The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), in Monterey, California, announced the establishment of a permanent chair professorship for surface warfare, Sept. 11.

Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, was at the school delivering the NPS Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture when he announced the creation of the chair.

"Our vision is that the chair can serve as your conduit between the fleet and the school," said Rowden.

The chair is to be a resource across campus, and will contribute equally to the surface warfare related activities of every school, center, group, and institute.

To ensure the school has continuing access to developments in the fleet, the chair will be a member of Rowden's staff.

The chair will travel regularly to commands in San Diego, Norfolk, and Washington, D.C., in order to be able to communicate the latest initiatives, needs, and requirements of the Navy's surface forces back to the schoolhouse. They will also serve as a mentor and aid in surface warfare officer's personal and professional development.

The chair will reside in the Graduate School of Operational and Informational Sciences, Defense Analysis Department.

Rowden also announced the first chair, Capt. Chuck Good.

"I believe we have found the perfect senior officer for the job," said Rowden. "If you need a mentor, he's your guy."

Good has extensive Pentagon experience and recently completed a tour as commanding officer of the newly-modernized Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59).

For more news from Naval Surface Forces, visit www.navy.mil/.