The summer culminated in an absolutely outstanding Hook reunion in Reno in September. I saw a lot of the past, present and future of Naval Aviation at Hook ’05. Well done to the staff at Tailhook Association for putting on such a great event. I am already looking forward to next year!
We have had some staff changes in N78. We wish fair winds and following seas to my deputy, RADM Andy Winns, who heads to the Joint Staff after a great tour contributing to the future of Naval Aviation. A few short weeks ago, N78 welcomed aboard RADM Bruce Clingan as my deputy, who comes from command of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) strike group, which just completed a round-the-world deployment.
Getting the Word Out
During the Flag Panel at Hook, a question was asked about how to get the word out on the great things Naval Aviation has done and is doing. My first thought was, “How can we get Tailhookers the latest and greatest?”
One of the most important things everybody in Naval Aviation can do is to communicate all the great successes of Naval Aviation to the American public, our warfighters, and the decision makers in D.C. Therefore, in this issue of The Hook, I would like to point out several recently published works available to make that communication possible.
Ms. Rebecca Grant has written a compelling study of carrier aviation in OEF/OIF entitled Battle-Tested: Carrier Aviation in Afghanistan and Iraq (Iris Press, 2005). This publication, written with the full cooperation of the Navy, includes the results of interviews with air wing commanders, carrier COs and strike-group commanders. Ms. Grant’s book begins by taking a look at the revolution in strike warfare that has occurred over the past 15 years since Operation Desert Storm, followed by a look at the rise of terrorist operations and the events of 11 September 2001. Her detailed look at the decisive carrier combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq includes in-depth analysis of Operation Anaconda and the training/deployment preparation for Iraq operations. Ms. Grant concludes by presenting an interesting analysis that examines Naval Aviation’s strategic direction.
Mr. Benjamin Lambeth of the RAND Corporation has completed a monograph entitled American Carrier Air Power at the Dawn of a New Century that looks at the overall picture of carrier aviation in the 21st century. Like Ms. Grant, Lambeth looks at the role of carrier-based tactical aviation in Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, but he also examines such topics as the Fleet Response Plan, surge deployments and CVN-21. His paper concludes with an analysis entitled “The Changing Face of American Carrier Air Power” and includes sections on improvements for the Super Hornet, development of the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft, the Joint Strike Fighter, JSF, helicopter concept of operations, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), network-centric warfare and carrier air wing composition.
Dr. Owen Cote of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Security Studies Program has written a paper entitled The Future of Naval Aviation that focuses on the role of Naval Aviation in the 21st century. Dr. Cote examines the political landscape of the current world situation and the part played by Naval Aviation in shaping the maritime and littoral environments.
He looks at the impact of world events on carrier forward presence and Naval Aviation capabilities as they relate to a wartime surge. His look at the role of the Sea Base and requirements for land-based maritime patrol aircraft support the demands for a dominant naval power to maintain a continuous presence throughout the world’s oceans. Lastly, Dr. Cote looks at carrier-based tactical aviation in the future with the role of rapid targeting/retargeting, space surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles and UCAVs, and airborne combined arms operations centers. Dr. Cote’s take on the future of carrier strike warfare is a fascinating combination of conventional wisdom and futurist thought that will, I am sure, generate much discussion and critical thinking among those who read his paper.
Naval Aviation Vision Describes Naval Aviation Enterprise
The final publication I would like to mention is the recently published Naval Aviation Vision. I hope those of you who were at Hook ’05 were able to pick up an electronic copy of this document on the CDs we were handing out. This Naval Aviation Enterprise publication is the white paper for the program planning of Naval Aviation out to 2020. The Vision is a joint publication created by the staffs of N78, Commander Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Systems Command and, in addition to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and weapons road maps, reflects how each staff plays a role in the overall Naval Aviation Enterprise.
The opening page perhaps best summarizes what the Vision is all about: “To deliver the right force with the right readiness at the right cost at the right time … today, and in the future.”
The Vision document details the role of the Naval Aviation Enterprise in revolutionizing the way Naval Aviation operates through process improvement initiatives, eliminating stovepipes and understanding how seemingly disconnected issues have an overall impact on all of Naval Aviation. I am very proud of the Naval Aviation Vision 2020 publication and hope that you have a chance to look at it in detail.
All of the documents I have described are or will be available shortly on the Web at http://www.nae.cnaf.navy.mil
Again, it was a great Hook reunion at Reno and I encourage each of you to attend next year, especially if you missed this year’s event. I ask that each of you read at least one of the papers on Naval Aviation just described. As members of the Tailhook Association, this information will help us spread the word on the exciting capabilities and accomplishments of Naval Aviation as we remain engaged at the tip of the spear.
Ed Note: RADM Tom Kilcline, a 1973 graduate of the Naval Academy, was designated a Naval Aviator in 1975 and received orders as a pilot to the fighter community where he flew operationally with VF-51, VF-126 and VF-213. Kilcline has commanded VF-154, Carrier Air Wing 14 and Carrier Group Two.
Shore assignments include the staff of 2nd Fleet, CNO Chair to the National War College, Executive Assistant to Deputy, European Command, Chief of Staff for Commander Naval Air Forces, and most recently, Director, Naval Aviation Plans and Requirements (N780). He was named Director, Air Warfare Division in August 2004.
RADM Kilcline in 32 years has amassed more than 5,300 flight hours in the F-4, F-14, F/A-18, A-4 and F-5 aircraft, and has logged 1,150 carrier arrested landings.