Navy Acquisition: Industry Day Focuses on New Rapid Capabilities Office

The U.S. Navy is opening doors to industry this December with a strategic industry day focused on its newly restructured acquisition approach. On December 9-10, the service will host defense contractors, venture capital investors, and private sector stakeholders across two sessions in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia to discuss the Naval Rapid Capabilities Office and emerging partnership opportunities.

The RCO, established by Navy Secretary John Phelan in August, represents a significant reorganization of the service’s rapid acquisition efforts. Rather than maintaining multiple specialized offices, the Navy consolidated these capabilities under a single, accountable organization led by Vice Admiral Seiko Okano, the Navy’s top uniformed acquisition official. This streamlined structure aims to accelerate the assessment, execution, fielding, and transition of urgent maritime solutions within a compressed three-year timeframe.

“This RCO event will include two related sessions that will cover the Department of the Navy’s most pressing challenges, detail the RCO’s collaborative approach with industry to address these needs, and provide information on newly established pathways for engagement with the RCO,” according to the official public notice.

The Navy’s restructuring aligns with broader Pentagon acquisition reforms championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These changes reflect a strategic pivot toward speed and volume in defense acquisition, with large primes expected to shift their operational focus accordingly. Hegseth emphasized that the Department of Defense actively supports defense industry profits, but expects corresponding commitment to accelerated timelines and capital investment from major contractors.

The RCO consolidation follows the Navy’s September transition to Portfolio Acquisition Executives, a new model where single accountable officials oversee multiple interrelated programs. The Navy’s PAE for Robotics and Autonomous Systems exemplifies this structural evolution.

For defense industry participants, the December industry day represents a critical opportunity to understand the Navy’s evolving acquisition landscape, engage directly with senior acquisition leadership, and identify collaboration pathways aligned with maritime supremacy objectives. The event underscores the Navy’s commitment to maintaining technological advantage through accelerated innovation cycles and enhanced industry partnership.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764102525233-926