In collegiate and university circles, the maxim is “publish or perish.” Those on the faculty know that to remain well regarded by their peers and their institution, they must become writers. For LCDR David Adams, a Prospective Executive Officer (PXO) Course student, the maxim is more “publish or submerge”. Adams was recently selected as the Naval Institute’s Proceedings first-ever recipient of the Battelle Prize for Writing on Technology and Innovation for his collection of fourteen articles, which he characterizes as a product of his shore duty time. 

“I write about things I’m passionate about, that I think are really important,” said Adams. “But the writing isn’t the key so much as communicating ideas to try to influence the debate on what’s important.

“I’ve always been very interested in policy and strategy – I really started to write while I was at Monterey (Naval Postgraduate School) earning my masters in National Security, and that’s when I started to get things published.”

Adams was inspired early in his career working for the Secretary of the Navy speechwriter, CDR Neil Golightly, who encouraged Adams’ writing talents.

Successfully communicating his passions has resulted in numerous awards for his articles, most recently the Battelle Prize for an essay on a technology he feels is just now showing the promise he first glimpsed years ago, electromagnetic rail guns, which the title of his February 2003 award-wining essay succinctly captured, “Naval Rail Guns Are Revolutionary”.

The establishment of the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Command marks the beginning of a new era in ASW readiness. Based in San Diego, Fleet ASW Command was officially established during an April 8 ceremony at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center. RADM John J. Waickwicz was installed as its first commanding officer. Historically, the several platform communities within the Navy – surface ships, aircraft, and submarines – have conducted their ASW operations and training independent of each another. Fleet ASW Command was established specifically to integrate these efforts under a single authority and make them more efficient.

The new command comprises 138 military, civilian and contractor personnel. In addition to its San Diego headquarters, Fleet ASW Command will have detachments in Norfolk, Virginia and Yokosuka, Japan. Its primary focus will be on providing standardized ASW training for the entire Navy, assessing ASW capabilities and readiness throughout the fleet, and implementing the latest state-of-the-art technology in ASW operations.

During his remarks, guest speaker ADM Walter F. Doran, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, emphasized the threat posed by quiet diesel-electric submarines, which nations such as North Korea, China, and Iran continue to acquire. Deployed in the open ocean and in coastal waters, these submarines have the potential to make it difficult for the U.S. Navy to conduct at-sea operations as well as for joint forces to move ashore from the sea. Maintaining underwater supremacy through ASW effectiveness remains a critical core Navy mission.

In establishing the Fleet ASW Command, the Navy continues to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining a 21st century naval force that meets national security needs and retains its operational superiority at sea.