{"id":38608,"date":"2025-05-02T20:18:38","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T20:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/05\/02\/head-navy-officer-lists-top-tasks-for-service-eyes-2027\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:35:45","slug":"head-navy-officer-lists-top-tasks-for-service-eyes-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2025\/05\/02\/head-navy-officer-lists-top-tasks-for-service-eyes-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Head Navy officer lists top tasks for service, eyes 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Navy\u2019s highest-ranking officer detailed the service\u2019s priorities in light of projected adversarial timelines at a Washington defense conference Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James W. Kilby delivered a state of the Navy address at Modern Day Marine, where he spoke of fortifying the naval service through recruiting efforts and investments in emerging technology, among other goals, in an effort to prepare for China\u2019s alleged military readiness goal<\/a> over the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur focus is 2027, and I want everyone\u2019s focus to be on 2027,\u201d Kilby said. \u201cWe are responding to a call from our adversary China who said, \u2018We want to be ready in 2027.\u2019 Therefore, the United States Navy, and I would argue our military, must be ready in 2027 across all our platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparation for the goalpost year was broken down into several parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first was to ensure that 80% of aircraft, submarines and ships were combat-ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kilby said that resources not undergoing maintenance needed to be \u201cready to go\u201d and available for fleet commanders responding to battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy would continue to incorporate robotic and autonomous systems into the fleet, achieving a hybrid fleet of manned and unmanned systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He identified the need for recruiting to fully stock ships with sailors, especially with 23,000 manning gaps at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to burn those down as quickly as possible so that ship is ready and able to perform its mission,\u201d Kilby said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality of service investments were integral, too, a sentiment echoed by Marine Corps leaders earlier in the week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kilby specifically mentioned the Barracks 2030 initiative<\/a>, a nearly $11 billion effort to renovate Marine Corps housing, and promised better Wi-Fi and parking for sailors. <\/p>\n\n\n\t