Sea Air Space Shutdown Plans

The Navy League's Sea Air Space conference, arguably one of the biggest Navy industry gatherings of the year, may lose quite a chunk of its speaker roster if the government shuts down tonight, according to a spokesman.

Tom Van Leunen, senior communications director for Navy League, told Inside the Navy that the organization does not expect any government officials to be able to speak if the shutdown goes ahead.

“That, as we understand it, will be the policy that comes out of [the Office of the Secretary of Defense], and we are making arrangements to replace them with elected officials and potentially some foreign speakers,” Van Leunen said.

“I can't get into it yet because a couple people don't know yet that we're going to ask them,” he added, “but we are making arrangements to replace them with industry speakers, retired people, former secretaries, et cetera, and potentially even some foreign embassy people”

Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Alan Baribeau said that if the shutdown goes ahead, the NAVSEA booth will still be there, but no personnel will man it, and no officials will speak there.

In a statement posted on its publication's website, Navy League said it has been in close contact with the government to monitor the situation with its speakers and attendees. The organization pledged to make the conference worthwhile, regardless of what happens to the government.