August 4, 2003
UNION LEAGUE CLUB HOSTS
COMMANDER OF NAVAL
SURFACE FORCES
Vice Admiral Timothy W. LaFleur enters a room
filled with admirers, veterans, Union League Club
members, his family, staff, and the press.
Oak Park Journal photo
Oak Park native and Deputy Director of Navy Office of Information
for the Midwest Lieutenant Katie Licup poses with Mr. and Mrs. Wullf
Oak Park Journal photo
Vice Admiral LaFleur speaks with Guests before
the Luncheon.
Oak Park Journal photo
Vice Admiral Timothy W. LaFleur begins his
talk with the Welcoming of All the Guests.
Oak Park Journal photo
Vice Admiral LaFleur noted the many cost saving
measures that the Navy has taken to reduce tax dollars
spent and to improve the Navy's effectiveness. Below
are some numbers that show both savings and increased
targeting results.
1991
2003
Total Surface Ships
415
198
Ships in War
60 (14%)
70 (38%)
Tomahawks Fired
288
800
SCUD missiles
targeted for destruction
2 of 84 confirmed
12 of 13 confirmed
Vice Admiral LaFleur was also quite proud of the
Navy's high marks and numbers in retaining their
members. Some of the popularity of the Navy is
found in their giving lots of young people a chance
for adventure, learning, and College. Life can
be
tough in the Service of this nation, but if I were
younger I would be pleased to serve with Vice Admiral
LaFleur-a genuinely nice man. Vice Admiral LaFleur
is also a leading force behind the "Sea Swap" concept
of
ship and personnel exchanging. Vice Admiral LaFleur
has been showing how the Naval forces can stay at
their assigned global positions and have new people brought
to them rather than taking the ships back to a home port and making the
exchange of personnel there.
If the ships can have new crews brought to them, there
is a tremendous savings in dollars and time. When the
ships are allowed to stay where they have been assigned,
our Navy is stronger and crews return to their families
and loved ones that much sooner- a win, win, win, situation.
Vice Admiral Timothy W. LaFleur shows a slide
that illustrates the Importance of the Navy. The
Slide clearly shows where the sea lanes of trade
are found and how humans live on many of the
Earth's coastal waters. (enlarge slide below)
Oak Park Journal photo
This Satellite Generated Image shows the
concentrations of EM (electro-magnetic)
emissions
emanating from the global environment.
The most common forms of
EM that are picked
up on the scan are received
from televisions, radars,
and standard radio transmissions
from both land
and sea. When you study
the areas that form
distinct lines in the earths
oceans and seas, you
will find them indicating shipping
lanes for commercial and military vessels. These lines
can also show potential hot
spots where a disruption
in commerce could have a detrimental
effect on
a nation's economy. The
other lines of EM activity
show us the heavy concentration
of humans in
the costal context of our planet.
Both the sea
trade routes and the costal
regions of the world
are areas where the Navy has
a strong card.
A Slide used during the presentation from Vice Admiral Timothy
W. LaFleur showing many of the Navy's missions.
We were unaware of the many times that the Navy has
come to the emergency work needed in many developing
countries, both due to acts of nature (annual flooding
and
other disasters) or human calamity. When flooding
happens each year in Bangladesh, often 1000 or more people die in the waters.
When the flood subsides, clean
water is needed for population, our Navy has helped save
thousands and thousands of lives by using special reverse
osmosis equipment rendering clean water for the residents.
Vice Admiral LaFleur stands in front of a powerful message and
takes questions from the audience.
Oak Park Journal photo
The Admiral was born in Chicago, but lived much of his
life right here in Oak Park. He attended a military school
in Wisconsin and was a wrestler. He is also one
of the
few in the Navy that still sports some facial hair.
I asked
him why he did not go to Bishop's Quarters ( a
military
school in Oak Park that is now gone, but was on Lake Street right across
the street from the OPRFHS field ). The Admiral felt
that the family thought a school in a more rural setting was more to their
liking.
Many of the Admiral's family came out to see him and
bring warm wishes and greetings from his extended family.
The men surrounding the Admiral are all in business or the Law, and when
asked many were
wrestlers too.
Vice Admiral LaFleur poses with his Relatives.
Oak Park Journal photo
A Family with lots of Friendship and fun times to recall
and look forward to.
