Official websites use .mil
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to the Pacific Northwest to visit with Sailors and see the work they are doing, Dec. 14-16.
“I could not be more proud of the work our Sailors are doing in the Pacific Northwest,” said Gilday. “From unmanned systems to shipyard maintenance and ballistic missile submarines, our Sailors up here are getting after it and contributing in extraordinary ways to our Navy’s readiness, both for today and for tomorrow.”
Gilday began his three-day trip at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. where he visited Patrol Squadron One (VP 1) and Patrol Squadron 47 (VP 47).
“Around the world, each and every day, Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Sailors are the eyes and ears of our Fleet, finding and tracking submarines, identifying surface contacts, and collecting intelligence critical to our success in Great Power Competition,” said Gilday. “No doubt they are ready, adaptable, and lethal.”
At Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Gilday also visited Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) where he toured their Virtual Paint Trainer, Bomb Lab, EA-18G Trainer, EP-3 Trainer and received a Human Factors brief. At the Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF) Whidbey Island, Gilday met with Rear Adm. Doug Perry, Commander, Submarine Group 9 and received a variety of briefs.
Gilday also traveled to Naval Base Kitsap Bangor where he visited Commander, Submarine Group Nine (COMSUBGRU 9), Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC), met with leadership from USS Nevada (SSBN 733), received a brief on the Submarine Embedded Mental Health Program and toured Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Squadron One (UUVRON 1), where he took a brief on new system delivery and timelines.
“Unmanned platforms – that’s the future,” Gilday said. “And going forward, unmanned platforms will play key roles as we focus on smaller platforms that operate in a more dispersed, distributed manner. Seeing the work our UUVRON Sailors are doing here to field affordable, lethal, scalable, and connected capabilities was critically important to our efforts going forward.”
Gilday also visited Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton, where he met with civilian and military employees and toured waterfront infrastructure. The tour included stops at USS Louisville (SSN 724), USS Olympia (SSN 717), USS Louisiana (SSBN 743), and USS Michigan (SSGN 727), as well as an opportunity to view workforce innovation and training.
Gilday said that he was impressed by the teamwork on display at the shipyard, especially onboard ships and submarines in maintenance and the exceptional shipyard workers. He added that he appreciated the innovation and dedication to keeping maintenance and production lines on track as well as their commitment to readiness, which is critical for the Navy to sustain its Fleet both today and in the future.
This marked Gilday’s first visit to the Pacific Northwest since becoming CNO.
Subject specific information for the media
Events or announcements of note for the media
Official Navy statements
Given by Navy leadership
HASC, SASC and Congressional testimony
Google Translation Disclaimer