NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY HAMPTON ROADS, Va.— U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Brian W. Cavanaugh–commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Marine Forces Command; Marine Forces Northern Command–delivered the keynote address to an in-person and virtual audience of over 1,000 Navy, Marine Corps, and civilian personnel during Naval Information Warfare Systems Command’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration held January 10 at Old Town NAVWAR command in San Diego, California.

The event, which included virtual attendees from NAVWAR as well as Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic in Charleston, South Carolina, and NIWC Pacific in San Diego, was part of the NAVWAR Black Employment Program’s third annual Dr. MLK Celebration. This year’s theme, “It Starts with Me,” was intended to highlight the often-overlooked ways in which King’s philosophy of non-violence can inform and transform the work of those engaged in the profession of arms and homeland defense. In addition, the event emphasized the continuous Department of Defense-wide theme of “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off!”

“Dr. King’s life and legacy inform our pursuit of national defense by reminding us of the importance of diversity, community, and core values,” Cavanaugh said during his remarks. “This year’s theme– ‘It Starts with Me’–reminds us that we all should live up to the high espoused values that we often speak.”

Prior to the event, Cavanaugh had the opportunity to meet with several of NAVWAR’s senior leaders, including Rear Adm. Doug Small (NAVWAR commanding officer), John Pope (NAVWAR executive director), Rich Caccese (NAVWAR BEP champion), Kerryl Cacho (NAVWAR BEP program chair), Rona Brownridge (NAVWAR BEP vice chair and event coordinator), and Shaylen Harris (NAVWAR BEP event co-lead). Cavanaugh delivered his address following pre-recorded opening remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks.

“I read a quote from Admiral Small on the NAVWAR website prior to this event,” Cavanaugh recalled. “He said that he was ‘committed to leading an inclusive and professional work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, where everyone feels they can provide their opinion, where everyone is valued for who they are, and where everyone is open to diverse perspectives.’ So I’ll ask you, are you doing your part?”

NAVWAR’s mission is to identify, develop, deliver and sustain information warfare capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space.

“Despite the decades of relative peace our nation has enjoyed,” said Cavanaugh, “we still see examples of persistent and unjustified aggression that threaten democracy, stability, and sovereignty in the global landscape. NAVWAR’s efforts to enable naval warfighting operations help to keep our naval force strong and provide the deterrent capabilities that continue to maintain some semblance of peace across the globe.”

The NAVWAR BEP promotes cultural diversity and development through its celebration of all employees, aiming to enrich the lives of civilians, contractors, and the NAVWAR community at large through community service, academics, barrier analysis, and communication. This work is reflective of the larger DoD commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

“The U.S. Joint Force,” Cavanaugh observed, “is a multifaceted team of diverse individuals representing nearly all backgrounds, faith traditions, ethnicities, orientations, and identities. These differences in lived experience impact how we think and make us who we are as individuals. Differences in our thinking become our greatest strength as we face potential adversaries, competitors, and our distinct pacing threats.”

Following his remarks, Cavanaugh participated in a question-and-answer session with those attending in-person and virtually. This session provided Cavanaugh and Small with an opportunity to reflect on the ways in which King’s example has inspired them and to learn from the personal experiences of some of those in attendance.

“As we enter the National Day of Service and Remembrance, in Dr. King’s honor, I hope we will all take time to not only serve our communities but also reflect on the ways that Dr. King can inspire us as we continue to hone our leadership and developmental skills,” Cavanaugh said. “The DoD, all of its people, and their continuing support and leadership are crucial to the continued success of our nation.”