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News
NEWS | Oct. 16, 2019

CNO Visits Rota Sailors; highlights people, readiness and modernization

By Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday visited Naval Station Rota, October 15.

During the visit, Gilday met with forward-deployed Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) as well as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, where he highlighted the importance of warfighting and readiness.

“We must be ready to fight tonight, if required,” said Gilday. “Mission one for each of our Sailors – active, reserve and civilian – is the operational readiness of the fleet.”

Gilday also emphasized his focus on Sailors as warfighters. 

“Sailors are our most important weapons system – especially in a dynamic area of operations like 6th Fleet,” Gilday said. “We are depending on Sailors’ tenacity, drive, and initiative to meet the array of challenges we’ll encounter tomorrow… and win.”

Gilday told Sailors in Rota that training, maintenance and modernization are vital to ensuring that the Navy will remain ready for decades to come. 

“Improving depot-level maintenance, integrating space and cyber capabilities, modernizing training and education, and striving toward a culture of excellence will ensure we have a ready Navy for tomorrow,” he said.

Gilday will speak at the Regional Seapower Symposium (RSS) in Venice later this week as well as conduct a fleet engagement with Sailors in Naples, Italy.

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