CNO: "I need my stuff"

Defense One's Lauren C Williams covers the WEST Conference in San Diego, where Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle delivered a blunt message to the maritime industrial base: if the Navy awards a contract, industry must deliver on schedule. Caudle urged more transparent negotiations upfront, arguing that contractors and the Navy should be “very honest” about expectations before agreements are signed.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith echoed the point, saying delays are an industry problem once the government has paid for capability and expects it to arrive as promised. Smith framed the objective as buying what Marines need at the best cost, while remaining open to better performance at the same price and timeline.

Both leaders acknowledged that erratic appropriations and single-year funding complicate workforce planning for shipyards and suppliers. They argued for longer planning horizons and urged coordinated messaging to Congress in favor of multiyear funding. Smith also warned against unrealistic price expectations, stressing that “everything costs what it costs,” including the skilled labor needed to build ships.