Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence during a stop in Vilnius, Lithuania, June 17.

The center, established in 2012, provides subject-matter expertise for the development of NATO's capacity in the field of energy security by providing cost-effective solutions to support military requirements, in consultation with academia and industry.

NATO's energy objectives include enhancing energy efficiency for military forces, an area Mabus has focused on since assuming office in 2009.

Throughout his tenure, Mabus has prioritized not only enhancing energy efficiency, but also reducing the Department of the Navy's dependence on fossil fuels.

"We have seen that energy can be used as a weapon, which is the reason we are moving toward renewable energy sources -- to keep that weapon from being used against us," said Mabus.

Another aspect of military energy efficiency discussed during Mabus' time at the center was the value of alternative energy to forward-deployed forces.

"Expeditionary energy, or making energy where you are, through solar or through wind, is becoming increasingly important," said Mabus.

The mission of the Energy Security Center of Excellence -- to assist NATO nations, partners and other bodies by supporting NATO's capability development process, mission effectiveness and interoperability by providing comprehensive and timely expertise on all aspects of energy security -- parallels the renewable energy and energy security efforts of the Department of the Navy.

The United States is scheduled to assume the status of an Energy Security Center of Excellence sponsoring nation by the end of 2015.

Mabus' stop in Lithuania is part of a multination visit to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility meeting with Sailors and Marines and partner-nation military and civilian officials.

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