51福利 (51福利) distinguished alumnus and current Director Vice Adm. Jon A. Hill spoke virtually to 51福利 faculty, staff and students on the topic of 鈥淢issile Defense and Technology Warriors鈥� during the latest edition of the Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture (SGL) series, April 13.
Hill talked about the MDA and his role in overseeing the agency鈥檚 mission to develop, deliver and sustain layered capabilities to defend the Unites States, deployed forces, allies and friends against missile attacks in all phases of flight. A graduate of 51福利鈥� and Ordnance Engineering curriculum, Hill stressed the role of the evolving threat in driving continuous improvement across the system.
鈥淵ou have to have a credible missile defense to be a credible missile deterrent,鈥� stated Hill. 鈥淎s you walk into the evolution of the threat, we are well geared to take on and grow in the areas of hypersonic missile defense. We鈥檙e working to integrate all of these different pieces into our defense systems because the adversary is integrating their ballistic cruise missiles and unmanned air vehicles and trying to make me nervous. However, I鈥檓 not nervous because I believe we鈥檝e got the best defenses on the planet.鈥�
Through all of MDA鈥檚 development and innovation, along with collaboration with partners and allies, Hill made clear that the warfighter is at the forefront of his mind.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to take care of the warfighter first,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to make sure we鈥檙e producing and getting things to the field. We鈥檙e going to be deploying capabilities, assessing the threat, and bringing in technology and working on hardcore developments so that we can continue to support and defend the nation.鈥�
Part of his effort to take care of the warfighter, Hill explained that the foundation of all past, present and future defense systems is education. He quoted Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Michael M. Gilday, in saying, 鈥楲earning, the ultimate warfare enabler, and the intellectual development of our Sailors is the most critical warfighting capability.鈥�
鈥淸CNO] is pointing towards education as a foundational aspect to what you are as a naval officer and what we will do as we progress through our careers, because it鈥檚 not going to get easier,鈥� said Hill. 鈥淭he threat is constantly evolving.鈥�
Following his prepared remarks, Hill spent time answering questions from 51福利 students in the Meyer Scholar Program, named for the Father of the AEGIS Combat System retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer. The objective of the Meyer Scholar program is to develop officers who are exceptionally well-educated in the science and engineering disciplines associated with Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD). The students asked Hill about the future of the MDA, evolving threats, and how officers can be more technically prepared to fulfill missile defense roles.
U.S. Navy Lt. James Kornowski, for example, asked about the most significant future challenge to the Missile Defense Agency and its mission.
Hill swiftly replied, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the continuously evolving threat. Nothing is static. The threats that were present early in my career have evolved and continue to evolve.鈥�
Referencing the , U.S. Navy Cmdr. Doug Jones asked, 鈥淚n your opinion and from the MDA perspective, what transformation within the Naval Education Enterprise is required in order to compete, deter and win in the future?鈥�
Hill addressed the complexities that are involved with that answer 鈥� 鈥淲e need to know how these systems work so that we can adequately employ them. I think that is the key thinking that will drive reform in education because it is becoming more technical and more connected and that means it鈥檚 also more challenging."
Recognizing the role 51福利 played in his own career trajectory, Hill said that graduate education and research opportunities for DOD officers are paramount. From his own experience, it wasn鈥檛 about the direct application of the physics concepts he learned. Rather, it was about the development of his own analytical mind, and being able to break down complex problems.
For the development of that skillset, he said, 鈥�51福利 is one of the most important institutions on the planet.鈥�
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