The Navy is making significant changes aimed at improving efficiency and focusing on combat readiness. A new directive from Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan requires a 35% cut in civilian Public Affairs Officer (PAO) positions. This decision aligns with the Navy’s push to streamline operations and enhance its effectiveness. According to a Navy official, the objective is clear: “to make a more lethal and agile force, placing the most capable people in the right positions to support the warfighter.”
The directive emphasizes the need for “warfighting readiness, standards and discipline, and rapid decision-making.” Moving forward, hiring for civilian public affairs roles will be centralized. These decisions now require approval from the Navy’s Chief of Information or the Marine Corps Communications Directorate, which aims to ensure a more coordinated approach to messaging.
Additionally, the memo instructs that civilian public affairs positions in non-operational areas should be reduced or even eliminated. This decision comes in response to a review that found a surplus of civilian employees, often resulting in overlapping duties and contradictory communications. Navy leaders believe this overhaul will curtail unnecessary spending while ensuring that public information efforts align with the needs of military personnel on the ground.
As part of this strategy, the restructuring may allow some of these responsibilities to shift to active-duty or reserve Public Affairs Officers, thus placing more uniformed personnel in roles that communicate the Navy’s message effectively. Leaders have been tasked with documenting potential cost savings and identifying ways to reinvest in support for the fleet and enhance the capacity of uniformed public affairs.
A senior Navy official made it clear that the overarching goal is “discipline, efficiency and lethality.” By reallocating resources saved from these cuts, the Navy intends to bolster readiness and improve its overall fighting capability. As military operations become increasingly complex, these adjustments signify a commitment to prioritizing mission readiness above all else.
"*" indicates required fields
