Not since the early 1800s has the United States faced upgrading its Navy and addressing pirates on the open seas.
But today’s Navy, under the leadership of Secretary Donald Winters, is trying to become even more tech-savvy, while dealing with Somali pirates capturing ships near Africa and holding them for ransom.
Winters became the 74th secretary of the Navy in 2006 and was a Northrop Grumman executive. He has bachelor’s and master’s in physics.
Winters on Monday was at the U.S. Naval Academy to honor four academy graduates who won the Medal of Honor.
The Examiner asked Winters about the Navy’s role in Africa, the future of the Navy and his career with a new administration coming into the White House.
What is the future of the Navy?
Mainly, a continuation of the what the Navy and Marine Corps have been doing for the past 200 years — facing the threats to our country.
But to do that, we have to adjust our response against things like rogue nations and piracy.
Speaking of piracy, what is the Navy’s role in the African piracy issue?
It’s an evolving theater.
We’re trying to educate people in that region.
We’re also helping to minimize the risk by working with governments in the area.
Our hope is to deter piracy.
Should the Navy use force like other naval forces are doing to stop the pirates?
We’ll work our way into the situation when it warrants it, but those ships aren’t flying U.S. flags, and they’re not U.S. crews.
The cargo may be owned by U.S. companies.
If this continues, it could have an impact on the world economy.
What is the single major problem facing the Navy?
We need to bring back into the Navy the control of our destiny and how the fleet — not just ships but planes as well — evolves in the future.
There was a time when the Navy designed its ships.
We can’t go on delegating our problems to others, then be surprised by the answers.
We also need to change our thinking.
Our overall object is not just to have a blue Navy, but a brown and green Navy [the face of the Navy beyond the seas].
What does your future hold with a new administration is taking office next month?
I don’t know yet.
It’s not typical for the secretary of the Navy to go between administrations.
I don’t expect to be here long.
