Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

Remarks

Good afternoon, everyone! It’s wonderful to be with you here on the Gulf Coast of Alabama for today’s keel-laying.

Governor Whitmer, I am truly grateful for you being here with us—not every ship sponsor chooses to attend keel-layings or buy in nearly as much you have already.

Thank you, as well, for your partnership on the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing—or M-3—Initiative we announced in July and for your steadfast devotion to your state and indeed our Nation.

President Kruger, thank you for hosting us today, and for your continued partnership and work for our Navy and our Nation.

As I said back in July, the city of Lansing is a testament and monument to American ingenuity and our Nation’s democratic ideals.

And our EPFs are force multipliers for our combat logistics fleet.

They allow for quicker responses to crises, strengthen our ability to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and provide logistical support for special forces missions.

It will be manned by dedicated crews, comprised of both civilian mariners from the Military Sealift Command and embarked military personnel.

Their expertise and teamwork will ensure it operates at peak efficiency, delivering critical resources and services exactly when and where they’re needed.

And this ship, specifically, highlights the success and importance of our Maritime Statecraft initiative.

Maritime Statecraft—for those of you who haven’t heard me say this before—encompasses a national, whole-of-government effort to restore the comprehensive maritime power of our Nation.

It is not a new concept. It is a call to action responding to national security vulnerabilities in the maritime sector.

Part of that effort—integral to it, in fact—is revitalizing and rebuilding a strong, healthy workforce to support it.

And this ship is named for the capital city of the state where, last month, Governor Whitmer and I announced the M3 initiative.

Michigan has a world-class skilled workforce and is a leader in developing the techno-industrial workforce we need to build and assemble the ships, munitions, parts, and pieces our Navy, Marine Corps, and indeed our Nation need to promote peace around the world.

And Austal, building this ship, represents another key line of effort under our new, national approach to Maritime Statecraft—a foreign shipbuilder establishing a U.S. subsidiary, investing in America, and partnering with us to build American ships.

America has been a leading shipping and shipbuilding nation before—and with partners like Austal and Michigan, I know that we can and will be again.

Again, thank you all for joining us here today and for your continued partnership on behalf of our Navy.

I look forward to seeing USNS Lansing in the fleet in the future.

May God grant our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and indeed all Americans fair winds and following seas.

Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Introduction

Good afternoon, everyone!

It is wonderful to be back here again in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island and a privilege to address this group of future-focused leaders from Salve Regina University and the Naval War College.

I truly appreciate Salve Regina University’s partnership and commitment to providing educational opportunities for our Navy and Marine Corps Officers.

And I am honored to be a part of this important conference centered on an issue which affects us all, and critically affects the national security of our great Nation.

To the faculty and staff of Salve Regina University and the Naval War College, distinguished guests and visitors: welcome, and thank you for joining us today.

World Today

As I am certain you are all well aware, we face existential threats and challenges in every corner of the globe.

Across the Atlantic, Russia is well into the third year of its full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The United States proudly stands by the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom and sovereignty, and defend democracy for all free nations.

To the South of Ukraine, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we are working alongside our NATO allies and Middle East partners to protect innocent, civilian mariners and commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

Immediately following the October 7th attacks in Israel, our Navy and Marine Corps Team—represented by the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group—was on station, the ready integrated force capable of responding to any threat.

Today, our personnel onboard the Wasp ARG are on station in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group are operating in the Middle East.

In addition to our surface presence, USS Georgia (SSGN 729) provides a powerful deterrence message from below the ocean’s waves.

And for the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.

The People’s Republic of China continues to exert its excessive maritime claims through their navy, coast guard, and maritime militia.

From the Line of Actual Control high in the Himalayas, to disputed reefs barely peeking above the waves in the South China Sea, recent actions reveal the PRC’s willingness to execute “gray-zone tactics”—types of assault which are below the threshold of armed attack but beyond normal diplomatic actions.

And the PRC is observing lessons from the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Red Sea.

And so, now, more than ever, it is imperative that we have a climate-ready force able to deter aggression and function decisively in every environment so that, if necessary, we will prevail in conflict.

Three Enduring Priorities

When I entered office as Secretary of the Navy, I laid out Three Enduring Priorities which are the foundation for all we do in the Department of the Navy.

