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The 77th SecNav is an impassioned student of the Navy’s past: “I think we have an incredibly rich history.”
The 77th SecNav is an impassioned student of the Navy’s past: “I think we have an incredibly rich history.”
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‘We Who Love History Need to Bring It Alive’

In an exclusive interview, the Secretary of the Navy discusses the value of naval heritage and the importance of a historical perspective for today’s fleet.
Interview with Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite
February 2021
Naval History Magazine
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On 17 November 2020, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite, a devoted student of and strong advocate for the U.S. Navy’s history, sat down for an interview with Proceedings Editor-in-Chief Bill Hamblet and Naval History Editor-in-Chief Eric Mills. Here, edited for length, is that conversation.

Mills: Mr. Secretary, it’s an honor speaking with you today. What is your favorite period of U.S. naval history, if there is one?

Braithwaite: I’ve been greatly influenced by the history of the formation of the U.S. Navy. I go back and I read about the early years of our Navy being created in the 1790s and the efforts at creating the first six frigates—I’m a huge fan of those ships. As you probably know, I recently named the new class of frigates after one of the original six [the Constellation]. So that’s a period of interest to me, including the formation of the young naval officer corps, people like Stephen Decatur and Oliver Hazard Perry. Their biographies are very interesting to me.

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Podcast

Proceedings Podcast Episode 195 - SECNAV Talks History

25 November 2020
Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite talks about how a deep understanding of history has influenced his career both in and out of uniform.

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