LARRY G. SALTER, NAVY LEAGUE NATIONAL PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN
It is an honor to serve as the national president and chairman of the Navy League of the United States. I look forward to using the experience gained as the national president elect; national senior vice president; national vice president; region president; area president; council president (two times); and being involved as a national director and council board member to further our many successes.
I want to begin by thanking Chris “Towny” Townsend for his outstanding leadership. Townsend hands over a Navy League firing on all cylinders: strong in mission, stronger in purpose and gaining momentum every day. Our Navy League is running as well as I have seen in my 23 years of Navy League involvement.
I also want to recognize the work of our board of directors, including the current officers and the executive committee, who provide strategic oversight and steady counsel as we navigate our day-to-day challenges. Our region presidents also deserve a sincere thanks; they are essential links between national leadership and our councils, guiding and supporting our work.
To our CEO, Mike Stevens, and the talented headquarters professional staff, I look forward to working with you in accomplishing the day-to-day activities that make our Navy League so successful. Your ability to lead and manage the organization’s business operations with skill, dedication and an unwavering focus on excellence is indeed inspirational. Where the Navy League is today is largely due to your ability to build and lead a headquarters team to accomplish the mission.
To our members in the field: You are the heart and soul of the Navy League. You carry out our mission where it matters most — in communities, bases, ports and events across the globe. The Navy League’s mission has never been more vital. Over the past half-dozen
years, the Navy League has accelerated its growth, sharpened its impact and become America’s premier maritime support organization. But strength alone is not enough; we must continue to adapt. We recognize the importance of being a modern, agile organization that can operate in a fast-moving, highly technical environment. Embracing change is how we continue to lead and serve effectively.
Like those who served before, I want to turn over a Navy League that is better, more agile and more capable than when I began. We will pursue ways to become more efficient without losing what makes us effective. That includes carefully exploring continued opportunities to improve our governance structure, ensuring we remain aligned, responsive and ready at every level. We’ll also sharpen our focus on membership and council health, which are critical to sustaining our momentum. I am humbled by this opportunity and deeply motivated by the work ahead. Together, we will keep advancing the mission and strengthening our support for those who serve
at sea. Thank you for everything you do to make our Navy League better.