They are:

Strengthening Maritime Dominance,

Building a Culture of Warfighting Excellence, and

Enhancing Strategic Partnerships.

My priority of Strengthening Maritime Dominance centers on ensuring our Sailors and Marines have the best ships, aircraft, and technology available, so that if we are called, we may fight and decisively win our Nation’s wars.

And to maintain our warfighting edge, we cannot rely simply on maintaining our seapower.

External threats continue to mount and change.

To remain the world’s dominant maritime force, the Department of the Navy must rapidly adapt and effectively counter existential threats such as climate change.

Today, climate change is one of the most destabilizing forces of our time, exacerbating national security concerns and posing serious readiness challenges for our Fleet and Force.

There exist numerous tangible examples of the impact of climate change on Navy and Marine Corps operations all over the world.

And the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events has only increased as time has passed. 

At sea and on shore, changing climate and rising sea levels crucially affect the day-to-day life of our Sailors and Marines.

Rising temperatures, too, stress and impact the systems within our buildings and installations, greatly decreasing their overall durability.

Along both our Pacific and Atlantic Coasts, sorties—or, deploying our ships due to threat of extreme weather in port—have become more commonplace.

And extreme weather events caused by climate change have displaced millions of people, creating climate refugees.

Our maritime forces have witnessed a substantial rise in the number and scope of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Simply put, weather impacts normal Navy and Marine Corps operations.

Weather impacts where our ships can sail, where our amphibious craft can land, and when we can conduct flight operations.

However, while our world today faces increasingly unpredictable and devasting weather phenomenon, the Department of the Navy is strengthening our climate resilience and reducing our climate impacts to remain the world’s most powerful maritime force.

Building a Climate-Ready Force

Computer scientist pioneer, mathematician, visionary, and United States Rear Admiral Grace Hopper once said, “The most dangerous phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’”

I implore all of you to assume Admiral Hopper’s mindset when approaching the challenge of climate change.

The Department of the Navy is actively adapting and innovating for the changing landscape of the world and indeed of warfare.

We refuse stagnation and have set out ambitious climate goals through the Department of the Navy Climate Action 2030 strategy, in line with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

To build a climate-ready force, we must meet two Performance Goals.

The first goal is building climate resilience.

We build climate resilience through installation resilience—by ensuring that our forces, systems, and facilities can continue to operate effectively and accomplish our mission in the face of changing climate conditions and worsening climate impacts.

Many of our military bases, including our Navy’s largest, Naval Station Norfolk, are fighting a constant battle against rising sea levels, often flooding after even light rain.

Less than two years ago, we broke ground on the first project to safeguard the Naval Academy from rising sea levels.

And just last week, we held a ribbon-cutting to mark the end of our work on the Farragut Seawall project—the first of many projects to fortify and protect the institution from extreme weather events.

Our goal, as outlined by our Naval Academy Installation Resiliency Plan, is for the institution to remain resilient through the 21st Century and beyond.

We are also developing solutions to climate issues through the Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience, or “CESIR.”

Established earlier this year, CESIR will equip our future Navy and Marine Corps Officers with the knowledge and skills to address complex climate challenges throughout their naval careers.

What’s more, the Department of the Navy is investing in climate resiliency through our facilities, including the renovation of Bancroft Hall—the largest academic dormitory in the United States and home to the entire Brigade of forty-four hundred Midshipmen.

Severe weather events have impacted the longevity of our buildings both inside and out, along with integral systems such as Bancroft Hall’s HVAC.

Given the criticality of our facilities to the mission of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and in developing our future warfighters, we must continue to invest in maintenance and improvement of our infrastructure.

And partnerships outside of the Department of the Navy are crucial to creating climate solutions.

In 2022, the Naval Postgraduate School partnered with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability to address the urgent challenges of climate change, energy security, and sustainability.

Together, NPS and the Doerr School established an Education Partnership Agreement, combining the expertise of two globally recognized hubs of research and innovation to create practical solutions that our Navy and Nation can implement both now and in the future.

And the Department of the Navy is preparing for extreme weather events through integrated tabletop exercises and training events.

Two years ago, the Department of the Navy held our first Climate Action tabletop exercise at Marine Barracks Washington and have since held annual exercises dedicated to drive and share climate best practices.

