SECNAV orders new Naval Rapid Capabilities Office, shuts down offices

WASHINGTON — The Navy will shut down a number of offices and consolidate their funding and responsibilities into a new Naval Rapid Capabilities Office, which will be headed up by a director reporting to Navy Secretary John Phelan, according to a memo obtained by Breaking Defense.

“The NRCO will serve as the single accountable organization spanning all naval warfare domains, responsible for the rapid assessment, execution, fielding and transition of urgent solutions within a three-year timeframe to ensure U.S. maritime supremacy,” according to the Aug. 19 memo signed by Phelan.

A spokesperson for Phelan did not immediately respond to questions about the new office.

As part of the NRCO’s establishment, Phelan ordered the service to shut down the Maritime Accelerated Response Capability Cell, the Disruptive Capabilities Office and NavalX. All those offices were stood up by previous administrations with relatively similar goals as Phelan’s NRCO: Use quickened acquisition authorities to get new capabilities fielded faster.

Additionally, the NRCO will take over “DON’s execution of the Department of Defense’s Replicators activities,” according to the memo. The new office’s priorities will be reviewed and approved by Phelan as well as the chief of naval operations and Marine Corps commandant. “The NRCO will enhance the DON’s ability to identify and articulate critical operational gaps to enable the development and implementation of innovative and timely solutions,” according to the memo.

The new memo directs the NRCO’s chief to recommend at least five programs to be “priorities” for the new office within 60 days, among numerous other administrative tasks.