Original Broadcast Date: 05/17/2026
Presented by EY
Admiral Carl Thomas says the Navy is working to modernize readiness, integrate emerging technologies and prepare sailors for a future battlespace increasingly shaped by data, automation and artificial intelligence. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Thomas discusses how the Navy is balancing the demands of current global operations with the need to prepare for future conflicts while maintaining high readiness standards across the fleet.
Thomas, commander of Fleet Forces Command, explains that one of the Navy’s major priorities is improving “combat surge readiness,” or the ability to rapidly deploy additional ships and forces during times of crisis. But he stresses that readiness means much more than simply moving ships into position quickly.
“I think the one thing that’s really important as the Fleet Forces commander is that I don’t let these standards slip,” Thomas says.
According to Thomas, true readiness depends on several interconnected factors. Sailors must understand how to fight and operate their equipment effectively. Ships and systems must remain fully operational and reliable. Teams must also train together long enough to develop the experience and coordination necessary for combat operations across multiple domains.
Thomas says the Navy cannot afford to compromise on any of those requirements because sailors are regularly deployed into dangerous operational environments. He points to ships that deploy to areas like the Fourth Fleet and later operate in the Middle East conducting what he describes as major combat operations.
Rather than lowering standards, Thomas says the Navy is focused on improving efficiency in how it trains and prepares forces. One important area involves the use of live, virtual and constructive training technologies, often referred to as LVC. These tools allow sailors to gain additional repetitions and realistic training experiences that would otherwise be difficult to create using only traditional exercises.
“I think we’re thinking hard about how do we do things in a more efficient manner,” Thomas says.
As the Navy adopts more advanced technologies, Thomas says the service must also ensure that training and sustainment keep pace. He explains
Thomas says part of his responsibility at Fleet Forces Command is evaluating those technologies holistically to ensure sailors receive the proper preparation and support. Sustainment remains especially important as ships spend extended periods deployed around the world.
He points to technologies like virtual and augmented maintenance tools that can help sailors troubleshoot and maintain equipment while remaining forward deployed. At the same time, he emphasizes that the Navy cannot focus only on the “shiny toys” and newest innovations without ensuring sailors fully understand how to use them.
Thomas also discusses the Navy’s evolving fleet strategy and the growing role of unmanned and autonomous systems. He says future operations will not always require the use of expensive, high-end platforms like aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines.
Instead, the Navy is increasingly exploring a broader mix of manned and unmanned systems, including containerized capabilities, autonomous vehicles and other lower-cost technologies that can provide operational advantages. Thomas says the service is still in the early stages of learning how to integrate those systems into fleet operations and training cycles.
“There’s some pretty good change happening right now in the Navy,” Thomas says.
Data and information sharing play a central role in that future vision. Thomas says the modern battlespace is becoming increasingly “sensor saturated,” with large volumes of data generated by a growing number of systems and platforms. Success in future warfare, he says, will depend heavily on how quickly military leaders can process information and make accurate decisions.
As a result, artificial intelligence and advanced data analysis tools are becoming critical parts of naval operations. Thomas says those technologies help commanders process information faster, understand battlefield conditions more clearly and make better operational decisions.
“How do you ingest that information, make sense of it and get it turned around to be able to make that correct decision?” Thomas asks.
Thomas also highlights the importance of interoperability with allies and partners. He says future warfare will require military forces from multiple countries to share data, integrate sensors and operate together across multiple levels of classification. The Navy already has strong networking foundations in place, he explains, but future operations will demand even greater integration among allied forces.
Finally, Thomas says the Navy’s younger sailors are adapting quickly to advanced technologies and AI-enabled systems. He believes many modern interfaces are being designed in ways that feel intuitive to today’s workforce, allowing sailors to learn and adapt rapidly.
Throughout the conversation, Thomas presents a vision of a Navy that remains focused on readiness while simultaneously embracing the technologies, training methods and operational concepts that will define the future of maritime warfare.