NORFOLK, Va. - Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command will host a one-day Fleet Training Forum for 400 operational unit-level leaders, March 25, 2014, on Naval Station Norfolk. Featured speakers will include Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations and Environment), Dennis McGinn; Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. Bill Gortney; and Rear Adm. Kevin Slates, OPNAV N45 Energy and Environmental Readiness.
Other sessions will be conducted by representatives of the aviation, surface and submarine type commands, Military Sealift Command, and Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, as well as Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Sea Systems Command.
The goal of this training is to increase awareness of need to reduce energy consumption throughout the fleet. Because energy efficiency enhances combat capability, one of the key messages of the event is that the Navy is transitioning from a philosophy of "saving energy if you can" to "saving energy unless you can't."
According to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, "Energy reform must inform and shape every decision we make during research, development, and procurement of our systems, during training operations, and during daily life aboard ship, on base, and in our homes. It requires the efforts of every sailor and Marine from the newest seaman recruits and privates to our admirals and generals."
As part of this event, McGinn will present Secretary of the Navy Energy Awards to six ships. In the Military Sealift Command category, USNS Robert E. Peary and USNS Grapple will be recognized. In the small ship category, USS Nicholas will be recognized as a "Platinum" award winner. USS Roosevelt and USS Gravely will be recognized in the medium ship category, and USS Kearsarge will accept an award in the large ship category. All of these ships are based in Hampton Roads, with the exception of USS Roosevelt which is based at Naval Station Mayport.
A similar energy training event was conducted last month for West Coast commands in San Diego.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Members of the media interested in covering this event should meet at the Navy Tour Office on Hampton Blvd. no later than 8:15 a.m., March 25, for escort onto the base. Following the initial session featuring ASN McGinn and ADM Gortney, they will conduct a media availability focused on Navy energy policy. Media who wish to stay for sessions past the media availability will be permitted to do so, and other interviews will be offered with leadership and event attendees. Interested media outlets should RSVP to Mr. Ted Brown, (757) 836-4427, no later than close of business March 24.