Sea-Air-Space: Readying our Platforms: Admirals Focus on 80% Combat Surge Ready
Posted on April 8, 2025 by Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor
Admiral Jim Kilby, left, moderates the panel “Ready our Platforms” on April 7. Photo credit: Dan Goodrich
U.S. Navy type and system commanders discussed their efforts to achieve a combat surge readiness (CSR) of 80% during the opening panel of the Navy League’s 2025 Sea-Air-Space Expo in National Harbor, Maryland.
Speaking in an April 7 panel — moderated by Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jim Kilby — were Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, commander, Naval Air Forces; Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, commander, Naval Submarine Forces; Vice Admiral Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Forces; Vice Admiral Carl Chebi, commander, Naval Air Systems Command; and Vice Admiral James Downey, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command.
“Combat surge ready-certified units meet a minimum condition requirement for material condition, training, manning and munitions,” Kilby said, noting the type commanders on the panel were designated the single accountable officers “to ensure their respective forces achieve 80% CSR.”
Kilby laid out the task for his admirals to achieve 80% CSR despite the scheduling, materials, workforce, maintenance availabilities and operations tempo challenges for the fleet, necessary to ready the fleet to meet potential combat with potential adversaries such aa China.
https://seapowermagazine.org/sea-air-space-readying-our-platforms-admirals-focus-on-80-combat-surge-ready/