In June of this year, we conducted Climate Action III with our Caribbean partners in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

This two-day event marked the third iteration in a series of exercises designed to validate our Climate Action 2030 strategy and highlight the value of partnerships to build shared resilience in a critical region.

Our Department, together with the DOD, other federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and our Caribbean partners, shared expertise and solutions to the destabilizing threats which know no borders.

The second goal of our Climate Action strategy is reducing climate threat.

This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and drawing greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, stabilizing ecosystems, and achieving the Nation’s commitment to net-zero emissions.

And throughout the country, the Department of the Navy is leading Department of Defense efforts in reducing climate threats.

In 2022, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany became an electrically “Net Zero” base, crucially becoming the first Department of Defense installation to attain this significant milestone.

Achieving this “Net Zero” breakthrough not only combats climate change by alleviating energy security concerns, but it also improves the base’s overall resilience and saves taxpayer dollars.

We cannot tackle the climate threat alone. The Department of the Navy has facilitated strategic partnerships to tackle energy resilience issues.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar partnered with the city of San Diego to use biogas generated from an on-base landfill as a renewable energy source.

This initiative provided over three megawatts of energy to the installation, reducing reliance on the city’s electric grid by a whopping 45% and reducing overall emissions.

The Department is also leveraging public and private innovation in the climate and energy resilience sectors through NavalX Tech Bridges and business accelerators.

Tech Bridges attract small and medium businesses using innovation challenges, and recent challenges are supporting maritime supply chain and “blue tech” opportunities.

These partnerships between the Department of the Navy and outside business foster innovation and encourage the development of new technologies for climate adaptation.

To remain competitive in today’s age of conflict, we must leverage every advantage available to us—and that especially includes our partners in business and industry.

Closing

The future of climate resilience is here.

We know the future impacts of climate change and it is both within our capabilities and incumbent upon us to act—and we have.

Climate resilience is force resilience. We must look beyond normal operations and approach solutions to climate change through the lens of innovation.

As Admiral Hopper said, “Our young people are the future. We must provide for them.”

To do so, we must continue innovating and modernizing for the threats of today and of tomorrow.

I thank all of you for being here today, to gather, discuss, and create solutions for a more climate resilient future.

Although climate change is already impacting our world in significant ways, I am heartened by the discussions today, the important work all of you have begun, and the innovation that will come from our collaboration.

Thank you for tackling this challenge—we need our best and brightest involved in the search for climate solutions.

May God bless our service men and women and all who support them. Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

The U.S. Pacific Fleet is the world’s largest fleet with approximately 200 ships, 1,500 aircraft, and 150,000 military and civilian personnel operating across 100 million square miles of land, air and sea.

Kilby began the visit discussing Pacific Fleet’s essential role deterring conflict, upholding international law and assuring access to the seas with Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Steve Koehler.

“The United States is a Pacific nation and the Sailors and civilians serving in the Pacific Fleet have an immense responsibility,” said Kilby. “The Chairman of the People’s Republic of China has charged PRC forces to be ready for war by 2027 and it is critical we remain postured to deter, defend and if necessary, defeat provocative actions and unsafe behavior across the Indo-Pacific.”

Kilby also observed how the Navy executes fleet-level warfare and facilitates lower-echelon mission command at Pacific Fleet’s Maritime Operations Center. Pacific Fleet’s MOC has the lead for achieving certified and proficient teams in command and control, information, intelligence, fires, movement and maneuver, protection, and sustainment functions in accordance with the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy 2024.

Kilby also met with Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Sam Paparo, responsible for joint U.S. military operations throughout the DoD’s priority theater, which encompasses more than 380,000 U.S. troops across all services, as well as 38 nations, 14 time zones, more than 50% of the world’s population, seven of the ten world’s largest militaries, and five nations allied with the U.S. through mutual defense treaties.

“I cannot overstate the importance of this theater at this critical time in our nation’s history,” said Kilby. “The partnerships, presence and military readiness these warfighters provide is vital to our global economy, deter aggression, and when necessary, enables us to fight to win.”

The USINDOPACOM AOR shares borders with each of the other five geographic combatant commands and covers the largest amount of the globe.

Additionally, Kilby met with Commander, Navy Region Hawaii / Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett and discussed the Navy’s long-term commitment to closing the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) and protecting the environment, the aquifer and the entire Hawaii. Kilby also toured RHBFSF during his visit.

