SAN DIEGO — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens visited San Diego to meet with Sailors, participate in a naval conference and tour several waterfront activities, Feb. 17 to 20.
CNO and MCPON toured several San Diego-based training facilities, including Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Pacific, the Littoral Combat Ship Training Facility (LTF) and the Naval Special Warfare Command.
"This is my first time visiting here since I've become your CNO," said Richardson during an all hands call at Naval Base San Diego. "What a wonderful place to come visit — just about every part of our Navy and Marine Corps team is here."
During the call CNO and MCPON were asked about the value of utilizing technology to improve how Sailors learn and train in the Fleet.
"Imagine going to your "A" school and everything was wireless," said Stevens. "You have all your books and everything you do is on your device. We're trying to go paperless and move into the 21st century."
"People are using these technologies to great effect," added Richardson. "I want to expand the use of these types of technologies down into the workspace."
Wrapping up the trip, CNO joined Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller and Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Michel for a joint-service town hall discussion.
The town hall is part of WEST 2016, a naval conference and exposition on the West Coast, co-sponsored by the AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) International and the U.S. Naval Institute.
During the conversation, CNO discussed the importance of forums like WEST to help push technology and innovation in today's Navy.
"I think this conference is just terrific. Bringing everybody together — active duty, industry, this is an innovation lab in and of itself."
