Educating the public and our elected officials on the importance of strong sea services has been an important part of our programming since 1902.
National Security Briefings
Series history
In February 2014, the New York Council Navy League launched a new program, the National Security Breakfast Series — Tomorrow’s Challenges. Noted Naval Historian RADM Joseph Callo, USN (Ret) authored the program. The program continues today with the goal of encouraging a more forward-looking perspective on national defense, and is in line with the public education mission of the Navy League.
Speakers are often flag officers, senior government officials or leading academics. The audience typically brings together senior and mid-range professionals, many with either a military background or a strong interest in national security matters. No longer limited to breakfast, the sessions are often held mid-day, usually at a venue near Grand Central Station, and attendees enjoy a buffet meal before the session begins. Each talk is followed by a question and answer session, plus time for networking.
ready for more
Our first National Security Briefing of 2024 allowed us to explore a new format when we partnered with Business Executives for National Security (BENS) to host a fireside chat with General David Petraeus. After a wide-ranging conversation and robust question and answer session, General Petraeus graciously signed copies of his latest book for members and friends of both organizations. Future installments of the series will be posted on our Events page.
Commodore John Barry Book Award
The New York Council Navy League will resume its annual Commodore John Barry Book Award with a ceremony planned for September 2024.
The Barry award, established in 2013, honors the Irish-born Revolutionary War era naval officer widely regarded as “the Father of the American Navy.” It is given to the author of the book deemed the best account of naval matters or history published in the preceding calendar year.
Past recipients include Tim McGrath, Craig L. Symonds, James D. Hornfischer, Robert P. Watson, Nathaniel Philbrick, and William Gereoux. The award was last given in 2020.
Publishers may nominate general trade books of naval interest published in calendar year 2023 by June 30, 2024. Entries should contain six copies of the nominated book with a check for $100 payable to New York Council Navy League.
Submissions should be made to:
New York Council Navy League of the United States
Attention: Karina Verna
One South Street, Suite 318
New York, NY 10004
Contact: Karina Verna, Programs & Administration Manager
kverna@nynavyleague.org
212-825-7333, x2
New York MARITIME SECURITY conference
In October 2022, the New York Council hosted our inaugural New York Maritime Security Conference. Held at the Helen Mills Event Space & Theater, the all-day conference was a successful initiative to bring expert speakers together to discuss the issues surrounding the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine and the role they play in national security.
With almost 100 people in attendance, the day was filled with invigorating conversations between panelists and guests regarding topics such as Maritime’s Role in Assured Access to Energy for the DOD and National Security Issues Affecting our Ports.
Admiral Linda Fagan, USCG 27th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, gave the opening remarks for the conference. Some of our other expert speakers included Carl W. Bentzel, Commissioner of the Federal Maritime, Beth Rooney, Port Department Director for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and others.
For our second annual New York Maritime Security Conference, we increased our attendance by more than 30%, moved to John Jay College and focused our panels and speakers on Navigating Global Commerce and Conflict. An added highlight of the day was a presentation by MARAD Administrator Ann Phillips and Congressman Jerrold Nadler of Congressional Gold Medals to two World War II Merchant Mariners.
To learn more about our conference plans for 2024, including sponsorship opportunities, visit www.nymaritimesecurityconference.org
The New York Council Navy League Graduation Award in Maritime Technology
In March 2021, as part of the Navy League’s mission to support the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine, the New York Council finalized an agreement with the Kingsborough Community College Foundation to establish The New York Council Navy League Graduation Award in Maritime Technology. With the annual award, the Council supports the KCC Maritime Technology Program and its Associates Degree candidate students by presenting outstanding graduating students with funding to help them fulfill their professional licensing requirements.
Click here to learn more about the Kingsborough Community College Maritime Technology Program and the New York Council's contribution.
Congratulations to the newest COGAP Artists
New York Council sponsors an annual reception for the Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP), which uses fine art to depict the United States Coast Guard's multi-faceted missions. Through displays at museums, libraries and patriotic events, Coast Guard art tells the story of the service's missions, heroes and history to the public. Art is also displayed in offices of members of Congress, senior officials of the executive branch of government and other military services and at Coast Guard locations throughout the country.
Coast Guard artists — most of whom are professional artists — volunteer their time and talents to help COGAP fulfill its missions. We were pleased to fund the most recent Acceptance Ceremony and Opening Reception on July 13, 2023 at the Salmagundi Club, where the Coast Guard accepted 38 works created by 25 artists into the collection. To learn about the artists whose works are in the 2023 collection, click here to read the Summer 2023 issue of COGAP’s newsletter, Easel. Thanks to the Houston Maritime Education Center and Museum, you can explore pieces from past years’ collections online.