Oak Park Journal photo
The United States of America is in good hands with likes
of Oak Park's favorite Admiral, Vice Admiral Timothy
W. LaFleur. We wish him smooth sailing and clear skies.
Vice Admiral Timothy W. LaFleur
United States Navy
Commander, Naval Surface Forces
Commander, Naval Surface Force,
Pacific Fleet
As Commander Naval Surface Forces, Vice Admiral LaFleur
serves as community leader for the Surface Navy. While ensuring the current
readiness of the Surface Navy, he is also charting its future course through
transformational efforts aimed at enhancing the ability of the force to
fight and win.
He also serves concurrently as the Pacific Fleet Surface
Force Type Commander. In that capacity, he provides properly manned, trained,
equipped, and combat-ready warships and special combat support forces to
Operational Commanders throughout the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian
Gulf areas of operation.
Since assuming the responsibility as Commander Naval Surface
Forces in May of 2001, Vice Adm. LaFleur has implemented a wide range of
manpower, training, maintenance and logistics initiatives focused on improving
the combat readiness and overall efficiency of the Surface Force. He is
the driving force behind the "Sea Swap" concept, which has redefined how
maritime forces are deployed. This concept rotates complete crews while
leaving ships forward deployed, providing both increased forward presence
and considerable fuel savings by curtailing the need for lengthy transits
to and from theater. He has also challenged ships' crews to devise changes
that leverage available technology and take advantage of efficient processes
to reduce manning requirements. This effort, known as Optimal Manning,
has led to increased readiness and an average 10 percent reduction in ship's
crew size.
Vice Adm. LaFleur is a native of Oak Park, Ill., and a
1970 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He served as Mine Countermeasure
Officer in USS Constant (MSO 427), as Operations Officer in USS Hawkins
(DD 873), and as Chief Engineer aboard USS Fort Snelling (LSD 30). His
first command was USS Elliot (DD 967), and he subsequently commanded USS
Flint (AE 32), and Destroyer Squadron Seventeen.
His shore assignments include duty as an Officer Career
Manager; Financial and Personnel Analyst; Administrative Aide to the Secretary
of the Navy; Branch Chief in the Joint Operations Directorate (J3), Joint
Staff; and Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.
Vice Adm. LaFleur was selected for promotion to flag
rank in 1996. Flag assignments include Deputy and Chief of Staff, Commander
U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Director, Politico-Military Affairs on the staff
of the Chief of Naval Operations. He also served as Commander Cruiser Destroyer
Group One (Constellation Battle Group). During his two years in command,
the Battle Group completed a deployment to the Arabian Gulf where it served
as the key maritime component enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq.
UNION LEAGUE CLUB HOSTS COMMANDER OF NAVAL SURFACE
FORCES
WHAT: A presentation by Vice Admiral Timothy W. LaFleur,
Commander, Naval Surface Force, to members of the Union League American
Legion Post 758 and the Armed Forces Council of Chicago about the readiness
of the today’s Navy.
Admiral LaFleur, a three-star admiral, will give an overview
of his job as CEO of the Navy’s 302 surface ships, comparing his job to
a major industry. He will discuss meeting global demands with the current
force, while planning for the Navy of the future. Recent successes in Operation
Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terrorism) and Operation Iraqi Freedom
will be reviewed.
In addition, LaFleur will discuss record retention rates
of U.S. Navy sailors and how the Navy is winning the "war for talent."
A native of Oak Park, Ill., LaFleur graduated from the
U.S. Naval Academy in 1970. He served as Mine Countermeasure Officer in
USS Constant (MSO 427), as Operations Officer in USS Hawkins (DD 873),
and as Chief Engineer aboard USS Fort Snelling (LSD 30). His first command
was USS Elliot (DD 967), and he subsequently commanded USS Flint (AE 32),
Destroyer Squadron Seventeen and the USS Constellation Battle Group during
sanctions against Iraq.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Noon
WHERE: Union League Club of Chicago
65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
Union League Club of Chicago
Established in 1879, the Union League
Club of Chicago has been a contributing partner in the growth and development
of Chicago. Through its membership, the Club has focused its leadership
on important social, civic and cultural issues. Club Leaders Forum recently
ranked the Union League Club as the second best city club in the United
States.
