It is a great Navy day here at NAS North Island, where I can hear the sound of jets, props and helos as I look out at USS Nimitz (CVN-68) pierside. It was great to see so many of you in Reno/Sparks for Hook '08, and I think you’ll agree that this year’s convention was one of our very best. From the booths to the panels to the reunions and admins, we had a blast. Those of you who didn’t make it this year, we hope you can join the celebration at Hook ’09.
There is a lot to celebrate about carrier aviation right now. We celebrate our rich history, as we recently welcomed Kitty Hawk (CV-63) back to the U.S. after serving 10 years as the forward-deployed carrier in Japan. As our last active conventionally powered carrier, Hawk’s sundown represents the end of an era. As the longest serving aircraft carrier in the history of Naval Aviation, she was a proud workhorse right up to her final launches and recoveries. She ably filled in on short notice during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise before coming home to San Diego with Carrier Air Wing Five to turn over with George Washington (CVN-73). Hawk then headed to Bremerton, Wash., to begin preparations for her decommissioning.
The celebration of our history will build to a crescendo in the coming year as we begin planning for the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation in 2011. This anniversary provides us a golden opportunity to inform our nation’s citizens of the many magnificent contributions Naval Aviation has given to American history. Visit the Centennial Web site www.cnaf.navy.mil/centennial to learn more about the planning already under way for this yearlong celebration to showcase the history and milestones that have made Naval air power a fundamental element of our national security.
That history continues today. Our aircraft carriers and carrier air wings are deployed around the world, and they are making a difference. Battle “E” recipients Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 11 recently completed a four-month surge deployment with a short four-month turnaround following a six-month deployment. Big “E,” Enterprise (CVN-65), was recognized this year with the Battenburg Cup for the first time in the ship’s 46-year history in recognition of operational excellence during a combat deployment with Carrier Air Wing One. John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and Carrier Air Wing Nine were awarded the “Jig Dog” Ramage Carrier and Carrier Air Wing Operational Excellence Award for their most recent deployment. Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and Carrier Air Wing Two just completed a deployment to 5th Fleet during which they flew 7,100 sorties and completed more than 22,000 flying hours in support of Coalition forces. Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and Carrier Air Wing 14 picked up where Abraham Lincoln left off, and Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and Carrier Air Wing Eight are on deck after a transit around the African Cape of Good Hope.
The future of carrier aviation gives us another reason to celebrate. While we say farewell to Kitty Hawk, we prepare to commission the last Nimitz-class carrier, George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), early next year as we evolve to an all nuclear-powered carrier force. Meanwhile, the design and development of the Gerald R. Ford-class continues apace and promises revolutionary advances in technology that will shape how carrier operations are conducted in the second 100 years of Naval Aviation.
The future is now when it comes to some of our newest aircraft. Maritime Strike Helicopter Squadron (HSM)-71, the first operational MH-60R squadron, is working up with John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing Nine. The MH-60R joins the MH-60S as our next-generation multi-mission helicopters. When HSM-71 and HSC-8 deploy with CVW-9, it will be the first time these advanced helicopters are integrated as a team into a CVN. It was great to see both helo squadrons at Hook ’08.
This summer, Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) hosted the successful sea trials of the EA-18G Growler, our next-generation electronic attack aircraft and eventual replacement for the Navy’s venerable EA-6B Prowlers. VX-23 completed 62 cats and traps on board Ike in the Growler in July and August, and further operational evaluation is ongoing. Development of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and the P-8 Poseidon continues also, and we look forward to them joining the fleet in the coming years. The capabilities of those platforms will bring significant leaps for Naval Aviation.
Clearly these examples show that we are succeeding in maintaining our combat excellence and ensuring our readiness for the future. Those are two of the three “Vectors to Excellence,” I had asked that we focus on. The third was developing leaders who will lead Naval Aviation in our next 100 years. In everything we do, we need to remember that our people — our Sailors, Marines, Reserve force and civilians — make it all possible. We owe it to them and to the generations who follow to do all we can to ensure we have the best team moving forward. It is the only way we will succeed.
Recently a visitor to an aircraft carrier, the leader of a multi-billion dollar company, shared his thoughts with his team about what makes our carrier aviation team work so well. I think it is valuable for us to consider the perspective of the outsider looking in. This business leader noted to his colleagues that aboard the carrier, there was one team with one goal, and the chain of command was clear and operational. He pointed out that in our world, tradition is honorable, and that Sailors respect the chain of command and leaders are leading — not just managing. Each department aboard the ship he observed was committed inward, to each other, and outward, to the larger organization, and the command mission centered on responding to the needs of our “clients,” such as Marines ashore. He praised the culture of accountability — for costs, equipment and to each other, and he was impressed that we achieved success through training — and training and training. Finally, he remarked that there was an overwhelming sense of belief in who we are, in what we do and in our value to the nation.
We may take some of the characteristics that the business leader described for granted, but keep in mind that they are striking to an outsider looking in. We need to be conscious of these characteristics, so that we seize on them and encourage them as we develop leaders for the future.
Fly. Fight. Lead.
Killer sends.