Top Navy Officer Describes Navy's Busy Pace, Emphasizes Affordability

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Kyle P. Malloy, Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

May 5, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead said the Navy's pace of operations remains busy due to global demands, and emphasized the importance of improving affordability during the Service Chiefs' Panel at the Navy League Sea Air Space 2010 Exposition in National Harbor, Md. May 3.

Roughead told audience members that he expects current multinational counter-piracy missions to continue, and pointed out the Navy's role at the forefront of ballistic missile defense in highlighting the Navy's versatility in global operations.

"Even as we're engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, we continue our normal activity, our normal presence, our normal assurance [and] deterrence in so many other places around the world," Roughead said. "Whether it's the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific, Africa or South America, we continue to keep watch in those areas."

Roughead, the Navy's 29th CNO, joined the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James T. Conway and the Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Thad W. Allen to address attendees of the exposition and discuss "Seapower and America's Security."

Roughead told the audience that in the face of future fiscal pressures and an industrial base that has "changed markedly since the last pressurization within the Defense Department," controlling costs will become increasingly important.

"We need to look at every way to improve affordability. Common hulls, common components, open architecture are key," said Roughead.

The Navy is focused on the "ability to fight the fights that we find ourselves in today," even as it develops future capabilities in programs such as the Littoral Combat Ship, the Joint High Speed Vessel, unmanned vehicles and in the cyber technology. According to Roughead, and affordability is central to developing those future capabilities.

"There's no question that in the coming years we will have to look extraordinarily hard at costs, not just procurement costs, but the issue of total ownership cost will continue to be foremost in my mind," said Roughead.

Prior to the panel, CNO helped kick off the event by attending the opening ceremony and being part of the ceremonial ribbon cutting, marking the official opening of the exposition.