Surface Navy Association to Hold Annual Symposium

January 11, 2019

Rear Adm. Ronald A. Boxall, director, Surface Warfare, addresses attendees of the Surface Navy Association's 30th National Symposium in 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Timothy Hale)

The Surface Navy Association will hold its 31st National Symposium January 15-17, 2019 at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.

The symposium will feature senior Navy leaders delivering keynote remarks, focused on the theme of “Ready, Agile, Focused: Own the Fight!”

Featured speakers include Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran; Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Richard A. Brown, USN; Director, Surface Warfare (N96) Rear Adm. Ronald A. Boxall; and Director, Expeditionary Warfare (N95) Maj. Gen. David W. Coffman, USMC. And that’s just the first afternoon’s sessions.

Keynote speakers include Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer; Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command Adm. Christopher W. Grady; Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet/Commander, Task Force 6/Commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO/Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Europe Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti; and Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT), prospective HASC Seapower Subcommittee Chairman. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz is scheduled to speak, although Coast Guard participation may be affected by the government shutdown.

Panels will cover issues such as accelerated and innovative acquisition; crew endurance; building the future force; and maintaining the current force. The commentator’s panel will provide viewpoints from policy experts and the media. Roundtable discussions will be conducted for junior officers, enlisted surface warriors, midshipmen and Coast Guard cuttermen.

As in years past, the International Navies luncheon will feature naval attaches from partner nations. This year will feature the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Japan and Chile.

The symposium will also include the annual Surface Navy Awards presentations and the annual banquet. This year’s banquet speaker is Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Philip Davidson.

A popular session each year is the Naval Heritage Program. This year’s program is "Saga of the USS Indianapolis." Presenters include historian Dr. Richard Hulver of the Navy History and Heritage Command; marine archeologist Blair Atcheson of the Navy History and Heritage Command; and retired Capt. Bill Toti, who commanded the USS Indianapolis (SSN 697).

The more than 80 companies and organizations will have booths in the exhibit area.