Navy Region Hawaii is a fleet concentration area for more than 25,000 Sailors and 10,000 civilian employees, including more than 60 commands.

In September, NCTF-RH launched two new communication features to provide the public more options to stay informed on closure activities. One feature is a decommissioning dashboard function on the NCTF-RH mobile app that provides a visual depiction of the RHBFSF tank cleaning progress. The second is the “Let’s Talk Red Hill” podcast series featuring NCTF-RH Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Marc Williams with guest co-hosts and subject matter experts.

Kilby also toured shore infrastructure during his visit, including the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Airfield, West Loch Annex, Wastewater Treatment Plant and unaccompanied housing.

“Shore readiness is Navy readiness,” said Kilby. “The CNO has directed by 2027, we will assess, prioritize and program resources to repair infrastructure directly supporting Navy Task Critical Assets to improve operational readiness in the Pacific.”

Kilby also stressed the importance on stable and predictable funding for continued support of the Navy investments.

“The Navy must continue our momentum of our efforts to invest in our infrastructure and the quality of service of our people,” said Kilby. “Passing legislation on time and avoiding a continued resolution ensures we can continue to support our Nation’s security interests, ready our platforms and weapons, and take care of our Sailors and civilians.”

Kilby also met with Navy leadership to discuss NAVPLAN 2024. This strategic guidance focuses on two strategic ends: readiness for conflict with the PRC by 2027 and enhancing long-term advantage. It aims to achieve these ends through two central ways: implementing seven “Project 33 Targets” and expanding the warfighting ecosystem.

“CNO’s NAVPLAN gives strategic guidance to our Navy regarding where we are now and where we need to go faster to achieve our goals. It’s about thinking, acting and operating differently in a dynamic and changing security environment,” said Kilby. “It’s about raising our baseline level of readiness, putting more players on the field and taking care of our people. We must move forward with purpose and urgency to ensure we remain ready to fight and win should deterrence fail.”

Continuing Kilby’s emphasis on readiness, he spent time at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility talking with leadership, Sailors and civilians assigned to the shipyard about the vital role the shipyard provides for our national security and our fleet.

“CNO has given her guidance – by 2027, we will achieve and sustain an 80 percent combat surge ready posture for ships, submarines, and aircraft,” said Kilby. “The team at PHNSY & IMF are essential to achieving that goal for our ships and submarines. Achieving this is an all-hands efforts and I am incredibly proud of what this shipyard is able to accomplish to keep our Fleet fit to fight.”

Kilby saw the progress made on Dry Dock 5, the first dry dock built in Pearl Harbor since 1943. It’s designed for a projected service life of 150 years and to accommodate the maintenance needs of Virginia-class submarines.

The U.S. Navy operates four public shipyards; PHNSY & IMF is located in the heart of the Pacific and hosts the only U.S.-owned dry docks located outside the continental United States. The upgrades at PHNSY & IMF are in line with upgrades happening across all four public shipyards as part of the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program.

For more information on CNO’s Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy 2024 visit: https://www.navy.mil/Leadership/Chief-of-Naval-Operations/CNO-NAVPLAN-2024/

This was Kilby’s first visit to Hawaii as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Source: United States Navy

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Admiral Caudle. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much for such an incredible welcome. And let me just echo what Admiral Caudle just said. Happy birthday, Navy.

Honorable Kiggans, Mary Dyer, Mayor Alexander Admiral Caudle, lieutenant general Shea, flag general, officers Senior enlisted leaders, distinguished guests, industry partners, allies and partners. All of our active and reserve sailors, Navy civilians, and all of our families that are here. It is truly an honor for me to be here with you tonight and celebrate the Navy’s 249th birthday, 249 years.

As you saw in the video, Warfighting Strength and Readiness. I do want to start tonight by also echoing a few thank yous. So let me say first, thank you to the Sea Cadets who are our color guard our tonight. You are the future of our Navy. Great to see you all. And I also want to say thank you to the Fleet Forces Command Band.

I hope you’re getting a chance to eat now, because we know we’re looking forward to that great concert later on tonight. So how about fleet forces command band.

And also to echo Admiral Caudle to Lou and Mary Ellen and many of our teammates here from the Navy League and all the sponsors, but to the Navy League in particular. Thank you for putting together another spectacular birthday celebration. And thank you for your continued support, commitment and advocacy for our sailors and our Navy families every day, not just on our birthday.

