Category: United States Navy

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.

Source: United States Navy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – October 10, 2024 – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro addressed a gathering of small business leaders during San Francisco Fleet Week, emphasizing the vital role they play in supporting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps today.

The event, titled “Breaking Barriers: A Department of the Navy & SBA Partnership for Small Business Success,” was held at the San Francisco SBA Business Office and brought together representatives from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, regional APEX Accelerators, the National Defense Industrial Association, and other key stakeholders.

Secretary Del Toro highlighted the Department of the Navy’s commitment to small business partnerships, noting that contracts worth $526 million have been awarded to small businesses located within 50 miles of San Francisco. He cited examples of successful collaborations, such as a $2.89 million contract with Atomic, a Pleasanton-based small business, for the development of advanced tactical atomic clocks, and a $451,000 contract with Arize AI, a Berkeley-based small business, for AI machine learning technology to enhance underwater threat detection.

“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,” said Secretary Del Toro.

The Secretary underscored the importance of small businesses in providing critical capabilities and services to support Sailors, Marines, and civilians stationed around the globe. He emphasized the need for innovation and technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and unmanned systems to maintain the Navy’s maritime dominance.

“We—along with our international partners and allies—are facing challenges across the globe,” said the Secretary. “Addressing these threats requires a whole-of-nation commitment to ensuring we have a strong Navy and Marine Corps that can defend our interests on a global scale.”

The Secretary’s remarks were followed by a small business roundtable discussion, where he engaged with entrepreneurs and industry leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration and address the unique needs of small businesses in the defense sector. He encouraged businesses to connect with the Department of the Navy’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for guidance and support in navigating the federal procurement process.

In the evening, Secretary Del Toro attended the “Honor Our Fallen” concert at the Herbst Theater in the San Francisco War Memorial Building. The concert, hosted by The Center for Humanitarian Assistance, featured a performance by the U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band and honored the fallen service men and women of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. A private reception followed to thank attending Gold Star families.

About the U.S. Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs:

The U.S. Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs maximizes opportunities for small businesses in Navy contracts, ensuring they are integrated into the Navy’s acquisition process.

(https://www.secnav.navy.mil/smallbusiness)

Source: United States Navy

VENICE, Italy – Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met Admiral Danish Fleet Rear Adm. Henrik Ryberg for a formal bilateral engagement during the 14th Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice, Italy, today.

During the meeting the leaders expressed their shared commitment to maritime security in the High North, Baltic Sea, Red Sea, and Atlantic region. They discussed future opportunities to strengthen their naval partnership and increase interoperability with an emphasis on anti-submarine warfare.

Franchetti thanked Ryberg for the Royal Danish Navy’s support to recent U.S. Navy submarine and destroyer visits to ports within the Kingdom of Denmark, as well as Royal Danish Navy participation in multilateral exercises, including Steadfast Defender.   

The CNO also discussed her recently-released strategic guidance: the Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, specifically stressing capability development for long-term advantage and the integrated warfighting ecosystem. The leaders noted the importance exchange opportunities to train together in the future.

The U.S. and Denmark are founding members of NATO, and the alliance between the two nations is critical to the security and stability in Europe and across the globe.