NWDC Gathers Navy Leaders to Discuss Warfare Challenges and Great Power Competition

Naval warfare and great power competition challenges were the focus of two events held at the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) April 24 and 25.
NWDC hosted both the Warfighting Development Center (WDC) Leadership Huddle (LH) and the Advance Warfighting Summit (AWS) 19-1.
“The WDC LH series provides collaborative opportunities for multiple WDCs, Military Sealift Command (MSC), Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (CPRG), and Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC),” said U.S. Navy Capt. Przemyslaw "Kaz" Kaczynski, head of the NWDC Operations Department. “Commanders have the opportunity to discuss current mission area challenges, and integrate cross-domain warfighting and training development.
“Like WDC LHs, the AWS is conducted twice per year, with NWDC recently finishing the ninth in the series.  We gather all CSG (Carrier Strike Group) and ESG (Expeditionary Strike Group) commanders, WDC commanders, and other Fleet leaders together to capture current warfighting challenges and share insights to inform force development and warfighting integration.  We shape and focus each AWS around a specific area of operation, with briefs provided by national and defense intelligence agencies, prominent civilian thinkers, and relevant fleet and WDC leadership.”
Kaczynski went on to say, “The summits traditionally include comments delivered by a four-star admiral to stimulate rich discussion from the groups as we focused on their Areas of Responsibility (AOR).  Both venues provide senior fleet leaders an opportunity to collaborate, strengthen cross-domain warfighting capabilities, and hone approaches to dealing with competitors and potential adversaries in their respective areas of operation.”
Twice a year, the focus of the venues change based on emerging threat capabilities, real world events, emerging technologies, and evolving material and non-material warfighting solutions.  The focus of the events is designed to add value for all warfighters, starting with the Strike Group and WDC commanders, who benefit greatly from the opportunity to hear directly from guest speakers and subject matter experts.
The event featured a speech by award-winning naval historian Trent Hone, author of “Learning War, The Evolution of Fighting Doctrine in the U.S. NAVY, 1898-1945.” Hone discussed innovation and the evolution of the fleet, as well as lessons in the inter-war period between WWI and WWII. 
Learning War examines the U.S. Navy's doctrinal development from 1898-1945 and explains why the Navy in that era was so successful as an organization at fostering innovation. A revolutionary study of one of history's greatest success stories, this book draws important conclusions that give new insight, not only into how the Navy succeeded in becoming the best naval force in the world, but also into how modern organizations can exploit today's rapid technological and social changes in their pursuit of success.
Hone is a managing consultant with Excella who works with organizations to improve their art of practice, increase effectiveness, and accelerate learning.
“These events result in evolved knowledge, enhanced warfighting solution development, and strengthened relationships between critical capability providers across the fleet,” Kacyznski said.
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NWDC develops and integrates innovative solutions to complex naval warfare challenges to enhance current and future warfighting capabilities. Command professionals are focused on operational-level concept generation, warfighting development, and cross-domain integration to strengthen U.S. Navy warfighting power.