Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly recently addressed the Sea-Air-Space 2019 Exposition in National Harbor, Md., and called for embracing a recent “Education for Seapower” report recommending the service create a more agile education infrastructure to develop the nation’s sailors and future leaders, according to Seapower Magazine.
Modly’s remarks to attendees strongly endorsed the report’s proposal of a top-down review of how sailors and future Navy leaders are educated, from ROTC to recruit training and extending through continuing education and leadership development.
“We cannot take our eye off the ball in developing people,” Modly said, stressing that today’s Navy recruits possess more technical skills and expect a different service experience. “We have to think of the kinds of kids we recruit.”
Modly also endorsed that a naval university system should be created and a new chief learning officer (CLO) appointed.
“We need to get that key leader in place,” Modly said.
A new CLO’s background should include some military service and large university system experience, according to Modly. He also emphasized that the Navy’s education budget is small and needs expansion.
Modly will be a keynote speaker at ADC’s upcoming 2019 Defense Communities National Summit June 10-12.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jasen Moreno-Garcia