Rear Adm. Eric H. Ver Hage, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers, held an all-hands call during his first visit to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport, June 14.

Ver Hage is the first flag officer to command both the Naval Surface Warfare Centers (NSWC) and Naval Undersea Warfare Centers at the same time, thereby helping to align the efforts, priorities and communication channels for NAVSEA's support of the warfighters. He assumed command April 5.

During his all-hands call at NUWC Division, Keyport Ver Hage said he wants the workforce to maintain a sense of urgency as we work to ensure readiness for great power competition. "The threat is real," Ver Hage said. "We need urgency with a purpose to improve our combat power."

Ver Hage said one of the most important responsibilities of the combined Warfare Center leadership team is to ensure the workforce has the support they need to swiftly and safely accomplish the mission. "We have work to do," he said. "Particularly in the areas of facilities and digital tools."

"Think about our budgets, our hiring authorities, and all the new platforms and systems that are being built," said Ver Hage. "There are so many exciting initiatives in place. At the Warfare Centers, you are connected to the fleet and in a great spot to really make a difference for the programs and warfighters you support."

Ver Hage says the responsibility for setting this tone starts at the top with himself. He believes a combination of humility and confidence is the best way to establish trust. Equally important are the tasks of affirming and leveraging the contributions of others and treating each other well. "The leaders that I enjoy following are the ones that had this pairing of confidence and humility," Ver Hage said. "Humility to know they don't know everything, and confidence enough to make a decision and move out."           

Ver Hage assumed command of NSWC from Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, was is now NAVSEA deputy commander for surface warfare (NAVSEA 21), and assumed command of NUWC from Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, who was appointed to lead the Program Executive Office (PEO) for the Columbia submarine program.

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, visit www.navy.mil/.