SECNAV Del Toro Kicks Off Naval Education Task Force

01 March 2022

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro met with his recently established Naval Education Task Force at the Pentagon Feb. 24 to kick off the group’s efforts in reviewing the Department’s Naval University System.

The task force, comprised of senior-level subject matter experts in education, leadership, talent management and development, and transformational change includes individuals with enlisted, officer, and non-military backgrounds.

“Over the last three years, a number of internal studies have explored the fitness and capabilities of the institutions in our Naval University System from numerous perspectives, and in conjunction with strategic guidance documents, have provided prescriptive direction for facets of professional military education,” said Del Toro. “Building on this body of work and looking ahead, I want this task force to inform how we can make the Department of the Navy an even more adaptive learning organization that prepares our people to prevail over current and expected threats in the operating environments of the present and future.”

The task force received introductory briefs by stakeholders in the Secretariat, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Marine Corps Training and Education Command. They also visited the Marine Corps University and the U.S. Naval Community College, with future visits planned to the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and Naval War College.

The task force will brief the Secretary on findings and observations suggested to strengthen the Department’s alignment with SECNAV’s One Navy-Marine Corps Team: Strategic Guidance, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Berger’s Force Design 2030 to modernize the expeditionary posture of the Marine Corps, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday’s Navigation Plan to expand our fleet capabilities for distributed operations.

“Our Nation is confronting increasing and more varied threats to national security,” said Del Toro. “To remain the preeminent naval force in the world, the DON must make strategic investments in our naval education that develop our Sailors and Marines throughout their careers.”

Naval Education Task Force Members include:

Dr. Mark Hagerott, Chancellor for the North Dakota University System (Task Force Chair)
Vice Adm. Walter “Ted” Carter, USN (Ret), President of University of Nebraska
Lt. Gen. Loretta Reynolds, USMC (Ret)
Ms. Steffanie Easter, Vice President of Strategy and Planning Defense and Civilian Sector, SAIC
Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green, USMC (Ret)
Dr. Lisette Nieves, President of the Fund for New York City
Dr. Stefanie Sanford, Chief of Global Policy and External Relations at the College Board

Google Translation Disclaimer