Monday, September 20, 2010

CNO Visits Sailors, Citizens in San Diego

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

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead was a keynote speaker at the grand opening of a new naval child development center (CDC), at the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) breakfast, and at the San Diego Fleet Week reception, Sept. 16 – 17.

CNO was joined by U.S. Rep. Susan Davis, of California, to be part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the grand opening of the new CDC aboard Naval Air Station North Island.

During his remarks, CNO said the Navy is made up of ships, airplanes and submarines; however, the people are its most important asset.

"There is no question in my mind that (the CDC) will contribute to the mission effectiveness of our Navy, to the well being of our people, to the retention and recruitment rates," said Roughead. "I believe more and more in the future, when young men and women look to the Navy, they'll look beyond the ships, the submarines, the airplanes and they'll look at what it means for their families."

At the SDMAC breakfast, Roughead had the opportunity to speak about the Navy, budgetary initiatives, operational readiness along with present and future quality-of-life programs.

"(These) initiatives are cost effective, they serve our mutual interest on bringing more war-fighting 'tooth' to our fleet concentration areas and they follow through on the Navy's commitment to quality of work and quality of life for our Sailors so that they can continue to focus on what our country asks them to do," said Roughead.

CNO also attended the San Diego Fleet Week reception where he helped promote three Sailors to chief petty officer and took time to speak to the other U.S. Navy supporters attending the reception.

"(The Navy) is an organization, it's a service, it's a calling that is truly unique in the world," said Roughead. "The capabilities that we have and what we do are really represented extraordinarily well in San Diego."

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