our ecosystem nationwide—and they were awarded contracts worth a total of $1.22 billion.

Here in the Bay Area, the Office of Naval Research is working with companies like Atomic—headquartered in Pleasanton—for the design, development, and building of atomic clocks to reduce the size, weight, and power of the clocks while ensuring it still operates at peak performance at sea.

That contract alone is worth $2.89 million.

Or, as another example, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command is working with Arize AI—headquartered in Berkeley—for AI machine learning to develop algorithms for underwater threat detection.

That contract is worth $451 thousand.

While the Fiscal Year 2024 numbers aren’t finalized yet for this area, I can tell you that in Fiscal Year 2023, we partnered with Small Businesses here on contracts worth a total of $526 million.

I don’t know how many of you remember the total nationwide number I mentioned earlier—but contracts awarded to Bay Area small businesses make up a full two percent of Department of the Navy small business contracts.

Closing

There are very few areas of our country as critical to the success of our Navy and Marine Corps—and the health and wellbeing of our Sailors and Marines—than this area.

There are no shortages of engagements on the horizon between our Department and this community.

I look forward to working with our small businesses to provide our Navy and Marine Corps team with the support, systems, and platforms we need to confront the global challenges we face today.

I’m excited to meet with all of you today and learning about what the Department of the Navy can do to remove the barriers to entry for your businesses—and what you can do to help the Department!

Thank you again, and may God bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families.