Navy Rear Adm. Kenneth D. Slaght, Commander, Space and Naval Warfare System Command (SPAWAR) and the Navy’s FORCEnet chief engineer, will soon be concluding a distinguished 35-year career. A retirement ceremony will take place Nov. 3 at SPAWAR Headquarters in Old Town, beginning at 10 a.m.

While serving as SPAWAR Commander since May 2001, Slaght has strengthened SPAWAR's alignment with major information technology industries, acquisition professionals and local academia. The result has been an improved ability to rapidly provide naval and joint warfighters with more modern, integrated and interoperable technological capabilities.

“It’s very clear now in the Navy, and across the Department of Defense, that our ability to conduct network centric operations is going to be a critical factor to the military services,” Slaght reflected. “FORCEnet is the Navy’s portion of this transformation, and given our position of being the key technical organization to deliver FORCEnet, it takes on a high level of importance to us.”

As the lead for one of the Navy’s five major acquisitions commands, Slaght has directed a number of key initiatives to reach out into the San Diego community. In addition to developing a more fleet-focused approach to the delivery of products and services, SPAWAR initiated several significant industry communication / education programs and opened numerous dialogues with local educational institutions. Most recently, Slaght successfully lead the command through the Base Realignment and Closure process.

"Rear Adm. Slaght's proactive leadership and successful SPAWAR-industry partnership have resulted in significantly enhanced fleet support,” said James Lasswell, National Defense Industrial Association San Diego Chapter President. “We will miss his support but look forward to carrying on the traditions we’ve established."

“The admiral has made AFCEA (the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association) a tremendously successful organization, whose mission is to support the warfighter,” said Henry Johnson, President of the AFCEA San Diego Chapter with its 1,100 members. “He has been a highly desirable keynote speaker at various symposia and provided welcomed advice to our chapter.”

For security purposes, media organizations wishing to attend the event must make reservations no later than 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2. Media representatives should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m. at SPAWAR’s main gate, 4301 Pacific Highway, for security check, parking and transportation to the event site. Contact Steven A. Davis via the following for more information:
Desk: (619) 524-3432 / Cell: (619) 925-4304 / Email: steven.a.davis@navy.mil

The SPAWAR Enterprise (http://enterprise.spawar.navy.mil)
The SPAWAR Enterprise, headquartered in San Diego, consists of diverse Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and field activities that are uniquely composed to deliver transformational capabilities:
• SPAWAR Headquarters
• PEO C4I and Space (San Diego)
• PEO Space Systems (Chantilly, Va.)
• PEO Information Technology (Arlington, Va.)
• Direct Reporting Program Manager, Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (Arlington, Va.)
SPAWAR’s Systems Centers are located in New Orleans, San Diego, Charleston, S.C., and Norfolk, Va. The SPAWAR Space Field Activity is located in Chantilly, Va., and the Washington Liaison Office is located in the nation’s capital.

Together, the commands lay the foundation for dramatic increases in current and future readiness while simultaneously implementing FORCEnet and a new era in warfighting capabilities.