Maryland Fleet Week Showcases Navy’s Energy Initiatives

Photo By Samantha Thorpe | 161013-N-PI709-139 BALTIMORE (Oct. 13, 2016) Stewie, the Steward of the Sea mascot, high fives a child who is heading to take a tour, with his family, aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), during Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore. The event provides the people and media of the greater Maryland/Baltimore area an opportunity to interact with Sailors and Marines, as well as see, firsthand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Second Class Samantha O. Thorpe/Released)  

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES

10.13.2016

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Ernest Scott 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Reserve)

BALTIMORE –The Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division set up a display aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) to inform the American public of the Secretary of the Navy’s energy conservation efforts, Oct. 13.
In 2009, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced five aggressive energy goals to reduce the Department of the Navy’s consumption of energy, decrease it’s reliance on foreign sources of oil, and significantly increase it’s use of alternative energy.
“Our goal is to communicate that the Navy is doing a great job to protect the environment and save energy,” said Kenneth Hess, director, communication and outreach for the CNOs Energy and Environmental Readiness Division. “We are bringing that message to Fleet Week and the people who come see the Navy.”
The presentation, which was designed to attract visitors who were touring the ship as part of Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore, explained recycling procedures used aboard all Navy ships, described the use of new alternative fuel sources and informed the public of the steps taken to protect marine mammals when it comes to the use of sonar technology.
“We are protecting our nation, but at the same time we are trying to do it safely for these marine mammals,” said Petty Officer Second Class Jessie Gonzalez, a sonar technician aboard Jason Dunham. “We are not out there to cause harm, we are out there to make it a better, safer place for everyone.”
The energy and environmental display, along with the tour of the ship, showed guests how far efforts have advanced aboard Navy vessels.
According to former Petty Officer Second Class Ken Funk, who served from 1965 to 1969, technology on board the ships has grown exponentially.
“The equipment we had to work with, versus what is here now, is night and day,” said Funk. “It is impressive to talk to some of the Sailors who are so knowledgeable and know their job so well, it is a good fighting machine.”
Technological advancements will go a long way to achieving the SECNAV energy goals but the full value of these initiatives will not be achieved without changing the culture and increasing energy awareness down to the deckplate level.

• Date Taken: 10.13.2016
• Date Posted: 10.13.2016 21:02
• Story ID: 211962
• Location: BALTIMORE, MD, US