Carlos Del Toro Says Industry Should Ramp Up Modernization Support for Navy

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro is urging stakeholders to contribute more to the service branch’s modernization efforts.

Del Toro, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker and a 2024 Wash100 winner, said during the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association West 2024 conference that the Department of the Navy needs resources and expertise from companies and academic institutions to develop advanced technology, GovCIO Media & Research reported Friday.

The Navy requires 150,000 new shipbuilders in the next 10 years to maintain its fleets, Del Toro explained. He called on industry to invest in recruitment and retention while delivering “capabilities on time and on budget.”

Del Toro also suggested that companies seek out innovation chambers such as the Marine Corps Innovation Unit to address capability gaps. The Navy secretary warned that his organization will become stricter in holding the private sector accountable for delays and budget issues.

He went on to note that advancements in artificial intelligence and virtual reality and new capabilities such as the Transportable Re-Arming Mechanism will facilitate improved affordability and interoperability.