The Role, Culture and Importance of the Rotary Wing Community Today and Tomorrow

From Naval Aviation Enterprise Communications Team

The Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) hosted its Annual Symposium May 17-19, 2023, during which members of the rotary wing and tiltrotor communities, from senior leadership down through the ranks, discussed the current state and path ahead for their missions.

The event culminated with a Flag Officer Panel on Friday afternoon, during which senior leaders engaged in a discussion with the audience, fielding questions across a range of issues such as potential future conflicts, funding, career paths and what lies ahead for the NHA Community. Panelists were: Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development (N7), VADM Jeffrey Hughes; Military Deputy Commander, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), VADM Alvin Holsey; President of the U.S. Naval War College, RADM Shoshana Chatfield; Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget/Director, Fiscal Management Division (N82), RADM John Gumbleton; Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, RADM Michael Steffen; and Commander, Navy Personnel Command/Deputy Chief of Naval Personnel, RADM Wayne Baze.

“What are the missions and functions this community brings to the table?” VADM Hughes asked. “Right now we have to be thinking about the missions we need to do, then think about how to best organize, train and equip to support the future operational concepts necessary to meet our strategic objectives.”

The senior leaders also discussed finding advantages through various means and disciplines.

“Decision advantage, the quality and speed of our decision making, will be paramount to future operational success,” VADM Hughes said. “We must integrate and achieve advantages in the information, cyber and space domains to achieve the necessary operational outcomes.”

VADM Holsey, speaking from his perspective at a geographic combatant command (COCOM), stated, “We can’t get enough planners and strategists … everything at the COCOM comes down to them.”

He emphasized that events in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility are in America’s neighborhood. “We need to look at this fight globally,” he emphasized.

Earlier in the day, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, RDML Kevin Lenox, delivered a keynote address.

“I really appreciate the energy that all of you bring to meeting the challenges inherent in the Pacific high-end fight,” RDML Lenox said. “NHA provides a unique opportunity to hear from the helicopter community and get the unfiltered vision from the men and women wearing flight suits and the capabilities you bring. Naval Rotary Wing Aviation isn’t going anywhere. From my seat as a Strike Group Commander, it is clear that you all have a key role to play, both in deterring conflict and winning, if we must fight."

Among other notable events, the Symposium also featured a panel event with Commodores, Deputy Commodores, a Carrier Air Wing Commander and a Marine Aircraft Group Commander. Here again, discussions ranged depending on questions from the audience. One theme that emerged was the partnership between Marine Corps and Navy Aviation— collectively they make up Naval Aviation.