A Golden Age of Seapower Emphasized at Expeditionary Warfare Conference

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120914-33
9/14/2012

From Under Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (NNS) -- The Under Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Robert O. Work, spoke at the 17th annual National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Expeditionary Warfare Conference at Panama City, Fla., Sept. 12.

The event provided a venue to discuss how the Navy and Marine Corps is an expeditionary team, what it means to be expeditionary, and programs that support the expeditionary mission.

Work addressed the audience, comprised of military service members and industry representatives during a luncheon speech. He related issues to this year's theme, "Expeditionary Operations - Closing the Gaps."

Work was optimistic the Navy and Marine Corps will continue to meet current requirements and capabilities.

"Our Navy-Marine Corps Team is transforming itself into what I see as a total-force battle network. This network links sensors, manned and unmanned platforms with modular payloads, combat systems, network-enabled weapons, and the best people on the planet into a cohesive fighting force. When coupled with our distinct operating style that emphasizes come-as-you are, flexible, and adaptable expeditionary operations, you get a world-class force that is hard to beat," said Work.

Work highlighted the importance of initiatives to further improve the U.S. expeditionary operational capability and added, "We will continue to be the most formidable expeditionary fighting force the world has ever seen. We will do so because of our people, and their mission focus, professionalism, technical and tactical expertise -- and above all, their remarkable willingness and ability to innovate and adapt to any situation."

Much of this year's conference focused on challenges the nation and its military is faced with to include the fiscal environment, withdrawal from Afghanistan and tilting in a new strategic direction.

Work outlined an overview of expeditionary warfare acquisition programs, plans for the years ahead and how expeditionary warfare platforms and systems will maintain relevancy.

Additionally, Work referred to a Golden Age of Seapower. The Department of the Navy vision of an integrated National Fleet, with a Navy-Marine Corps total force battle network built and ready for war, and operated forward to preserve the peace, represents a broad strategic concept and outlines an organizational structure that aligns with national security policy goals.

Work showed maps of the world and highlighted Navy bases and platforms providing global support. He also explained where our partner services are also supporting. His overall message was we must remain ready to respond to crises or go to war at a moment's notice and be able to prevail over any potential adversary in any theater.

The Navy and Marine Corps team will continue to do so and "the 21st century will indeed be a Golden Age of American seapower," said Work. He added, "We must continue to preserve and hone to an even finer point our unique expeditionary culture, first developed more than 200 years ago, which offers the nation the most efficient and cost-effective way to provide a stabilizing presence around the globe."

Work was careful to explain that while he expected the Navy and Marine Corps mission areas and demands to grow, the other services remain vital to our national defense strategy.

The Fiscal Year 2013 budget reflects a strategic turning point as we transition from today's conflicts and position the Navy-Marine Corps team for the challenges of tomorrow. Additionally, the DoN budget is aligned with the Department's new strategic guidance. Constrained by economic and fiscal challenges, Department of Navy will continue to operate around the globe, providing the nation offshore options to deter and defeat aggression today and into the future.