The Navy kicked off the second annual Future Strategy Forum today at the Naval Heritage Center's Burke Theater in Washington, D.C.

The forum, titled "Innovation, Technology and the Future of Navy Strategy" and slated to run Dec. 5-6, opened with remarks from Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations, Plans and Strategy), Vice Adm. John Aquilino, who emphasized the role of strategy in today's Navy.

"We are going after a better way that the warfighter can be supported by innovation and technology," said Aquilino.

Opening day keynote remarks were given by Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work, who emphasized the need for the development of new operational concepts and constructs and the Third Offset Strategy.

Work explained the Third Offset Strategy is about "trying to maintain conventional overmatch, to the greatest extent possible, in order to strengthen conventional deterrence and make it less likely we will have a collision against a great power."

The Future Strategy Forum is one of three strategy forums held annually by the Navy. The Current Strategy Forum, hosted at the Naval War College, informs and assesses national and maritime strategy by focusing on a particular issue of strategic importance. The Cooperative Strategy Forum, which rotates between regions and includes our allies and partners, focuses on shared security interests and challenges.

Today's forum brings together a wide array of Navy leaders, academics, civilian strategists and industry experts.

"We are fortunate to have a top caliber line-up of panelists with a diverse set of experiences and views," said Aquilino. "We're looking to develop and improve where our strategy comes from... to see how technology influences our strategic thinking."

Forum topics include innovation's effect on strategy, the future of naval warfare and the changing global strategic dynamics.

Citing the role of strategy in the Navy's Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority, Aquilino noted that "the last couple years we have worked towards reinvigorating strategy and the role it plays in the Navy today... it drives everything we do."

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran is also scheduled to provide remarks at the forum.