We’re building on a foundation?

Yes, I think we have, and it centers on relationships I just spoke about. The International Maritime and Defense Exhibition here in Singapore reminds me of the Surface Navy Association Annual Symposium, where I see friends, colleagues, partners, and counterparts that I’ve worked with. Our relationships in this region matter and have a big return on investment for our bilateral and multilateral engagements.

As for the ships, it’s not lost on our partners in the region that when there’s a challenge, we’re already here. We can help with, or respond to, or work together with partner navies because we have the right people and platforms deployed to the region.

When we go to visit places, one of the first questions we get asked is, “When is LCS coming? We can’t wait to work with it.”

 

And we’ve had a staff here for a long time, but we haven’t had operators operating from here for a long time?

That brings up the team we have here from the Military Sealift Command (MSC). MSC has been an important operational enabler of 7^th Fleet operations for a long time and we could not operate in this vast AOR without their support. Every one of those ships is still flying the ensign, and out there representing our country and our Navy. So my focus has been to continue to operationalize COMLOGWESTPAC and make sure we remain focused on delivering groceries, fuel, and ordnance, all vital in sustaining the 7^th Fleet operations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

 

The Navy will be deploying new platforms out here, like the Mobile landing Platform (MLP) and Joint High-Speed Vessel (JHSV) eventually, with their new capabilities?

Pacific Partnership is starting this month, and USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) and the hospital ship USNS Mercy will be coming this way.

Pacific Partnership is an event that we’re going to run here from CTF 73 and tactically through DESRON 9, and with Millinocket participating, it’s a great opportunity to have the first operational deployment of JHSV here in 7^th Fleet. MLP will be owned and operated by MSC and when it chops into 7^th Fleet and will be under CTF 73 operational control. These ships are another great manifestation of the rebalance, showcasing our ability to enhance regional partnerships through civil and military cooperation and enhanced mobile capabilities and support at sea.

 

What was your last assignment at the Surface Warfare Directorate (N96) in the Pentagon?

I was N96C, the head of the weapons and sensors branch.

 

Have you been able to see the fruits of any of the efforts or investments that you made in that job, where you were involved with resourcing the requirements, that are now coming out to you as an operator?

As you know, the requirements and the resourcing world is not an overnight event. So it’s something that requires a bit of patience and continuous effort.

We’ve seen success from this continued emphasis and focus, including in areas like navigation and ASW. I think we’ve seen improvements across the board in the ASW world, the multi-function towed array, and the A(V)15 system, that was run from N96. They’re doing a great job of getting that system on the right ships at the right time. It’s not an easy proposition when you’re trying to do a major install like that on a forward-deployed ship. I think all seven DDGs in Yokosuka have received the A(V)15 system. If they haven’t, they certainly are going to.

 

How about your people? What do you want to say about your people?

I spent six years serving in 7^th Fleet in different positions, focused on the AOR, including two years as a chief of staff with 7^th Fleet. When I came here to COMLOGWESTPAC and CTF 73, I was really impressed by the dedication of our team. We have a tremendous focus on making sure ordnance, fuel and stores get delivered, and the maintenance gets done, so we can sustain the fleet.   Additionally, our people take personal pride in building the relationships with our partner navy counterparts. We have a great regional team here, too. They’re the backbone of our mission and enable our success by supporting our service members and their families. The Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC) team has recognized what we’re doing here in Singapore and the importance of it, by investing in the facilities throughout the region. We have major renovations ongoing at the Navy Exchange, our All Hands Club, and also at each of our recreational facilities. Our Officers, Sailors, and Civilians here in Singapore represent some of our Navy’s finest professionals in their respective fields. This is a market-based system in terms of the slating for junior officers, and they’ve got to be very good to earn a spot here in Singapore. We’ve benefitted very much from having dedicated and professional people performing our missions.

 

So a young person looking for orders, or someone with a family, and Singapore is one of choices that the detailer’s dangling out there, what should they think if Singapore was one of those options?

If I was a young officer or Sailor with a family, let’s say with a couple of school-age children, and if they were adventurous at all, I think Singapore is a fantastic place for them to come. First of all, you get to live in one of the most dynamic and exciting countries (and cities) in the world. The ability to bring a couple of school-age children here and put them into any of the international schools is also a wonderful opportunity. There are also fantastic travel opportunities throughout Southeast Asia right at your doorstep. So, if you’re looking for a vibrant cultural experience, in the most operationally critical and dynamic region for our Navy, I think Singapore is a rewarding place to serve.