“Science, Strategy and Tactics of Naval Warfare” was the title of one of the most recent Exchange events held at The Great Company and moderated by screenwriter Will Staples (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3). Guests fortunate enough to attend were treated to a panel of Navy experts who gave a wildly entertaining crash course on how the way their maritime vessels and state-of-the-art technologies are helping to keep our country safe on a daily basis.
Before the night officially began, guests and speakers alike were treated to hand-crafted drinks and a sampling of incredible food. In between bites, the conversations between military experts and Hollywood elites were of a shared curiosity because both sides were genuinely fascinated with the other’s experiences. Once the panel began, the eyes of everyone in attendance were instantly fixated on the uniformed speakers’ every word.
Described as the “Top Gun for ships”, the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center was represented by Rear Admiral James W. Kilby and members of his impressive staff of warfare tactics instructors. Kilby, one of the Navy’s leading experts on Ballistic Missile Defense, shared stories of how he and his team focus on making sure the daily underwater chess match between the Navy’s fleet and our enemies is a game we never lose.
Guests were also treated to examples of the formidable weaponry currently being used across the Navy’s destroyers. Many in the room cheered as a video of an unmanned boat meant to simulate the enemy was shown being blown to pieces by a hail of gunfire or, as Lieutenant Commander Katie Whitman humorously described it, “3,000 rounds of America.
While the sheer magnitude of the Navy’s ability to take down its enemy was impressive, so too is its ingenuity in keeping themselves safe while out at sea. Many in the room were intrigued to learn just how prevalent mine warfare still is in 2016 and, even more eye-opening, how rudimentary some of the tactics are in keeping the vessels and their crew safe from harm. The best example is the Navy’s use of a completely wooden ship, made almost entirely of Douglas fir, which allows it to safely sweep mines because it emits no magnetic signature into the water; thus, carving out a secure path for the rest of the fleet that needs to advance in open water.
An insightful Q&A concluded the evening with topics including how trained dolphins are doing incredible work to keep the oceans safe, the Navy’s secretive goals of using electromagnetic rail guns (Google it, you will not be disappointed!) and even a light-hearted conversation about why many Navy officers in Hollywood movies are always depicted as tap-dancers. This group of passionate thinkers and inquisitive minds, despite having very different “day jobs,” enjoyed themselves and relished in conversations they may never of had if it were not for nights like these hosted by The Exchange.
At the end of the night, nearly everyone thanked those in uniform for their service and for taking the time to share their stories. I also overheard a screenwriter mention she already had a new twist on one of her previous ideas because of something mentioned earlier in the evening. It was yet another successful Exchange event and, perhaps, an inspiration for Hollywood’s next great seafaring screenplay.
