SURFACE WARFARE SUMMER 2019
Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Woody S. Paschall
CNSF Strengthens Outreach, Provides Update to San Diego Military Advisory Council By Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Navy is taking deliberate steps to build and sustain fleet readiness while preparing the Surface Force to win the high-end fight. That was the message from Vice Adm. Richard Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, during the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s (SDMAC) monthly breakfast, May 15. Brown was the featured speaker, generating great discussion points for the nearly 250 assembled. Founded in 2004, SDMAC’s mission is to facilitate and advance the partnership between the region’s military, elected officials, civic leaders, and the private business sector to enhance the understanding of the military’s many contributions to the San Diego community. “I look forward to these events when I can attend because I know that we all share a passion to ensure we have the strongest military possible, that we all have shared experiences, and that, especially here in San Diego, we all care very deeply about our Navy and our Sailors,” said Brown during his address.
During the presentation, Brown outlined what he sees as one of the most important tasks at hand – driving the Surface Navy to a culture of excellence, a culture that strives to be the best of the best, always improving, always focused on owning the fight. “A culture of excellence demands a sense of urgency in all that we do – not just frenetic activity – but focused action to deliver the outcomes our Navy requires, especially in 2019,” said Brown. That need for urgency is clear from the National Security Strategy, from the Secretary of Defense in the National Defense Strategy, and from the CNO in the classified Navy Strategy. “The common theme in all of these strategies is that they are Maritime Strategies – strategies that call for sea control whenever and wherever we need it – requiring our Surface Navy to deter, but if necessary, fight and win the battle for sea control now in an age of Great Power Competition,” said Brown. Brown reminded those in attendance that the Navy has made changes to the Surface Force for nearly a year and that 2018 was devoted to raising standards, improving training, tightening up qualifications, re-emphasizing certifications, and reasserting the primacy of command. “It was a year of building readiness, but we don’t build readiness for readiness’ sake. We must turn that readiness into lethality. And we do that through an unrelenting pursuit of excellence because excellence always produces winners,” said Brown. He then noted that 2019 has been devoted to fostering this culture of excellence and closed with great confidence when ensuring the crowd that, “The Surface Force is a force of winners and will Own the Fight!” *
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