Please join the CSIS Defense and Security Department (DSD) and the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) on Friday, January 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a Maritime Security Dialogue event featuring Vice Admiral Brendan McLane, Commander, Naval Surface Forces Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Vice Adm. McLane will sit down with Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spicer, USN (Ret.), chief executive officer and publisher, U.S. Naval Institute, to discuss the future of the Navy’s surface warfare efforts. Dr. Jerry McGinn, director of CSIS’s Center for the Industrial Base, will offer opening remarks.
The Maritime Security Dialogue series brings together CSIS and the U.S. Naval Institute, two of the nation's most respected non-partisan institutions. The series highlights the unique challenges facing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard from national level maritime policy to naval concept development and program design. Given budgetary challenges, technological opportunities, and ongoing strategic adjustments, the nature and employment of U.S. maritime forces are likely to undergo significant change over the next ten to fifteen years. The Maritime Security Dialogue provides an unmatched forum for discussion of these issues with the nation's maritime leaders.
This event is made possible by support from HII.
Vice Adm. Brendan McLane is a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in History. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University and graduated with highest distinction from the Naval War College with a master’s degree in National Security Affairs. He completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI and the Naval Operational Planning Course (now Maritime Advanced Warfighting School).
At sea, he served aboard USS Lewis B. Puller (FFG 23), USS Vicksburg (CG 69), USS Moosbrugger (DD 980), Destroyer Squadron 14, and USS Simpson (FFG 56). While in command of USS Carney (DDG 64), his ship won the Battle E & Battenberg Cup and deployed with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet. In major command, he served as Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 50; and commanded Task Force 55 and Coalition Task Force 152, U.S. 5th Fleet.
Ashore, he served on the staff of the U.S. Naval Academy, the OPNAV N3N5 Staff, and as the Chief of Staff, Naval Surface Force Pacific Fleet. Overseas, he deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, ran the Israel Desk in the J5 directorate of the U.S. European Command, and directed the U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Operations Center.
As a flag officer, McLane led Navy Recruiting Command, Carrier Strike Group Ten, and served as the 60th Commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic. He assumed duties as Commander, Naval Surface Forces and Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific Fleet on December 21, 2023.
