US Navy CNO Caudle Declares ‘Excellence Ashore’ Priority

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle’s latest directive, ‘Excellence Ashore,’ sharpens focus on shore-based naval infrastructure to bolster global naval power projection. This strategic shift underlines the importance of robust support facilities amid rising great power competition.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle issued his sixth C-Note message titled “Excellence Ashore” on March 23, 2026, emphasizing the critical role of shore infrastructure in naval combat readiness and operational success. Caudle asserts that naval dominance begins not on the ocean but at critical shore bases such as piers, shipyards, and logistics hubs.

Historically, naval power has depended heavily on the ability to sustain ships, submarines, and aircraft from coastal facilities. This directive reflects growing acknowledgment that maritime superiority is inseparable from secure and advanced onshore support installations, especially as global tensions with China and Russia intensify.

Strategically, Caudle’s focus signals a pivot from purely sea-based investment to a holistic approach that integrates advanced infrastructure, personnel readiness, and technology at naval bases. This approach aims to ensure the U.S. Navy and allies maintain uninterrupted operational tempo and logistical endurance in contested regions worldwide.

The message highlights investment in force protection upgrades, expanded maintenance capabilities, and enhanced cyber and electronic warfare defenses ashore. By reinforcing these logistical nodes, the U.S. seeks to deny adversaries opportunities to cripple forward-deployed and home-based naval forces through asymmetric attacks.

Going forward, ‘Excellence Ashore’ will shape allocation of billions in defense spending, drive modernization of base security protocols, and influence alliance cooperation on joint naval facility improvements. The initiative underscores a broader defensive strategy that complements offensive naval power with resilient and formidable shore establishments.