SNA West Coast Symposium 2015

San Diego symposium examines new ship capabilities and career options

By Edward H. Lundquist - July 20, 2015

Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander of Naval Surface Forces, discusses the concept of distributed lethality at the Surface Navy Association’s West Coast Symposium in San Diego. E.H. Lundquist photo

Capt. Brad Cooper, Director, Surface Warfare Officer Distribution Division (PERS-41), discussed innovative ways the Navy is providing new career options – including educational opportunities and duty assignments – and rewarding the most capable performers. “We need to retain our best talent,” Cooper said.

Rear Adm. David Steindl, Commander, Naval Personnel Command / Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, explained new career paths and some new ways of conducting selection boards – emphasizing merit over seniority – that break with longstanding traditional detailing and placement of surface warfare officers.

Just as important are the Enlisted Sailors who man the surface fleet, said Force Master Chief (SW/IDW) Jason Wallis, who talked about how the Naval Surface Force is improving the shore duty assignments to develop skills and better support the fleet, while returning more capable Sailors to subsequent sea duty assignments.

Rear Adm. David Steindl explained new personnel policies in the works. Photo by CAPT Robert E. Lang USN (Ret.)

Wallis said that the Commander Naval Surface Forces staff “works for the fleet,” and that Sailors can and should share their ideas and concerns with leadership. “Every Sailor on the waterfront has a voice. They should know that the voices of our Sailors are being heard.”

For many SWOs, Officer assignments will be dependent on their training and certification as warfare tactics instructors (WTIs), explained Rear Adm. Jim Kilby, who commands the newly established Naval Surface Warfare and Mine Warfighting Development Center. “They are warriors, thinkers and teachers,” Kilby said.

In his remarks, Commander, Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, reiterated his commitment to developing a more lethal and offensively capable surface force to support combatant commanders. Rowden said the path ahead would include tactics development, developing more tactically oriented junior officers, and wargaming new and different ways of employing a more distributed and lethal force.

USS Bunker Hill provided the Pier 2 backdrop for the symposium. Photo by CAPT Robert E. Lang USN (Ret.)

Rowden talked about imbuing the warfighting ethos in the force. He discussed how surface ships now conduct live fire exercises every day at sea. “I want people to be comfortable shooting their guns.”

He also mentioned how terminology can sometimes obscure the real warfighting purpose. “We talk about anti-submarine warfare,” Rowden said. “But it’s not about ASW, it’s about hunting and killing enemy submarines.”

“We need to drive that ethos into our surface warfare community,” he said.

Note: Videos of the presentations will be found in the “Members Only” section of the SNA website.