On September 9th, the VSRA General Membership meeting was held as part of a joint luncheon with the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) Fleet Maintenance and Modernization Symposium (FMMS) at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The event saw widespread participation from VSRA Member companies.
The luncheon's keynote speaker was VADM Thomas Rowden, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet. VADM Rowden's decorated career began as a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Rowden's sea assignments include duty in cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Ashore, he has served on the Joint Staff as an action officer in the Defense and Space Operations Division (J38); on the chief of naval operations staff as the theater missile and air defense branch head for the director, Navy Missile Defense (N71), and as the executive assistant to the Director of Surface Warfare (N76), among other assignments. VADM Rowden's decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other personal, unit and campaign awards.
Below, please find a summary of the symposium and VADM Rowden's remarks, prepared by Joe Yurso:
"The American Society of Naval Engineers Tidewater section presented the Fleet Maintenance and Modernization Symposium 2014 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on 9 and 10 September 2014. This is a premier event that included 140 exhibiting companies combined with 19 technical presentations. The theme of the conference “Delivering Readiness in Austere Times” was timely and reflected the challenge facing the Navy and Coast Guard in this fiscally restrained environment. The event included Platinum sponsors: BAE Systems, General Dynamics Nassco and Lockheed Martine. Gold Sponsors and Bronze Sponsors included: AMSEC, Newport News Shipbuilding, McKean Defense, SCI Siemens, Valkyrie, Dassault Systems, Philadelphia Gear and QED Systems.
The estimated attendance was 1500. The keynote speakers for the two days included Mr. Mark Honecker (SES) representing Fleet Forces Command, VADM Tom Rowden COMNAVSURFOR, and VADM Hilarides, COMNAV SEA. The Port Engineers and the Coast Guard were a key addition to this symposium.
The panels included the view from the deckplates by Senior Chiefs from Navy and Coast Guard moderated by RADM Mark Hugel USN (retired); Readiness vs. Funding Tradeoffs –Balance vs. Risk with key people on the panel; Surface, Submarine, Carrier Maintenance Town Hall and Readiness Impacts from High OP Tempo. The panels and the technical sessions were well attended. The exhibitors expressed much satisfaction with the symposium.
In addition, exhibitors were invited to have table tops displays at the Naval Station on the morning o 8 September with a golf tournament that afternoon.
This event will be held again in September 2016. A similar event will be held September 2015 in San Diego. Please check the website for additional information www.navalengineers.org
VADM Rowden gave his view of the responsibilities of Commander of Naval Surface Forces. He expressed his vision based on having served in the Fleet in various positions and now he is personally responsible for the maintenance of the ships and training of the men and women that man the ships. He prepares the people and the ships they man for the operational commanders. He expressed his confidence they are successfully carrying out the Navy’s warfighting mission throughout the world. The Surface ships are fulfilling a vital role for the Nation and the free world. The people that perform maintenance and modernization of the US Navy Surface ships are an essential ingredient to the success of the mission."
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