Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Bill Moran conducted a series of Fleet engagement visits in San Diego and the Pacific Northwest, July 20 to 26, to meet with Sailors, review various waterfront activities and tour Naval installations. "This is a great opportunity to see what's going on in the Fleet and talk to Sailors," said Moran. "I can take that feedback back to Washington to inform our decisions and ensure our Sailors get the tools needed to accomplish the mission." During his discussions, Moran addressed the increasing rate of change within the Navy's operating environment and how the Navy can keep pace with competitors and threats. "In 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,' we stress the need to speed up learning and the acquisition cycle," said Moran. "The focus is on getting capabilities out into the hands of Sailors faster, so they can quickly learn if and how it adds value to their war fighting effort." In San Diego, VCNO conducted all hands calls and met with Sailors assigned to the cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57); the littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2); the "Merlins" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3; and the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC). VCNO also reviewed information warfare initiatives being developed by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR), toured activities at Naval Special Warfare Command, and met with their leadership. The trip's San Diego portion concluded with a visit to Northrop Grumman to receive an update on autonomous and unmanned systems including the MQ-4C Triton and a potential design for the X-47B Stingray. Moran began his visit in the Pacific Northwest aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), where he conducted all hands calls, toured the ship, and presented awards to four Sailors credited with saving a contractor's life. At Naval Base Kitsap--Bangor, VCNO met with the crew of USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) and leadership at Submarine Group Nine. The trip concluded with a tour of engineering technologies and capabilities being developed at Naval Sea Systems Command's Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Division. This is Moran's first major Fleet engagement visit, since becoming the 39th VCNO, May 31.

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