Defense Secretary Ash Carter has highlighted changes throughout his 35-year career at the Defense Department during his farewell address in the Pentagon auditorium, DoD News reported Wednesday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes Carter said DoD missions have transformed from the “great-power competition of the Cold War years” to more than a decade of counterinsurgency operations and the return to full-spectrum readiness.

“When I started my career in defense… most technology of consequence originated in America, and much of that was sponsored by government, especially [DoD],” Carter said.

He noted that the government is still a major sponsor of today’s technologies but more technology developments are commercial and other countries are working to match the U.S. military’s capacity, Pellerin reported.

Carter added that he witnessed commitment to maintain technological advantage at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, Defense Digital Service, Defense Innovation Board and DoD labs and research centers.

Carter said DoD personnel are also committed to the establishment of the Force of the Future –an initiative that seeks to update DoD’s efforts to recruit, develop and retain service members and civilian employees.

Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory have discovered 45 components of barnacle adhesive as part of efforts to address barnacle encrustation on the surface of U.S. Navy vessels.

NRL said Tuesday the encrustation of barnacles and other sea creatures costs the service branch $56 million in annual maintenance and fuel consumption costs for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

“Barnacles increase drag and fuel consumption, decrease efficiency… you’ve got to remove them somehow, whether it’s scraping a ship underwater or dry docking it,” said Christopher Spillmann, an NRL research physicist.

Spillman added NRL has yet to develop methods to address the newly discovered barnacle glue components but researchers are working toward the objective.

Kathy Wahl, a section head at NRL’s chemistry division, said surface treatments of barnacles such as tributyl tin are banned due to environmental reasons and that there are efforts to create less toxic alternatives.

Researchers examined the barnacle’s glue and ability to attach permanently on surfaces from three perspectives that include the barnacle base’s mechanics; the chemical composition of the glue; and how the barnacle’s biology contributes to its attachment process.

NRL’s study revealed that barnacles shed their skins and leave a combination of hard shell, cuticle and adhesive under their base plate which grows stronger and larger over time.

Wahl noted that researchers aim to manipulate the barnacle’s interaction with the surface rather than kill the barnacle.

A panel of senior leaders from the Defense Information Systems Agency and Joint Force Headquarters - Department of Defense Information Networks have discussed the agencies’ plans and priorities for 2017.

DISA Executive Deputy Director Tony Montemarano noted the agency has modified its future business plans to a more purchase-oriented focus as opposed to product creation strategies as a result of budgetary restrictions, DISA said Tuesday.

Alfred Rivera, Development and Business Center director, said DISA will focus on next-generation engineering in a push to generate more engagement with partners as well as develop a common DODIN laboratory and prepare for Systems Engineering Technology Innovation contract discussions for information technology systems support.

“We need to figure out how to transition capabilities while at the same time maintaining legacy capabilities,” said John Hickey, Cyber Development Directorate director.

“We are looking at what are those tools that we can turn off as we actually move to replace and tech refresh capabilities,” added Hickey.

The panel discussion also included David Bennett, Operations Center director, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Skinner, deputy commander of the JFHQ-DODIN.