west2010

The 21st century U.S. Navy is building around information as it reshapes its force for new challenges, according to the chief of naval operations.

"We don't have software that can make software."--Thomas Hone, Naval War College Liaison with OPNAV

Unlike characters in science fiction tomes, today's leaders do not have the advantage of traveling to the past to change decisions that led to trouble in the future.

It's rare that an audience of industry and service members at all ranks get the chance to hear first hand from the first of a kind.

"My answer about how to treat pirates? Kill them." --Col. David W. Coffman, USMC, commander, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Today was an exciting day at West 2010--and I'm not talking about the dynamic speakers and exhibitors.

FINALLY -- able to blog from booths because I actually got connected to and by the right people. Thanks, Microsoft! Here's a look at some of the capabilities being demo'ed here.

"They have a black belt in survival."

"We don't spend enough time and energy on what navies do: sea control."

"Ignorance is our biggest vulnerability [in the cyber domain]." --Vice Adm. Carl Mauney, USN, deputy CO, STRATCOM