A Conversation with U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro on Maritime Power for Global Security

A one-on-one conversation with U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro with Susan Chodakewitz, Chair of Stimson’s Board of Directors.
As the 78th Secretary of the United States Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro is responsible for the safety of 900,000 Sailors, Marines, reservist, and civilian personnel, as well as overseeing a budget of more than $210 billion per year.
First commissioned in 1775, the U.S. Navy eyes its 250th birthday next year. Against this backdrop and as the Navy grapples with new challenges - from possible maritime conflict with near-peer competitors and piracy by non-state actors to exploitative environmental practices and intense strategic competition - what must the service do to ensure the United States’ position as a leading, modern maritime power? Secretary Del Toro outlines his vision for bold, resilient, and adaptable U.S. maritime statecraft that effectively leverages the power of naval diplomacy to secure a safer and more prosperous world for all.