The Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group
Admiral Hayward established the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Strategic Studies Group (SSG) in 1981. The early SSGs contributed to the conceptual underpinnings for the emerging Maritime Strategy. Over the years, work continued in the areas of national security and military strategy.
In 1995, Admiral Boorda transformed the SSG into a group whose sole mission is the generation of revolutionary naval warfare concepts. The process for this effort includes: exploring innovations in naval warfighting; developing warfighting concepts; underpinning these concepts with technologies; establishing criteria to evaluate these concepts in operational experiments; and recommending actions to the CNO. While the SSG title remains, the Group is more appropriately characterized as an "Operational Research and Concept Development Center".
The SSG resides at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Only the CNO tasks the SSG and the SSG reports directly to him. The CNO personally selects Navy Fellows and invites the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Commandants of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard to nominate officers to serve as Fellows. The Fellows have ten-month assignments. The President of the Naval War College and the President of the Naval Postgraduate School work with the SSG's Director in selection of Associate Fellows who have 7- and 6- month assignments, respectively. Technology Fellows, providing scientific and analytical expertise, are nominated by the Navy's Systems Commanders and Laboratories to the SSG's Director. They serve for two years, and then return to their parent organizations. Operators, scientists, and analysts working in collaboration is a powerful approach for developing warfighting innovations.
The SSG works closely with the CNO Executive Panel; OPNAV Staff; Naval War College; Navy Warfare Development Command; Naval Postgraduate School; Chief of Naval Research, all Systems Commands and their field activities; Joint and other Service staffs; operational commanders; DOD, national, public and private sector Research Centers and Laboratories; U.S. Government entities as well as non-governmental and foreign organizations; and, the private sector in accomplishing its tasking.
The SSG convenes in Newport in early October. Following exposure to conceptual thinking, the Fellows are introduced to future warfare implications and technological opportunities through interactions with senior military, business, and academic leaders, and through visits to military, scientific, and commercial organizations.
In December, the Associate Fellows join SSG. The Group develops an overarching operational concept that is consistent with the CNO's Theme, and forms Concept Teams to pursue its research and concept generation work.
For more information see the SSG website at