The U.S. Navy’s
International Sea Power Symposium (ISS)
The International Sea Power Symposium is co-hosted by the Chief of Naval Operations and the President, U.S. Naval War College. It occurs in every second year. Attendees include chiefs of the navies and coast guards from nations around the globe.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead hosted the 19th International Sea Power Symposium at the Naval War College in Newport, RI October 6-9, 2009. This event was specifically designed to allow him to interact with his counterparts, chiefs of navies and coast guards from around the globe. The ISS 2009 theme was “Connecting Navies, Building Partnerships.” More than 200 Flag and General Officers, Chiefs of Naval Operations and Commandants of Coast Guards from 100 countries attended.
The purpose of ISS is to provide a forum for senior international naval leaders to discuss common maritime challenges and opportunities to enhance international maritime security cooperation. These officers spend three days discussing these issues and listening to a selection of distinguished speakers.
First held in Newport in 1969, ISS offers a unique opportunity for the world’s maritime leaders to discuss and promote international maritime security cooperation. These discussions offer opportunities for future voluntary regional and international collaboration in seeking solutions to challenges facing the global network of maritime nations. The CNO seeks individual thoughts and proposals for enhancing regional and global maritime security.
ISS is unique as it is the only forum in the world that brings together all heads of navies to enhance maritime security and collaborative operations. Discussions at ISS have resulted in many successful efforts to enhance cooperation in countering piracy, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, coordinating search and rescue at sea including submarine rescue, planning and conducting coalition military operations and joint law enforcement to counter arms, drug and human trafficking as well as fisheries and pollution violations.