Martinez to SECNAV-Designate: "Strategic Dispersal is a Must"

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today pressed the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV)-designate, Gov. Raymond Mabus (D-MS), on the future of Naval Station Mayport in relation to making the facility the home port to a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Martinez stressed the need for the Navy to carry through with its plans to make nuclear upgrades at Mayport as part of planned strategic dispersal.

"Since 1952, we've had two aircraft carrier home ports on the East Coast. Numerous top officials within our armed services have testified to Congress about the importance of spreading out our carrier fleet and that Mayport ought to be upgraded so that it can home port a nuclear carrier," said Senator Martinez, the Ranking Member on the Senate Armed Services Seapower subcommittee.

In Gov. Mabus's confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Martinez asked the governor, "What are your intentions with regards to strategic dispersal of aircraft carriers along the East Coast and would you disagree with the prior three chiefs of naval operations on their recommendations there should be strategic dispersal of our aircraft carriers?"

The SECNAV-designate responded, "I simply do not have enough information to give you an answer in terms of what the final outcome should be."

Senator Martinez found the answer less than adequate and noted that former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark, former Secretary of the Navy and Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, SECNAV Donald Winter, and others including current CNO, ADM Gary Roughead and former CNO and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, ADM Michael Mullen have stressed the need to adhere to strategic dispersal principles.

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