The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration, Capabilities and Resources, spoke about the current and future global security environment as a featured speaker during the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Northern Virginia Chapter (NOVA) Information Technology (IT) Day May 12.

Participants heard from Vice Adm. Joseph Mulloy and other military speakers and subject-matter experts during the event at the Sheraton Tysons Corner Hotel, which helps guests stay informed about current and future defense, communications and information technology innovations.

Mulloy discussed how the Defense budget impacts the Navy's efforts in staying abreast in the ever-changing IT field and how the Navy plans to overcome the challenges of budget constraints.

"So as we build this balanced budget we had to come up with focused investments. What were the things we had to buy? Airplanes, surface ships, submarines, the networks we need to have, the radio systems, computer systems and the cyber systems," Mulloy said.

Mulloy highlighted the Secretary of the Navy's 2016 Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower (CS21-R) and what that entails for the current and future global security environment.

"As the Navy we use the CS21-R for maritime strategy," said Mulloy. "The new CNO's maritime design talks about fighting in an informationalized world. In that world, what we have to do is, we have to get connected and remain connected in a contested environment."

Mulloy concluded by emphasizing the importance of the role Sailors play within cyber security and how the Navy will continue crafting solutions to enable its warfighters and maintain its programs while implementing the guidance of the secretary of defense and the secretary of the Navy.

The AFCEA NOVA IT Day is a forum for military services, industry and academia to discuss obstacles, and share ideas and solutions for the technological challenges of today and tomorrow.

For more information about AFCEA NOVA, visit www.afceanova.org/.

For more news about the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/.