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U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC)

CNO and MCPON Visit Hampton Roads

by From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
14 April 2021

NORFOLK, Va. (Apr. 14, 2021) Vice Adm. Andrew "Woody" Lewis, Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Joint Force Command Norfolk, speakswith Admiral Mike Gilday, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, during the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea (CJOS) Center of Excellence (COE) Future Maritime Warfare Symposium 2021 (FMWS21). CJOS COE hosted the FMWS21 on April 14 and 15 at NATO's Allied Command Transformation for leaders from multinational commands to discuss the future warfighting strategy in the Atlantic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st  Class Jason Pastrick)
SLIDESHOW | images | 210414-N-OS895-1047 210414-N-OS895-1047 NORFOLK, Va. (Apr. 14, 2021) Vice Adm. Andrew "Woody" Lewis, Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Joint Force Command Norfolk, speakswith Admiral Mike Gilday, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, during the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea (CJOS) Center of Excellence (COE) Future Maritime Warfare Symposium 2021 (FMWS21). CJOS COE hosted the FMWS21 on April 14 and 15 at NATO's Allied Command Transformation for leaders from multinational commands to discuss the future warfighting strategy in the Atlantic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Pastrick)
NORFOLK, Va. (Apr. 14, 2021) - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday meets with Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush during a trip to Hampton roads. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Nate Christensen/Released)
SLIDESHOW | images | 210414-N-HT307-1004 210414-N-HT307-1004 NORFOLK, Va. (Apr. 14, 2021) - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday meets with Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush during a trip to Hampton roads. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Nate Christensen/Released)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Apr 13, 2021) Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations visits the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) as a part of his list to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. GHWB is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Pitt)
SLIDESHOW | images | 210413-N-OH958-1037 210416-N-OH958-1037 PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Apr 13, 2021) Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations visits the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) as a part of his list to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. GHWB is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Pitt)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (April 14, 2020) – Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday views a MK 18 MOD 2 unmanned undersea vehicle during a tour of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) Two STRIKE facility onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, April 14, 2021. Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russel Smith toured the EODGRU 2 STRIKE facility and met with EOD operators and Navy divers to discuss capabilities and equipment employed by the force. EOD STRIKE protects individuals and teams in the EOD Force from debilitating stress through adaptability, recovery and growth across the personal, social, cognitive and physical wellness domains. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Skyles)
SLIDESHOW | images | CNO and MCPON tour Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group Two STRIKE 210414-N-IJ902-1053 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (April 14, 2020) – Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday views a MK 18 MOD 2 unmanned undersea vehicle during a tour of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) Two STRIKE facility onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, April 14, 2021. Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russel Smith toured the EODGRU 2 STRIKE facility and met with EOD operators and Navy divers to discuss capabilities and equipment employed by the force. EOD STRIKE protects individuals and teams in the EOD Force from debilitating stress through adaptability, recovery and growth across the personal, social, cognitive and physical wellness domains. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Skyles)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (April 14, 2021) – Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday tours Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) Two STRIKE facility onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, April 14, 2021. Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russel Smith toured the EODGRU 2 STRIKE facility and met with EOD operators and Navy divers to discuss capabilities and equipment employed by the force. EOD STRIKE protects individuals and teams in the EOD Force from debilitating stress through adaptability, recovery and growth across the personal, social, cognitive and physical wellness domains. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Skyles)
SLIDESHOW | images | CNO and MCPON tour Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group Two STRIKE 210414-N-IJ902-1235 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (April 14, 2021) – Chief of Naval Operations Mike Gilday tours Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) Two STRIKE facility onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, April 14, 2021. Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russel Smith toured the EODGRU 2 STRIKE facility and met with EOD operators and Navy divers to discuss capabilities and equipment employed by the force. EOD STRIKE protects individuals and teams in the EOD Force from debilitating stress through adaptability, recovery and growth across the personal, social, cognitive and physical wellness domains. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Nicholas Skyles)

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith visited Hampton Roads, Virginia, April 14, to take part in a NATO Symposium, meet with Sailors in the region, and visit two of the area’s major shipyards.

As part of the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea (CJOS) Center of Excellence (COE) Future Maritime Warfare Symposium, CNO gave remarks to representatives from 24 of the alliance’s maritime nations. 

“Without a doubt, what brought us here today is our ironclad unity,” said Gilday. “It’s our partnerships, our friendships, and our mutual desire to forge a more peaceful and prosperous world. Together we are ensuring presence where it matters, when it matters.”

Participants discussed topics that ranged from the requirements to ensure resupply across the Atlantic during a conflict, to the ways in which artificial intelligence and machine learning can assist command and control in the maritime domain.

While in Hampton Roads, CNO and MCPON also met with Sailors and leadership at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EOD) 2 strike facility and visited Norfolk Naval Shipyard where they saw several ships and had lunch with Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

"CNO and I always enjoy the opportunity to meet and speak with Sailors," said Smith. "Particularly, focusing this visit on our shipmates working hard in the shipyards to complete repairs and necessary maintenance to get their ship back out to sea to do what we do best, provide critical maritime security from the sea." 

The trip also included a stop at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HHI) Newport News Shipbuilding where they visited the submarine construction complex to see modules and assemblies from the 12 Virginia-class submarines currently under construction. They also saw the facilities where the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is under construction and USS George Washington (CVN 73) is undergoing final outfitting and test activities in its refueling and complex overhaul.

"It was important for me to come here and see the work being done first-hand,” said Gilday. “No doubt, Virginia class submarines and our nuclear powered aircraft carriers will be important parts of our future naval force. I’m excited to see these ships come to life over the months and years to come, and I don’t want anyone to forget the fact that our Sailors are depending on the quality of work done here and need to leave ready for the fight.”

The Hampton Roads area has the largest concentration of fleet headquarters administrative and communication facilities outside of Washington, D.C. It is home to more than 82,000 personnel and several major tenant commands: U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Joint Staff Hampton Roads, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Naval Submarine Forces, Atlantic, and Naval Reserve Forces Command.

For more information about the U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, please contact the Public Affairs Office or visit: www.navy.mil/cno.
 


Terms:

CNO Leadership
 
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