How about a big round of applause for the Navy League and everything you all do, Thank you.

Of course, the most special guests here tonight are all of our sailors, our Marines, our midshipmen, our Navy, civilians, and other teammates. Thank you for answering our nation’s call to service. Every single one of you has a choice in what you decide to do in your life. And you all have chosen to serve something greater than yourself. And I am grateful for each and every one of you.

And to all of our families and our big support networks out there, whether you’re here tonight or you’re at home. I also want to extend my thanks to you. Thank you for your own service and your sacrifice. Those of us in the uniform, we cannot do what we do every day without your encouragement, without your love, and without your incredible support.

So how about a big round of applause for all our families out there tonight.

Ladies and gentlemen, the birth of our navy came nearly a year before our nation’s independence. And on October 13th, 1775. In the early months of the Revolutionary War, our navy embarked on what would eventually become an congressionally mandated mission to man, train, and equip our forces for prompt and sustained combat incident to operations at sea. With a fleet of just two armed vessels and 80 sailors each.

Our Navy moved forward with a strong sense of purpose and urgency, protecting American trade, seizing enemy supplies, and attacking British vessels at sea. Equally inexperienced, but driven by their patriotism, these bold and courageous sailors delivered our nation its very first dose of warfighting advantage. Effectively cutting the redcoats off from their supply lines at sea and challenging the British fleet’s superiority, our newly established Continental Navy found immediate success.

And from that point on, there was no turning back. The great American experiment was truly underway, and with it, the legacy of America’s warfighting Navy over the many centuries, battles, and wars since then, our Navy sailors have continued to deliver warfighting advantage, operating far forward and always ready. As you saw in the video and you’ve lived it yourselves.

To preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war when called. They did it in the Great War when our convoys of battleships, submarines and auxiliaries crossed the U-boat infested waters of the Atlantic, escorting soldiers and supplies to the Western Front, they did it during World War Two, when our massive fleet of aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines delivered decisive combat power in consequential campaigns like the Battle of Midway, Operation Overlord, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

And they did it again in the Cold War, when our team of sailors, civilians and industry partners created the most lethal and combat credible force the world had ever seen. When you fast forward to today. This year has been no different. We have continued that great legacy of our Navy and demonstrated another year of warfighting strength and readiness, as you’ve all seen, and maybe you’ve been there.

Our Navy and Marine Corps team is in high demand in the Middle East under Operation Prosperity Guardian. Our sailors worked tirelessly with over 20 nations to save lives, to defend the rules based international order and ensure the free flow of commerce, knocking down hundreds of missiles and drones at a level of intensity not seen since World War two.

So tonight I’d like to recognize a few groups, and you’ll see there’s a lot of thanks in here and a lot of applause in here, but we can’t say thank you enough. So I want to recognize our sailors and our teammates here tonight. Both those who deployed all around the world this year, as well as those who got them ready for that deployment and supported them from here ashore.

So there were many commands that deployed. I’ll just name a few. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carrier Air Wing three and its nine squadrons, the Philippine Sea. You can clap if you’re from there. The Destroyer Squadron 22, USS Gravely Mason, Laboon, Carney, the Florida, military Sealift Command, the supply of the Kanawa and the Alan Shepard who delivered munitions, supplies and goods to sustain our people in our fleet and many other forces.

So if you deployed in the past year, you are year 249 leading up to year 250. Stand up so we can give you a round of applause for your warfighting prowess. Thank you.

But there’s also that second group, those commands that we don’t always ask to stand up. They play an incredibly important role ashore, preparing our fleet to deploy and supporting them while they are deployed, like afloat training group Atlantic, Carrier Strike Group four. You can clap if you’re from their Nordic Semitic, the regional maintenance center. All of our fleet readiness centers and all of our medical folks that got our people, ready and out the door.

Your efforts ensured the readiness of our fighting forces. And let me tell you, their successes would not happen without you. So if you had a hand in making these deployments so successful, please stand up so we can thank you.

The story of these sailors, civilians and teammates that we just talked about over the last year and we saw in the video really the story of all the war fighters here tonight. Those are just a small sampling of the many stories that are being told all across America’s war fighting Navy and it’s a Navy that works around the globe and around the clock.