The 2024 Acceptance Ceremony is scheduled for July 11 and a limited number of Council members will be able to attend. This year, the collection will welcome 36 new pieces of art by 31 artists. An additional 20 artworks will join the new pieces on exhibit at the Salmagundi Club from July 1 through July 26. Please check their website for exhibit hours. For more opportunities to view and learn about the Coast Guard’s outstanding collection, click here to read the Spring 2024 Easel.
Legislative affairs
NAVY LEAGUE “ANCHOR’S AWEIGH” CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN
Navy League 2023–2024 Maritime Policy Statement
Navy League members are experts on the issues driving decision-making on our sea services. Every other year at the national level, we analyze and recommend a way forward, so our legislators have a clear playbook on the best way to advocate on behalf of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.
We are a maritime nation, and we must make the right investments in our sea services for the future.
Get educated on our issues by downloading our policy statement for 2023-2024.
secnav strategic guidance
In October 2021, The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, 78th Secretary of the Navy, released written guidance articulating his vision to build, train and equip the world’s most powerful naval force to meet both today’s operational demands and the warfighting needs of the future. Click here to read the guidance document.
Advocacy Campaigns
Raise your voice to Congress by participating in the email campaigns below. New York Council members also participate in the Navy League’s biennial Congressional Fly-In and local briefings to elected officials and their staffs.
Encourage Members of Congress to cosponsor the Pay Our Coast Guard Act.
The Coast Guard is not given the same paycheck assurance as the Department of Defense due to its jurisdiction falling under the Department of Homeland Security. During the government shutdown in 2019, over 40,000 active Coast Guard members worked without pay.
To help keep this from happening again, click here to learn more and take action.
Ask our elected officials to appropriate an adequate Navy Shipbuilding and Conversion Budget.
Based on numerous threat assessments, as well as the findings of the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the Navy's projected shipbuilding plan for acquiring a fleet of over 350 ships, the annual Navy Shipbuilding and Conversion budget must remain above $35 billion while keeping pace with inflation. We can be sure that adversaries like China (whose naval fleet grows larger each year) will view any budget below this threshold as a sign of wavering commitment to U.S. maritime competitiveness. It is indisputable that America's safety, ability to project strength abroad, and shipbuilding industrial capacity will all be negatively impacted unless this budget request is adhered to.
Defend Jones Act jobs.
The Jones Act — the law that requires that vessels moving cargo between U.S. ports be American built, American owned and American crewed — is fundamental to our domestic maritime industry. You no doubt know that there was significant turnover in Congress in the last election and many new members need to learn about the Jones Act, its importance to America and it relevance to their constituents. This becomes even more critical when one considers that there are well-funded groups working hard today, advocating for repeal of the Jones Act.
We need to build grassroots support for the Jones Act to support the thousands of workers involved in a critical national security field, and support important domestic shipping capacity. We want Americans to tell their elected officials the Jones Act is important, and we need your help.
Click here to send a prewritten email to your Congressperson or Senator.
siGN UP FOR VOICE-TO-CONGRESS ALERTS
Voice-to-Congress is an initiative to keep Navy League members up to date on legislative issues that impact the sea services and informs them how to take action. To read up on legislation, get in contact with elected officials in your area and receive alerts, please go to the Navy League Legislative Affairs Action Center.
Other Events and programs
New York Council members helped spread our Fleet Week experience to the west and the north in 2023, assisting Seattle and Halifax as they relaunched their own Fleet Week celebrations. Above, then-Council President Frank Russo and Council Member Elizabeth Kenny got to see the results as special guests and several Halifax Fleet Week events.
Then-Council President Frank Russo, Sea Cadets, USNI News and others joined to wish a Happy 100th Birthday to centenarian U.S. Navy veteran Winona Mullis on September 2. Click here to read her reflections on serving as a WAVE during WWII.
Council Member Jack LaTorre decked his vintage BMW in New York Council Navy League decals for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Brooklyn on March 27.
On September 5, New York Council joined American Legion Post 754 to honor 50 Years of Female Naval Aviators. Held in conjunction with the U.S. Open's celebration of female Naval aviators at this year's LT Joe Hunt Military Appreciation Day on September 2, the evening’s speakers included VADM Shoshana Chatfield, USN, a Naval Aviator who recently completed her tour as President of the Naval War College and CAPT Joellen Drag Oslund, USN (Ret.), who earned her "Wings of Gold" in 1974 as the U.S. Navy's first female helicopter pilot
After lending our support to the John D. McKean Fireboat Restoration Project, we were thrilled to learn that the Fireboat was named to the National Register of Historic Places on July 28.
On May 18, the Council marked National Maritime Day by attending the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association’s Memorial Service and Luncheon.
Our Council is proud to support the development of the National Coast Guard Museum, which is being built in New London, Connecticut, to honor, engage, educate and inspire generations through interactive activities and exhibits that celebrate the service’s critical roles. For more news from the museum, see their newsletter.