Navy officials urge lethality, culture of excellence

While addressing the recent Commander’s Training Symposium (CTS), Navy Vice Adm. Richard Brown urged leaders to transition readiness into lethality, reinvigorate mission command and drive toward a culture of excellence.

“Driving to a culture of excellence is not a top-down management effort,” Brown, Commander – Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP), told the group of nearly 100 unit commanders, commodores, and senior leaders. “We’ve set the conditions to empower you to bring up issues so my staff and I can effect change. If you run into operational or maintenance roadblocks, let us know and we’ll get after them.”

CTS covered a week’s worth of events emphasizing building and sustaining fleetwide readiness. Brown reminded attendees 2018 was a year devoted to raising standards, improving training, tightening qualifications, re-emphasizing certifications and re-asserting the primacy of command while 2019 is devoted to turning that readiness into lethality through an unrelenting pursuit of excellence over compliance.

“We are driving to provide fleet commanders with combat-ready ships and battle-minded crews who will go, fight and win,” Brown said. “Continuing the discussion on how we are going to own the fight is the most important element to a synchronized and able-bodied Surface Fleet. My staff and I are here to advocate for your needs and to set you up for success.”