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Navy Leaders Outline Future

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060119-01
Release Date: 1/19/2006 9:00:00 AM
 

By Journalist Seaman Joseph Caballero, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Navy and Marine Corps leaders from various areas of expertise discussed “what’s right for the way ahead” in a panel session at the Western Conference and Exposition (West 2006) at the San Diego Convention Center Jan. 12.

The panel focused on how the Navy and Marine Corps have been changing with the currents set into motion by the Navy’s budget, which according to the panel, each leader has looked to enterprising, or greater collaboration, in order to retain and improve efficiencies while increasing cost-effectiveness.

“What it’s all about is taking all of the components that are needed and making them work together seamlessly, so you get exactly what you want out of them,” said Vice Adm. James Zortman, commander, Naval Air Forces, of Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) and how it’s changing his force.

Zortman, one of the panelist, pointed out that this warfighting partnership enables the force to solve issues affecting multiple commands on an enterprise-wide basis, and the efficiencies gained by having an interdependent force could lead to tens of millions of dollars in savings each year.

Another panelist, Rear Adm. Edward Masso, vice commander, Surface Sea Warrior Enterprise, talked about how the surface side of the Navy is implementing similar changes.

“We found collaboration has given us the opportunity to measure the risks, seams and gaps of some of the things that are challenging to us, like the littoral combat ship rollout,” said Masso. “This littoral combat ship will become the basis of so many things that we are doing in the surface force, such as how we project and roll out our enterprise.”

West 2006 is one of the largest West Coast events for communications, electronics, intelligence, information systems, imaging, military weapon systems, aviation, shipbuilding, and more. The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the U.S. Naval Institute sponsored the three-day event.

“It takes people out of the Pentagon and into forums to facilitate discussions,” said Tobey Jackson, a West 2006 spokeswoman. “It’s a way for us to bring together government, military and industry people.”

The West 2006 conference hosted more than 10,000 visitors and featured more than 400 exhibitors displaying new and innovative products designed for military use.