And as we celebrate tonight, thousands more of our sailors and Marines continue to operate far forward, at risk and in challenging environments all around the world, from the eastern Mediterranean to the Red sea to the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean everywhere in between. Our team is standing the watch in every domain on, under and above the sea. So let’s all send a quick thought to them.

A thought of thanks to all the sailors and Marines for standing the watch and keeping us safe so we can enjoy this wonderful evening together. I could not be more proud of this amazing Navy team, active, reserve sailors, our civilians, our families. There is no other Navy in the world, no other joint force in the world who can train, deploy and sustain such a lethal combat.

Credible force at the pace, scale and tempo that we do. So that’s why I’m so happy to be back here in Norfolk to celebrate our Navy’s birthday with all of you, with the fleet, with the warfighting fleet who have been operating far forward at that point of friction with our adversaries and at the point of friendship with our allies and partners in every corner of the globe.

You are America’s warfighting Navy in action. And as we look to the future and to the decisive decade ahead, I am confident that our team will continue to serve with honor, courage and commitment. Building on the proud legacy of our heroic sailors and working tirelessly to raise our baseline level of readiness for potential conflict anytime and anywhere. Tonight, like every night for the last 249 years, our Navy is standing the watch deterring aggression, defending our nation’s security and preserving our way of life.

And this year, like every year in our storied history, we celebrate the birth of our service and take pride in being part of the world’s preeminent fighting force. So as we gather tonight in the company of family and friends sharing a bunch of sea stories and lots of memories from our time in the fleet. Let us also remember that we are here to honor all of our sailors past, present, and future who answer our nation’s call to serve a cause greater than themselves.

To wear the uniform that symbolizes freedom all around the world, and to ensure that America remains that beacon of freedom and democracy for all to see. We will continue to build on their contributions and share the story of our Navy. The story of 249 years about warfighting strength and readiness. So let me again wrap up by saying thank you.

Thank you for what you do. Thank you for your support, your service and your sacrifice. Each of you plays a vital role in our Navy and what you do every single day matters to our Navy and to our nation. As your 33rd CNO, I could not be more proud to serve alongside you. And as we head into our 250th birthday next year, I can’t wait to see what this year brings.

Thank you very much. Have a wonderful evening. Get to that rock concert. I’m excited about that. And all ahead, flank. Thank you very much.
 

Source: United States Navy

Introduction/Thank You

Good morning, everyone!

It is an honor to be here with you this morning to celebrate the service of Vice Admiral Crandall and to welcome Vice Admiral French as he assumes the role of Judge Advocate General of the Navy and command of the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Vice Admiral Crandall’s family and friends here with us today.

To Vice Admiral Crandall’s wife, Barb, thank you for your dedication and all you have sacrificed on behalf of the Navy.

You have been a valued member of our Navy team since your husband’s time in NROTC over forty years ago.

I thank you for your selfless volunteer work with the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and the Navy Officer’s Spouses Club, along with organizations outside of the Navy such as the annual Alzheimer’s Walk for Life and Christ Church Washington Parish for Calvary Women’s Services.

All this while working part-time as the office manager and paralegal at a law firm in Burke, Virginia.

While we are celebrating your husband’s achievements today, we are also celebrating yours, and I wish you the best in your retirement. Congratulations.

To Mr. Darse Crandall and Mrs. Ruth Ann Crandall, thank you for raising an incredible son who dedicated his career and indeed his life in service of our great Nation.

Kathie and Amy, it is wonderful to have you here in celebration of your nephew and brother.

And to Admiral Crandall’s sons William, Andrew, and Edward, thank you for your support throughout your father’s distinguished career.

I also want to welcome and thank Vice Admiral French’s family for being here today.

To Vice Admiral French’s children, Lieutenant Caity French and First Lieutenant Andy French, I thank you not only for your unwavering support of your father throughout his career, but also for your own service in the United States Navy and United States Army, respectively.

As we all know, families truly are the backbone of our armed forces, and I was blessed to have the support of my wife Betty and our sons throughout my career in the Navy and now.

I welcome and thank our Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Franchetti, for her leadership of our United States Navy.

General Dunford and General Milley, thank you for your guidance of our service men and women around the world during your tenures.

