Challenge

Security, efficiency and environmental stewardship form the cornerstones of Navy’s energy strategy. In October of 2009, the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) challenged Navy with five stretch goals:

• Energy Efficient Acquisition: Mandate energy evaluations when awarding contracts for systems and buildings.
• Sail the “Great Green Fleet”: Demonstrate a Green Strike Group in local operations by 2012 and sailit by 2016.
• Reduce Non-Tactical Petroleum Use: By 2015, reduce DON petroleum use in the commercial fleet by 50%.
• Increase Alternative Energy Ashore: By 2020, source more than 50% of shore-based energy requirements from alternatives; 50% of DON installations will be net-zero.
• Increase Alternative Energy Use DON-Wide: By 2020, 50% of total DON energy consumption will come from alternative sources.

The Department of the Navy (DON) will need to innovate new technologies, educate its workforce, and change its corporate practices in order to accelerate compelling, relevant, & sustainable solutions. The SECNAV Energy Series will develop executives in strategic and innovative corporate practices that will enable Navy’s energy strategy of greater security, efficiency and environmental stewardship.  For systemic culture change, consider the potential impact of affecting the following four aspects of the DON:

• Performance: Champion high-impact practices that solve or create new options for warfighting and business challenges in an era of constrained resources. Lead effective transformation initiatives.
• Sustainment: Recruit and develop a community of change agents who will continue to learn, collaborate & accelerate compelling policies, programs & practices for our energy strategy.
• Talent: Advocate for comprehensive energy talent management that addresses recruitment, assignments, development, education, assessments, rewards, and incentives.
• Action: Catalyze positive action. Encourage and resource experiments and change that lead to growth, effectiveness, and a higher positive impact. Reward attempts to innovate.

The private sector and the Office of Naval Research will create the new technologies and the Naval Postgraduate School will deliver the graduate education for the armed services. Mr. Tom Hicks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, has requested the Cebrowski Institute to investigate the design, development, and delivery of an executive education program that focuses on changing the corporate practices of the Navy.