The Air Boss Welcomes You to Symposium '24

COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES

I am humbled to lead our combat-ready Naval Air Forces. I am in complete alignment with the Chief of Naval Operations’ priorities and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet orders. Our mission is warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them. Safety is a priority, and our vision is winning all-domain, agile, and flexible warfighting capability and capacity. Naval Aviation is essential to our maritime nation and our national defense. The Navy, enabled by Naval Aviation, provides global integrated deterrence to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy’s Rotary Wing and Tilt Rotor Communities play a vital role across the spectrum of operations, and remain integral to our surface force, expeditionary forces, Carrier Air Wings, and indispensable Carrier Strike Groups (CSG).

Today, our Sailors are actively standing the watch around the world to deter aggression, promote our nation’s prosperity and security, and provide options to our nation’s decision-makers. We are ready. I commend the 1 with their teammates of CVW-3 and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) Carrier Strike Group; on station, battle-tested and ready to preserve free-flow of commerce and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Carrier Group preceded them and laid the foundation of deterrence with our newest and most capable CVN. And the USS Ronald Reagan, USS Carl Vinson, and USS Theodore Roosevelt Strike Groups completed deployments supporting deterrence and interoperability with our allies and partners!

This year's NHA theme, "Be Ready,” echoes the urgency of the next Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command ADM “Pappy” Paparo. In an interview with CBS News he said, “We're ready, yes. I'll never admit to being ready enough.” As Naval Aviators we must continually learn, assess, and innovate to prepare for our next flight and our next fight. Take time during this Symposium to have tough conversations that enable frank assessment of our warfighting readiness and how we play to our strengths and improve gaps in capability - hand in hand with industry partners. We are a learning organization and the Aviators deployed with the IKE CSG are sharing lessons learned in real time to improve warfighting tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). I am proud of our CMV-22B Osprey Team as they return to flight and work toward a safe return to mission.

The Navy’s true strategic advantage is its people, and in Naval Aviation we pursue warfighting excellence - we will double down on Get Real Get Better, treatment of Sailors, and Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) high-end training. These are key focus areas. We will team with all to deliver at cost, on schedule, and on performance. We are a warfighting team, and we must get the best from each and every teammate!

Lastly, we will recruit and retain talent from across America and we will position Naval Aviation as a pathway to numerous opportunities. You are a recruiter. Your Sailors are recruiters. Work as a team. Treat each other right. Be prepared to win.

Proud to serve on this team. Enjoy NHA Symposium '24 and bring your tough questions to the Flag Panel!

V/r, Undra

VADM Daniel Cheever Air Boss #10