WASHINGTON - Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Bill Lescher visited Sailors and key training facilities in Panama City and Mayport, Florida, Nov. 5-6. VCNO focused on manned-unmanned teaming at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, met with Sailors aboard the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19), and observed digitally interactive, virtual reality training at the Mayport LCS Training Facility (LTF).

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While at Panama City, VCNO visited the mine warfare area of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City Division (PCD). Aligned with CNO’s emphasis on implementing an unmanned campaign plan, Lescher focused on future capabilities of manned-unmanned teaming in surface and subsurface mine countermeasure systems, leading an open discussion on accelerating the path forward in these capabilities. 

“The dynamic thinking and focused leadership happening at commands like this provide an exceptional foundation for accelerating our war fighting advantage,” Lescher observed. 

While in Mayport, VCNO hosted a leadership luncheon with triads from a diverse set of commands to discuss the most important challenges and opportunities they see for accelerating readiness and war fighting outcomes. 

Aboard St. Louis, VCNO spoke with leadership, met with Sailors, and toured the spaces. He discussed training, maintenance, and operational readiness with leaders.

Lescher was impressed with the plank-owning crew, citing their creativity and dedication in solving challenges and their sustained performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the LTF, Lescher and facility leadership discussed the continuing evolution of training and education using virtual reality. Courses at the facility specialize in teaching navigation, surface warfare, air warfare, electronic warfare and intelligence.

“The LTF team and these facilities are bringing alive the talents of our Sailors.  Exceptional, realistic, training is taking place here,” said Lescher.