VCNO Speaks at Spring 2011 Navy Now Forum

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikelle D. Smith, Defense Media Activity - Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) addressed defense industry business leaders at the Spring 2011 Navy Now Forum held at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., April 27.

The event, sponsored by the Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), gave senior Navy officials and business leaders the opportunity to enhance and develop relationships that will strengthen current and future functions of the Navy.

VCNO Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert touched on several topics including recent operations in Libya and Japan, and on-going initiatives to train and equip Sailors while taking into account the existing economic and wartime reality.

"I want to thank AUSN for hosting their third Navy Now forum," said Greenert. "Venues such as this create opportunities for the Navy and industry partners to learn from each other, strengthen relationships, and provide needed feedback and candor."

During a question and answer portion of the forum, Greenert communicated further strategies that will preserve the cohesion of commands and take Navy forces beyond their present capabilities.

"An atmosphere of clarity, mutual understanding and increased transparency will be needed to effectively deal with the increasingly inevitable budget challenge while building the Navy of the future," said Greenert.

Executive Director of AUSN Rear Adm. Casey Coane said that from an industry standpoint, concern has been placed on what the Navy would like from companies and how they will work together to effectively execute all aspects of readiness.

"This is a partnership and collaboration built from communication," said Coane. "Because we [AUSN] are an association not part of the defense department, we can add a point-of-view from outside Washington and the Pentagon. The more opportunities Sailors have to understand issues that decide what happens in the Navy, the more aware they become."

This was the third Navy Now forum held by AUSN. The association has been active since 1957, and their mission is to advance interests of all members of the Navy community by supporting personal and professional needs of Sailors.