What a great 54th Tailhook Reunion! The staff and volunteers who made it all come together did a superb job. I am proud to be part of this professional organization. We gather each year to share our professional experiences and enjoy the camaraderie of our collective Ready Room, and this year was no different. The quality of the presentations and their delivery was top-notch. I think we all came away with the right updates on where Naval Aviation is headed and how we will maintain our momentum. As I discussed at the Flag Panel, our Number One challenge is taking care of our people while we continue to fight the war, work through the budget environment and position Naval Aviation for the future.
Naval Aviation is working 24/7 around the world. We fly half the aerial combat missions in Afghanistan. Today, CVW-3, operating from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), is flying more than a third of the close air support, and Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and CVW-2 are on their way to be next on station. What we do in the service of the nation is important, and we will continue to ensure that our Naval Aviation forces are ready, trained and equipped to fight.
Faced with our current budget environment, we must all be committed to operating efficiently and effectively in order to maintain our combat readiness. No one knows better than Naval Aviation professionals how to determine the right efficiencies that will help us do more with less. The Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) has set the standard for bringing together the right players to focus together on issues that affect us all. Through the NAE, Navy and Marine Corps Aviation leaders get all the information we need to make sound decisions about readiness so that we can be sure of a better, smarter, combat-ready force now and in the future.
Achieving our envisioned future requires dedication to maintaining the planned transitions to recapitalize our force, including CVN-78, Joint Strike Fighter, P-8 Poseidon, Advanced Hawkeye, Growler, MH-60 Romeo and Sierra, and continuing to pursue unmanned systems like Broad Area Maritime Surveillance and Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike These game-changing platforms will bring out the best in our strongest asset — our people.
The men and women of Naval Aviation are dedicated, committed professionals, who share a passion for what we do. We are volunteers and, above all, warfighters — adaptable, relevant and flexible. When called upon, we are lethal in our ability to deliver credible combat power anywhere in the world, whenever our nation demands it. I am proud to lead such a fine team of professionals as we maintain our positive momentum to answer our nation’s call today and into the future.
Our warfighting ethos transcends each generation of Naval Aviation and I’m excited that the celebration of our first one hundred years will soon begin. Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and their partners in the Hampton Roads area will give us a preview in November when they commemorate Eugene Ely’s historic first flight in 1910 from USS Birmingham (CL-2). Throughout 2011, we will celebrate the first 100 years of Naval Aviation. At events across the country, we’ll highlight our rich history, dauntless spirit and passion for flight. We will honor the giants who paved the way and the collective team who has ensured our success with the best training, maintenance and support structure the world has known. I hope you too are planning to join in the celebration!
Fight to Fly, Fly to Fight, Fight to Win!
Mad Al sends