U.S. Navy Going Big on AI for an Array of Tasks

The U.S. Navy is moving quickly to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for a broad array of uses, according to Rear Adm. Elizabeth “Seiko” Okano, who commands Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. 

Okano made the statement while serving on a WEST 2025 conference panel January 30 in San Diego. The panelists were asked how they use AI to help with reams of data.  

“I will say in the AI realm, we’re moving out of speed. This is probably one of the areas we’ve been most aggressive in,” she said. 

Okano highlighted “readiness” as “a great place to start because the data is plentiful and accessible."

“We're seeing a lot of effort in the readiness arena,” she said, reporting that one of her program offices had deployed about 20 ChatIT systems, similar to ChatGPT but for the CANES (Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services) and ADNS (Automated Digital Network System).  

“Essentially, on the ship, the sailors type in—it sucks in all the tech manuals and everything—and they type in a question, and it just answers it for them. So having that, you know, being deployed on, like, 20 ships and then going to hundreds in the next few months is exactly what we’ve got to do in order to increase readiness on ships.”  

She explained that AI tools can be used in different ways for different missions. “If you think about the tactical, operational and strategic levels, and then planning, execution and regeneration, there are certain tools you can use in different areas, certainly in the regeneration or the readiness piece. That is, to me, where you would start."  

AI also can contribute to planning and execution as well. “The planning piece is another area that we’re really focusing on to understand and have AI look at courses of action. I see a lot of efforts in that area. And then certainly in the execution piece, there’s some efforts there, but I think that’s where I see the trends happening. There’s a huge push in AI,” she offered. 

Fellow panelist Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, commander, Naval Air Systems Command, challenged the audience to help the Navy think about AI in different ways. "There’s new technology coming down, and we’ve got a lot of folks who have thought about the problem in the same way for a long time. Help us think about the problem in a different way,” he said after revealing that his 17-year-old daughter had introduced him to ChatGPT just a couple of weeks before.  

Air Systems Command, he noted, uses AI for modeling and simulation for F-18s, F-22s and F-35s. "AI-generated red air could give them a dynamic environment they have never ever seen before. I think that’s one of probably 1,000 different applications of AI.” 

Stephen Bowdren, U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command program executive officer for Land Systems, said that his organization is using AI mostly to reduce procurement administrative lead time and he sees a lot of opportunities for AI-assisted contracting. “There are tools out there already, and we’re making very aggressive use of that.” He added that AI can evaluate requests for proposals or sources sought documentation in minutes rather than the weeks it would normally take.

Christopher Miller, executive director, Naval Sea Systems Command, initially responded to the question with a joke: "Short and sweet, I’d say, 'AI good. Need more.'” But he went on to explain that a problem must be properly defined before AI is applied to solve it. He encouraged industry to talk to people on the docks or in the shipyards to understand the problems that need solving.  

Bowdren also responded to a question about force design by pointing out that the Marines have fielded the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), which will provide the Marine Littoral Regiment with ground-based anti-ship capability to facilitate sea denial and control while persisting within the enemy’s weapons engagement zone. “We’re getting into spaces the Marine Corps hasn’t been into in years, and we’ve got to make sure we not only deliver to the fleet a capability but that we deliver it to the fight. That’s two different things.” 

WEST is co-hosted by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute. SIGNAL Media is the official media of AFCEA International.