{"id":13711,"date":"2019-02-13T22:30:09","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T22:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/13\/why-secnav-is-launching-naval-university\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:43:16","slug":"why-secnav-is-launching-naval-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2019\/02\/13\/why-secnav-is-launching-naval-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Why SECNAV is launching Naval University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy\u2019s top civilian wants to beef up the service\u2019s brainpower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why a flurry of action memos and glossy pamphlets greeted Navy Secretary Richard Spencer<\/a>\u2019s Tuesday announcement launching the \u201cEducation for Seapower<\/a>\u201d campaign, a push to hike and hone critical thinking skills in the Navy and Marine Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it\u2019s finished, Spencer hopes his program will combine the education efforts for enlisted and officer personnel under a single Department of the Navy university that\u2019s accredited to grant diplomas, from associate degrees up to advanced post-graduate work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am convinced, now more than ever before, that the intellectual development of our naval leaders is the most critical warfighting capability for our national security,” Spencer wrote in a Feb. 5 memo that outlined his goals for the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To achieve this, I intend to create a Naval University System that further integrates and aligns naval education, beginning with the establishment of a Naval Community College for our enlisted sailors and Marines.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer indicated that he\u2019s already ordered the Navy\u2019s top financial officer to \u201cidentify resources\u201d in the budgets for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 \u201cto ensure immediate educational enterprise resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy will create a pair of senior-level positions, one uniformed and the other civilian, to helm the campaign, according to the memo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A three-star admiral will join the Chief of Naval Operation\u2019s staff as the \u201cDirector of Warfighting Development\u201d \u2014 the \u201cN7\u201d \u2014 to become the \u201cresource sponsor and strategic leader for naval education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flag officer will work alongside the Marine Corps\u2019 existing Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration<\/a> and a new civilian \u201cChief Learning Officer\u201d who will report directly to the secretary of the Navy and an appointed undersecretary while they craft the university system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer\u2019s memo directs the CLO\u2019s office to be \u201cfully operational no later than June 1,\u201d but it listed no deadline for when the three-star billet will be filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer flies a T-45 flight simulator aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville during a Jan. 10 site visit. All naval flight training falls under the Chief of Naval Air Training, which is headquartered in Corpus Christi. ( Anne Owens\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Instead of erecting a traditional campus, the secretary appears to be directing Marine Corps and Navy leaders to stitch together existing educational institutions and programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the merger will combine institutions designed to instruct commissioned officers or midshipmen such as the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval War College, Marine Corps University and Naval Postgraduate School to better \u201calign and orchestrate the academic efforts and resources of all naval education activities\u201d Spencer wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Spencer doesn\u2019t want them to lose either their unique cultural identities or independence, which is why his instructions urged them to retain \u201cthe special characteristics and strengths of each institution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201coperational reporting\u201d chain of command for each institution won\u2019t change, but the institutions will be required to collaborate with the Chief Learning Officer and the Navy and Marine Corps flag officers while realigning curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer\u2019s focus on overseeing \u201cacademic curricula\u201d will extend to the Naval Reserve Officers\u2019 Training Corps and the Officer Candidates Schools of the Navy and Marine Corps and the new system will absorb Federal Executive Fellowships and the education programs for flag officers, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within the next two months, Spencer also expects Jim Guerts, the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, to provide him \u201corganizational options\u201d for a \u201cNaval Community College\u201d that will be established for enlisted sailors and Marines by early 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer wrote that this \u201cfirst vital step\u201d will help construct a Naval University that will offer accredited degrees in \u201cacademic disciplines that advance lethality, partnership, and reform of our supporting processes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t