Vice Chief Talks Strategy and Leadership

From Naval Postgraduate School Public Affairs

MONTEREY, Calif. (NNS) (NNS) -- The vice chief of naval operations delivered a Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture (SGL) to students, faculty and staff of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Feb. 16 in King Auditorium.

Adm. Mark Ferguson's remarks focused on Navy's role in defense strategy and priorities recently announced as part of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget submission. He also discussed other personnel and readiness topics.

Held several times throughout the year, SGLs provide insights into current and emerging national security priorities from the leaders who guide them, and help students and faculty link their study, teaching and research efforts to the defense needs of the nation.

"Our strategy places a premium on global presence with a rebalance toward Asia-Pacific and the Middle East" said Ferguson. "It balances future capability with current readiness."

Ferguson told the audience that while in some cases force structure may be reduced, the Navy and Marine Corps will remain "agile, flexible, ready, and technologically advanced while retaining core Navy-Marine Corps warfighting capabilities."

Emphasizing the Navy's critical role in national security and economic prosperity, Ferguson said that the Chief of Naval Operations' three tenets of warfighting first, operate forward and be ready were the "lenses" that Navy budget priorities where focused through.

Before taking questions from the audience, Ferguson discussed what he believes is expected from Navy leaders and how they must make a difference daily.

"Be ready to lead--each of you are empowered to make contibutions and commitments to make our Navy a better place," he said. "In today's Navy you have to bring your 'A-game' every day."

Ferguson is a 1984 graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science, and was honored with the university's Distinguished Alumni Award in December of 2008

In addition to SGL remarks Ferguson and his wife Lauré met with U.S. and international Sailors, civilians and families from NPS and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey.