Round 2 for Navy’s Ocean task force

WASHINGTON - The Mississippi Gulf Coast-based Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, and Office of Naval Research, convened Task Force Ocean's second executive steering committee July 6 at the Pentagon. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson was keynote speaker and directed a forum on the future direction of the task force and to foster discussion between the executive steering committee and leaders from the ocean science community. “The science that feeds our undersea advantage has been shrinking for some time now,” CNO said. “Our margin is shrinking faster and faster and we need to recapture the momentum. That's what this effort (Task Force Ocean) is all about." The steering committee is headed by senior leaders from U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Fleet Forces, Naval Postgraduate School, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Coast Guard. They convened to discuss new initiatives and provide updates. "Having some of the country's most influential leaders and scientists together today reflects the urgency to ensure the U.S. retains a leading role in advancing our understanding of the oceans," said Oceanographer of the Navy and task force director Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet Gallaudet. "Moving forward, we need to take that understanding and apply it to our national security challenges." The task force, launched in March, is part of an effort to further assess the state of ocean science in the Navy, which encompasses its oceanographic infrastructure, technologies, technical workforce and how they are applied to naval operations. Completion of the ocean science roadmap is expected by the end of 2017. (Source: Oceanographer of the Navy 07/12/17) Gulf Coast Note: The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command is headquartered at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.