The Navy's top personnel officer highlighted Sailor 2025 and discussed other recent personnel initiatives during the annual National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) Symposium July 26.

Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke spoke to approximately 100 conference attendees and stressed the importance of modernizing the Navy's personnel system.

Burke said that Sailor 2025 is a living, breathing set of approximately 45 initiatives built on a framework of three pillars: a modern personnel system, a career learning continuum and career readiness.

"Just like the weapons systems we use, we are updating our personnel system to keep pace with a rapidly changing world," Burke said. "Under Sailor 2025, we've instituted several initiatives that are modernizing our personnel management and training systems, empowering our Sailors, and improving the Navy's warfighting readiness."

During his remarks, Burke also discussed the Navy's continuing effort to streamline and optimize all of N1's processes.

"We are in the process of modernizing our IT infrastructure in preparation for transition to a modern, cloud-based integrated pay and personnel system," Burke said. "This will allow Sailors to conduct all manner of personnel issues, from pay and leave, to interactions with detailers, via modern, easily-accessible and simple to use programs that work on a personal mobile device."

Burke also challenged the conference attendees to take what they learn at the national symposium and mentor Sailors in their local area.

"Actively being involved in your local chapters and mentoring other Sailors will help produce leaders and teams who achieve their maximum performance, maintain high standards, and are ready for the myriad of complex challenges they will face," Burke said. "We are one Navy Team - a mosaic of America - and our future success is intrinsically linked to our ability to leverage the diverse resources, skills, capabilities, and talents of our people. The strength of our service is our diversity - diversity of thought, of education and background. We need it at every level, in every command, and at every decision table throughout the Fleet and must work every day to build and maintain a workforce that reflects the nation we serve."

NNOA is an annual leadership, professional development and training symposium held in San Diego that brings together junior and senior service members of the Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. NNOA provides the opportunity to network and encourages the development of leaders through "education, experience and personal development."

As the chief of naval personnel, Burke is responsible for making sure that Sailors are ready for the litany of jobs they will be asked to perform. This includes finding and recruiting talented individuals to serve, executing training pipelines, and implementing policies that remove barriers to having a Navy career and a family.

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