Senior leaders of the U.S. Navy kicked off the 19th biennial International Seapower Symposium (ISS) at the Naval War College Oct. 7.
The symposium will conclude Oct. 9.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead welcomed more than 100 navies' senior leadership to the symposium and thanked them for coming together to discuss challenges and opportunities that will further enhance mutual cooperation and common bonds of maritime partnership.
"Your presence here at this symposium demonstrates that the bonds of naval service and mutual respect transcend national boundaries," said Mabus. "This forum is critical to maintaining open lines of communication
across borders and across political boundaries."
This year's theme, "Connecting Navies, Building Partnership," seeks to advance maritime cooperation at regional and global levels by bringing together the world's foremost naval and maritime services to openly
exchange ideas for discussion that will strengthen the safety, the security and the prosperity of the world's oceans.
"I believe that we maritime service chiefs are on the cutting edge of international partnership, and I do believe that we must challenge ourselves during ISS 19 to think expansively about how our mutual efforts can safeguard international peace and prosperity in the 21st
century," said Roughead.
The first ISS was held in Newport, R.I., in November 1969 with Navy senior leadership from 38 nations. The last ISS was held in 2007 with 100 Navy chiefs and senior flag officers present. ISS is the world's largest
meeting of world naval leaders and is the world's capstone seapower conference.
To listen to Mabus and Roughead's remarks, go to
http://www.ebmcdn.net/nmc/asx/iss/iss100709.asx.
T.J.Vanderwyst (NNS)
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