Admiral Richardson and Admiral Gilday, thank you for being here and for your leadership of our Sailors and service to this great Nation.

Deputy Assistant to the President Geltzer, I thank you for your presence today and for your important work at the National Security Council.

Thank you to General Counsel Krass, former General Counsel Preston, General Counsel Coffey, and General Counsel Beshar for your service within the Department of Defense, for our service members, and for the civilians who support them.

Welcome to Chief Justice Ohlson, Senior Judge Effron, and Judge Maggs. Thank you for your presence today and your work at the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

And to all of our general officers, flag officers, senior enlisted leaders, distinguished visitors, guests, family, and friends: welcome, and thank you for joining us for this ceremony.

I am humbled and honored to be a part of this momentous occasion today—the changing of command from one accomplished officer to another, and to celebrate the service of Vice Admiral Crandall.

World Today/OJAG Accomplishments

Our Navy JAG Corps is essential to ensuring our Sailors are ready.

And this is vital, because as you have seen and read in the news, we face tremendous uncertainty in the world today.

For the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power—our pacing challenge—in the Indo-Pacific.

The People’s Republic of China continues to exert its excessive maritime claims through their navy, coast guard, and maritime militia.

In Europe, Russia is well into the third year of its full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine is fighting not just for their own liberty and freedom—they are fighting to protect democracy in Europe and indeed around the world.

In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we are working alongside our NATO allies and Middle East Partners to ensure the safety of innocent, civilian mariners and protecting our commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

Immediately following Hamas’s brutal attack against the people of Israel on October 7th, our Sailors and Marines were on station, the ready integrated force the world needed.

Our Navy-Marine Corps Team is at the forefront of defending and preserving global stability, and we remain committed to ensuring freedom of navigation of the world’s seas and oceans.

Our mission would be impossible without the essential work of our Navy JAG Corps. And Vice Admiral Crandall’s leadership of the twenty-three hundred attorneys, enlisted Legalmen, and civilian employees of the Navy JAG Corps community was integral to their many successes.

Throughout his time as Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Vice Admiral Crandall provided tailored legal advice for high-profile cases and the most sensitive matters affecting the Department of the Navy.

Under his supervision, the JAG Corps teams adeptly operated a full federal court-martial system, with counsel and judges executing military justice matters from investigation to final appeal.

He implemented a total overhaul of the Navy’s legal technology, modernizing the Navy’s case management and tracking systems, and implementing deliberate, repeatable processes to ensure these systems continue far into the future.

While accomplishing all of this, he also led the Navy’s implementation of Congressional and DoD reforms, including establishing and reaching full operational capability for the Office of Special Trial Counsel.

This worldwide military justice organization prosecutes “covered offenses”—violations of certain Punitive Articles of the UCMJ—and overall increases readiness of our Fleet and Force.

Throughout his tenure, the JAG Corps has grown significantly, adjusting to unprecedented demands and cases. And throughout this growth and extraordinary change, Vice Admiral Crandall has never forgotten about the Sailors and civilians of the JAG Corps.

He, in fact, committed to and prioritized strengthening the cooperation between the Department of the Navy’s uniformed and civilian lawyers, and graciously welcomed my General Counsel aboard in early 2022.

Vice Admiral Crandall, I could create a laundry list of your accomplishments over the past three years as Judge Advocate General of the Navy, but we would be here all day.

And although I know you may be eager to begin charging by the hour, I’m afraid you’re going to have to take these remarks pro bono.

The tremendous work you accomplished during your tenure as principal military legal counsel to both myself and the Chief of Naval Operations cannot be overstated.

Thank you for your tireless pursuit of justice and protection of the law.

Because of your efforts, experience, and vision, you leave a lasting legacy for others to follow.

Closing

I thank you all once again for this opportunity to speak at this incredible occasion.

Vice Admiral Crandall, thank you for your four decades of honorable and faithful service to the United States Navy and this great Nation. It is my sincere hope that you and Barb enjoy a wonderful and fulfilling retirement.

Vice Admiral French, I wish you the best of luck as you assume command of the Office of the Judge Advocate General. Admiral Franchetti and I look forward to working with you and benefitting from your sound counsel.

You should have no trouble tracking me down if there is anything you need.

And I certainly look forward to hearing about the continued success of our Navy JAG Corps.

May God bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families with fair winds and following seas. Thank you.