MADISON, Wis (NNS) -- The University of Wisconsin Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit welcomed Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michelle Howard, on Friday, Nov. 20.
Howard began her visit by meeting with the unit's commanding officer, Capt. Christopher Murdoch. She then delivered a brief to the unit's midshipmen, followed by a question and answer session.
"Today was truly a unique and important opportunity for our future leaders to hear from the very highest leadership in the Navy. We are very fortunate that Admiral Howard took time from her busy schedule to visit us today," said Capt. Murdoch.
The subject of the VCNO's brief was leadership, change, and the cyber domain. She spoke about the leadership challenges that accompany integration of new technology, citing examples as early as the first flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. She described the evolution of warfare through multiple dimensions, starting with sea and land in the first dimension and culminating with cyber domain, the fourth dimension.
"We are going to have to learn to fight in this domain," Howard stated. "We're going to have to understand it the way we understand sea warfare and air warfare."
Howard also pointed out that 80 percent of today's Sailors are Millennials and grew up with technology that did not exist when most Navy leaders began their service. She discussed the challenges that arise from trying to balance the opportunities available in the cyber domain with its inherent vulnerabilities.
"There is going to be technology change in your lives," Howard told the midshipmen. "The speed of change is not going to slow down, and in five or six years as you're beginning your service some of this new technology is going to become part of your obligation as a leader - not only how we succeed in this domain as warfighters, but how we lead our people in this domain so that they will be successful warfighters."
"Admiral Howard's speech was very thought-provoking, and it was a topic I have not given much consideration until today. Moving into the cyber domain truly is challenging, especially when you think about how a lot of our aircraft and drones now have the capability to be controlled in the 4th dimension," said Midshipman 4/C Molly Hannan, from Indianapolis, Indiana. "It was eye-opening to hear that this is a topic being handled at the very top of the Department of the Navy."
"Admiral Howard inspired me to reflect more on the implications of assuming leadership in a domain of uncertainty," said Midshipman 1/C Colin Gallaher, from Edina, Minnesota, who will commission in December 2015 as an officer in the Submarine Warfare community. "It definitely presents a challenge but also a unique opportunity."
Howard received her commission as a Surface Warfare Officer from the United States Naval Academy in 1982. Her sea tours included duty aboard USS Hunley (AS31), USS Lexington (AVT16), USS Mount Hood (AE 29), and USS Tortuga (LSD 46). In 1999, she took command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47), becoming the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy. She currently serves as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
The midshipmen of the University of Wisconsin-Madison NROTC unit are among more than 4,000 students enrolled in the NROTC program at colleges and universities throughout the country.
The NROTC program was established to develop midshipmen mentally, morally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty and loyalty. The program also develops midshipmen with the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment in order to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil.
For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at https://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.
For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/.