From Seabed to Space:U.S. 2nd Fleet Update

On 4 February 2020,US Navy VADM Andrew "Woody" Lewis,commander U.S. 2nd Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk,gave an update on the U.S. 2nd Fleet at full operational capability to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington,DC.Here are some excerpts from his statement:
We're at the right place-and not just at the right time;but all the time.*
But the Atlantic is a battlespace that cannot be ignored.Our new reality is,when our Sailors cast lines and set sail,they can expect to be operating in a contested space once they leave Norfolk.We are seeing an ever-increasing number of Russian submarines deploying in the Atlantic-and these submarines are more capable than ever,deploying for longer periods of time,and with more lethal weapons systems.
Russia has returned to Soviet era outposts;it has built new military facilities in the Arctic Circle.Russia has even built an icebreaker that can carry the extended-range Kalibr missile.As such,our ships can no longer expect to operate in a safe haven on the East Coast,or merely cross the Atlantic to operate in another location...Our Sailors have the mindset that we are no longer uncontested,and should expect to operate alongside our competitors each and every underway.We have seen some of our ships-the USS Mahan (DDG 72),for example,in the early stages of their training cycle,co-operating on station in the Atlantic with a Russian intelligence ship that was visiting our coastline late last year.Real world requirements do not discriminate.The intelligence ship did not care at what phase of training our ship was in,or if it had achieved its first certification to deploy.As ADM Foggo  has stated in the past,we are in the Fourth Battle of the Atlantic,and we need to be prepared to operate at the high end alongside our Allies,Partners and adversaries alike as soon as we are underway.*
The US and NATO have answered the call by increasing our naval presence across the theatre,and increasing our exercises and operations with our Allies and Partners;but in order to encourage responsible behaviour by all,we must operate and engage from a position of strength.To do so,we must engage and conduct operations forward more deliberately,more strategically,and with more forethought.The US Navy through forward presence power projects in a technological advantage as the epitome of demonstrating resolve and capability,in the service of conflict prevention and deterrence.*
Every fleet commander wants more ships in their area of focus,and while our service leaders are building up the fleet,our reality is,we need to compete with what we currently have built and are manned for today.So we must prioritise learning as a strategic advantage.The influence of sea power in today's global commerce goes beyond anything we have seen in our history.Compounding the importance of the maritime with today's distributed battlespace and information warfare,we have our work cut out for us.The maritime isn't defined as merely what floats on or below it;but rather the battlespace from seabed to space-and that includes space,cyber,and information domain.*
Our adversaries are learning,too.If we were to look at how great power competition will be driven,it will be driven as much by investment in grey matter as in grey hulls.The gap that we'll have on a technological basis-weapons systems-will not be that great.It's how we fight.It's going to be our mindset approach that's going to give us our lead.
As a fleet commander,I am tasked with the development of our naval forces.So at 2nd Fleet,we are focused on operational learning.We're doing this through fleet battle problems;participation in exercises like the large-scale upcoming exercise Defender Europe 2020;and increased operations with our Allies and Partners.We are planning operations and exercises that will challenge our assumptions and test our hypotheses.And we are learning.This will only be accomplished by mission command,assuming the risk up high in the chain of command.*
We learned early on that relying on Allies and Partners in the new Atlantic-Arctic battlespace would be key to confronting future threats.To that end,2nd Fleet has taken the uncommon step of integrating Allied officers directly into the Fleet staff.Chief among the five foreign officers serving on the staff is Canadian Rear Admiral Steve Waddell,serving as my vice-commander...They are our planners,our logisticians,and our operators.Having perspectives from other nations is invaluable,and provides immeasurable insight and expertise.With a shared commander,mission and geography,2nd Fleet and NATO JFCN are natural partners.As JFCN starts to mature,on its way to full operational capability next year,we will seek to develop an innovative and collaborative effort between the two commands.Co-location in the same building;alignment of battle rhythms;and staff integration where possible are just some of the things that will enable us to do more for the mission,whether it's the one given to us by the US leadership,or the one given to us by the 29 Allies of NATO.*

Naval Strategy:U.S. 2nd Fleet One Year On

On 24 August 2019 the U.S. 2nd Fleet marked the 1st anniversary of its Establishment Ceremony,which took place aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) at Norfolk,Virginia.The Fleet was given the following Mission:
To develop and employ maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access,deter aggression,and defend U.S.,allied and partner interests.*
Writing for the Business Insider website,the commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk,VADM Andrew Lewis,said that:
The last time 2nd Fleet existed,the world looked very different than it does now:Today maritime superiority,vital to our national security,has been placed at risk by resurgent powers,namely Russia and China,seeking to supplant the US as the partner of choice around the world.The 2nd Fleet of today has redirected its strategic focus from mainly training units to deploy to regional conflicts in the Middle East to operating high-end naval forces and developing tactics to deter potential conflicts,to include near-peer adversaries in the North Atlantic and Arctic.*
We must be present in contested spaces-and virtual presence is not true presence.US 2nd Fleet is focused on the waters from the East Coast to the Arctic,Norway,and approaches of the Baltic and Azores.*
VADM Lewis continued:
Russia considers itself THE great power in the Arctic,and China is certainly interested in the hydrocarbon and fish available in those waters.If we do not get into the Arctic with a measured and deliberate approach,the area is destined for conflict.*
The greatest challenge I have faced is disrupting the sense of normalcy established during years of fighting FROM the sea,rather than fighting UPON the sea.We need to take a close look at the assets we have and ensure we are employing them appropriately and fighting as fleets rather than task groups or units.*
We are building US 2nd Fleet to be the market disrupter that changes the way we fight as a fleet-as a coalition-and in doing so,we will be ready to fight.*

New NATO Command Activated in Virginia

On 26 July 2019,the North Atlantic Council,NATO's executive body in Brussels,Belgium,formally activated Joint Force Command Norfolk in Virginia as a NATO military body.The JFCNF has the following missions and tasks:
1.To deliver multinational and NATO effects;
2.maintain readiness,protect the North Atlantic strategic lines of communication;
3.deter aggression;
4.contribute to NATO responsiveness;
5.secure reinforcements and resupply;
6.and,if necessary,project power to defend its Allies and Partners.*
According to VADM Andrew Lewis,Commander of JFCNF and the US Navy 2nd Fleet:
This is a significant milestone in the short history of this unique NATO command.As we forge ahead,we are continuing to press ahead and look forward to receiving the full complement of international personnel so we can meet Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by December 2019.*
The JFCNF was created out of concern for NATO's capacity to rapidly reinforce Europe in the event of a crisis.