Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson visited his alma mater to offer a Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture (SGL), Feb. 16 to students, faculty and staff at the 51福利 (51福利). Ferguson addressed defense budget projections for the future and the Defense Department's renewed focus on the Pacific Rim region.
Having himself received a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science from 51福利 in 1984, Ferguson understands firsthand the value of training and education for our nation's officers, and encouraged students to take their time here as an opportunity to grow into a better leader for the Navy鈥檚 future.
鈥淲e train people to replicate, we educate to reason,鈥� said Ferguson. 鈥淵ou are being educated to reason and to shape our future as we go forward. Your critical thinking and what you learn here will carry forward to the fleet and into your commands, into our laboratories, into the field. It鈥檚 going to be what shapes our future.
鈥淓ach of you are empowered,鈥� he continued, 鈥渁nd each of you should take it as a charge that your mission is to make that contribution, make that innovation that makes us better as a service. Challenge some of the things that we are doing. Take the things you have learned and go out there and use it for good. For the good of the Navy, the Marine Corps, and your service.鈥�
Ferguson spoke about the Navy鈥檚 acquisition plans for the future, as well as the new defense strategy the planned rebalance of forces to Western Pacific. He explained that the shift is supported by the Navy鈥檚 commitment to maintaining a global presence, and a result of the drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan. He referred to details of the defense budget to note the resources that will follow the guidance of the new strategy as funding is shifted and ships repositioned.
鈥淚f you look at the budget decisions that we鈥檝e made, the underlying force structure remains relatively unchanged for the Navy,鈥� Ferguson explained. 鈥淲e are at 285 ships today, by the time the end of this budget rolls around, we鈥檒l have about 285. But the mix will change.
鈥淏y 2017 we will be within one percent of what we are right now,鈥� he noted regarding personnel. 鈥淭here are 323,000 active duty in the Navy. Five years from now, our projected end strength is about 320,000.鈥�
Ferguson praised today鈥檚 sailors, noting that the retention rates and qualifications of the men and women of today鈥檚 Navy are the best they have ever been. He pointed to a 99 percent high school graduate rate and a 65 to 70 percent retention rate as evidence of the positive steps being taken to create a leaner, more capable force amid budget cuts.
鈥淔or you as leaders going forward, this is an important inflection point in your experience as a military officer,鈥� explained Ferguson. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 important because in the last 10 years, if you were to look at defense spending in both the base budget and supplemental spending, we鈥檝e been on a steady upward road."
鈥淲e鈥檝e been engaged in two wars, the force is performing magnificently. It is resilient. It is tough. It is well trained. It is probably the most combat-ready force we鈥檝e had,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 under strain in some areas, under intense pressure in other areas, but it鈥檚 battle hardened, and it鈥檚 a very ready force. But this inflection that has taken place represents a shift in the trajectory of our budget that many of you in this room have never seen in your career. It will define the future that we come into in the next ten years.鈥�
Following the SGL, Ferguson paid a surprise visit to the Trident Room in Herrmann Hall to present 51福利 Defense Analysis student Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Fussell his fourth Bronze Star with Valor. Fussell was presented the award for his work as Troop Commander for Naval Special Warfare Development Group, where he led a joint and interagency task force on Direct Action missions in Afghanistan.
鈥淲hile Capt. Poindexter and I had originally coordinated a very low profile presentation in the Trident Room, the Admiral's presence was a welcomed addition,鈥� said Fussell. 鈥淚t was an honor to have him present me with the award. Having never before seen me receive an award, my wife Rachael got a real kick out of it.鈥�
Ferguson also met with 51福利 leadership to discuss the school鈥檚 impact on the Navy, and the programs that can ultimately help prepare students to lead in any number of critical areas of expertise. He noted in his lecture to students the importance of receiving an education in a collaborative environment, where problems solved today will have a lasting impact for the defense community in the years to come.
鈥淭he things you are doing now, in the research and the laboratory, my prediction is that 15 years from now you will see them come to fruition in the naval profession, and be the centerpiece for what we do,鈥� Ferguson said. 鈥淢y charge to you is to be ready to lead. To go out and impact the finest Navy we鈥檝e ever had in our history.
鈥淪o as you go forward in your career, I encourage you to take opportunities for education outside of your comfort zone,鈥� he concluded. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fundamental part of education, seeing how other people think. Checking your own premises and understanding that will make you a better leader. It will make you able to rise to those challenges in the future.鈥