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SECNAV Stresses Importance of Pacific While Visiting Hawaii

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090821-01
Release Date: 8/21/2009 8:30:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rebekah Blowers, Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) visited Hawaii Aug. 19-22 to meet with military and senior government leadership, to speak with Sailors and to familiarize himself with Department of the Navy assets in the region.

During his first two days in Hawaii, Ray Mabus, SECNAV, met with Commander, Pacific Fleet Adm. Robert F. Willard; Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Timothy J. Keating; as well as other military leadership. He also held an all-hands call with Sailors at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and toured USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93).

SECNAV stressed the importance of the Pacific region and the work of Sailors in that region.

"We are America's forward deployed, 'away team' that is absolutely crucial to the defense and the security of the United States of America. What you are doing in the Pacific is making history. What you will do in the Pacific will determine the future of the United States, not only in the Pacific but our place in the world for a long, long time to come," Mabus said.

Mabus also discussed the unique capabilities that the Navy and Marine Corps team bring to the defense and security of the nation.

"We are the one service that can change mission in mid-stream, that can move from one end of the spectrum to another - and that's the value that you bring, that's the value the United States Navy brings – always the expeditionary force, always able to project power without taking up an inch of anybody else's soil – zero footprint, right over the horizon," Mabus said.

He expressed his appreciation to the Sailors at Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Chung-Hoon for all of their hard work.

"Thank you for your service; thank you for your commitment. Thank you for what you do for the Navy and for the United States of America," Mabus said.

In addition to meeting with Sailors, Mabus met with Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, U.S. Sens. Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Mufi Hannemann to reaffirm the good, longstanding relationship between the Navy and the local community.

This is the secretary's first trip to Hawaii since taking office in May. He will also visit with Marines at Camp H.M. Smith, Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial before leaving for his next stop on his two-week tour of the Pacific.

For more news from Secretary of the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/secnav/index.asp.