Commander's Corner

First and foremost, I hope all of you are doing well as we work to protect the health of our personnel, minimize the spread of COVID-19 and posture our forces most effectively. As we work through this challenge, we cannot take our eye off of the ball. I want you to know that we are in this together. We’ve got each other’s backs, and nobody should suffer in silence. Still, we must continue to focus on manning, training, and equipping our surface fleet, while managing risk. To remain the world's premier surface force, our priority must be to protect the force and to prevent the spread of the virus while effectively balancing the risk to mission and continuing to operate safely at sea. When we do that, we will maintain the highest level of readiness and OWN THE FIGHT!

In January, I had the honor again to address the Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium in Washington, D.C. My address focused on “Owning Tomorrow’s Fight Today,” and it outlined three lines of effort toward the future:

If you haven’t read or watched my SNA speech, please do. Since then we’ve had a busy few months. In February, I testified on Capitol Hill before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Subcommittees on Seapower & Projection Forces/Readiness in the Pacific. Our number one priority is current readiness. Bottom line, the Surface Type Commanders

provide combat ready ships and battle-minded crews to our Number Fleet Commanders.

In March, we attended the WEST 2020 conference, where I was on a panel discussion on manning, training and equipping the Navy for Great Power Competition. Our number one TYCOM Role is current readiness of the Force. Our manning, training, and equipping objectives are unambiguous: we deploy ships that are manned to 92/95 fit/fill, fully certified, and CASREP free.

In this era of renewed Great Power Competition, we must continue our legacy of toughness and resiliency. We are and we will remain the best. We will talk, we will look, and we will act like the elite professionals we are. We must instill toughness and resiliency in our Sailors as the foundation for battle-minded crews. We will continue to enhance our resiliency capabilities essential to prepare individuals and watch teams to fight and win.

Remaining the world’s premier surface force requires collaboration at all levels. Although we’ve made significant progress that paves the way for long-term success, our efforts will not cease. Never being satisfied with past successes fosters an unrelenting drive to improve. That is the hallmark of premier organizations. With the continued support of Congress and our commitment to excellence, I am confident in the Navy’s ability to deploy combat ready ships with battle-minded crews when called upon to do so. *

VADM. Richard Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visits the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22). While aboard, Brown held an All Hands Call and discussed efforts to build combat ready ships and battle-minded crews while preparing for the high-end fight.