WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Seapower, today held a classified briefing with three Navy officials to discuss readiness challenges, emerging threats, and the requirements underpinning the 355-ship force structure objective.

“This is the first in a series of subcommittee meetings on the Navy’s 355-ship force structure requirement,” Wicker said. “The aim of today’s briefing was to gain a clear understanding of what has changed since the previous 308-ship requirement was set in 2014 and why we need a 355-ship fleet.”

The Seapower Subcommittee will hold a second discussion tomorrow to receive industry perspectives for achieving a 355-ship Navy.

Last week, Adm. John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, issued a report about the future of the Navy, which Wicker characterized as a “valuable contribution to the urgent national project of rebuilding naval power.”

Witnesses at today’s briefing included:

• Rear Admiral Jesse Wilson Jr., Director of the Assessment Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations;
• Captain John Gumbleton, Director of the Financial Operations Division in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and
• Mr. Bradley F. Herbert, Defense Intelligence Senior Executive, Director of Naval Intelligence.