PEARL HARBOR, Hawai'i -- Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivered a keynote speech at the closing of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Mission Planning Tactical Advancements for the Next Generation seminar March 24.

The IAMD Mission Planning TANG brings government, military and commercial enterprises together to come up with innovative solutions to challenges from across the fleet.

"The TANG is about breaking down those organizational barriers and empowering people," Swift said.

Swift discussed how the Navy's innovative culture is part of the Navy's heritage and our most powerful asset today.

"Having Adm. Swift as a keynote speaker lets the participants know that what they are doing is important to the Navy and that he is counting on them to come up with something," said Peter Scala, director of Advanced Development for the Undersea Systems Branch of Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems and participant in the TANG. "It gives the participants a feeling of empowerment that is priceless."

The eighth iteration of this four-day event, TANG originated with submarine forces but is expanding to other communities. Upcoming TANG events will include unmanned aerial vehicles and food services.