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CNO, USCG Commandant Address Global Maritime Senior Enlisted Symposium

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080924-15
Release Date: 9/24/2008 3:55:00 PM

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Bill Houlihan, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs

HONOLULU (NNS) -- The second day of the Global Maritime Senior Enlisted Symposium, Sept. 23, featured remarks from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen.

The symposium, hosted by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr. and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) Charles "Skip" Bowen, brought senior enlisted leaders from more than 40 nations to Honolulu for three days of interaction and discussion.

In separate, prerecorded messages to the attendees, the CNO and Commandant both stressed the critical role chief petty officers and senior enlisted leaders play in developing enlisted Sailors and junior officers.

Roughead discussed the International Seapower Symposium held last October in Newport, R.I. and said the Senior Enlisted Symposium will have the same kind of long-term effect.

"That was the largest collection of maritime leaders in the history of the world. Your efforts and discussions here will add greatly to that," said Roughead. "I believe it's your perspective, your views, and understanding of your Sailors that will allow us to build better relationships and seize the opportunities ahead of us."

Roughead, Gen. James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Allen unveiled "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" in Newport last year. During his remarks to the senior enlisted leaders in Honolulu, Roughead referenced that document.

"As we issued our strategy we added capabilities that will be increasingly important in the future. One is maritime security. How do we come together with maritime forces of other countries to develop protocols that will allow all of us to have a greater understanding of what is moving on above and below the oceans."

Allen's remarks were similar as he stressed that the success of the Cooperative Strategy will hinge greatly on the efforts made by enlisted leadership on the deckplate.

"We developed a maritime strategy that focuses on working together and with our global partners. Senior enlisted people play a huge role in that. In the Coast Guard our senior enlisted are invested with extraordinary responsibilities and it takes a strong core of chief to create a base from which officers can gain support."

The Global Maritime Senior Enlisted Symposium was first held last year in November in Auckland, New Zealand. This year's event concluded Wednesday with small group seminars and lectures regarding junior enlisted development and senior enlisted professional education.

For more news from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.