ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard participated in a panel discussion during the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Dialogue 2015 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Dec. 10.
The topic for the panel was "Implementing Successful National Maritime Strategies." The panel examined the experiences of the United States, the Netherlands, Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon in developing and implementing their respective national maritime strategies.
Adm. Howard said we must change our viewpoint from a land and people based viewpoint to a maritime viewpoint.
"We are going to operate in the maritime domain and think about it in those terms because if we don't think about it then who will," said Howard.
She also said the U.S. and her partner nations all have a common sense of security and a role to play in protecting that security.
"All I see is opportunities for cooperation," said Howard. "The Gulf of Guinea is an area of cooperation that can benefit all our nations."
She sat on the panel with Rear Adm. Djakaridja Konate, Chief of Naval Staff Ivorian Navy and Mr. Samuel Kame-Domguia from the African Union. Rear Adm. Gardner Howe, Naval War College President, was the moderator for the panel.
The panel discussed how comprehensive national maritime strategy and "whole of government" approach is imperative to securing the maritime domain.
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