In the wake of the recent U.S. strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, the conversation around national security can no longer remain theoretical. The geopolitical reverberations are already unfolding, and with them, the very real risk of retaliation. Now more than ever, we must take the defense of our critical infrastructure and national defense assets.
Historically, the United States has enjoyed a certain insulation from conflict due to geography. With friendly neighbors to the north and south and vast oceans on either side, we’ve often viewed threats as distant concerns. This is not the case for much of the world. In Europe, the memory of the Iron Curtain and the ever-present proximity of adversaries have shaped a deeply embedded culture of vigilance. In the Middle East and Asia, nations have long endured the necessity of protecting their borders, economies, and ways of life from hostile actors.
America can no longer afford complacency.
Iran has a long history of employing third-party proxies to pursue its strategic objectives, from regional destabilization to direct attacks on Western interests. With tensions now at a flashpoint, the possibility of asymmetric attacks on U.S. interests, at home and abroad, is no longer hypothetical.
This is where the role of private security, particularly in the maritime domain, becomes mission-critical. Six Maritime specializes in the protection of U.S. naval assets, whether berthed at domestic shipyards or transiting strategic ports. We work hand-in-hand with shipyard facilities to ensure vessels are safeguarded in accordance with NAVSEA standards, MTSA compliance, and best practices developed in real-world threat environments.
No private organization in the United States has more time underway or more time dedicated to perfecting the trade of maritime security than Six Maritime. We have operationalized NAVSEA 009-72 from the deckplate up, and our teams have logged more underway time in real-world security environments than anyone else in the industry. Our experience isn’t theoretical—it’s tested, proven, and unmatched. We are proud to claim what others cannot: we are the experts in the field.
Many of our client shipyards have risen to the occasion, treating maritime security with the seriousness it deserves. Others, unfortunately, have not. When shipyards neglect their responsibilities, they not only endanger critical military equipment—they put lives at risk. A single lapse in vigilance can expose billions of dollars in assets, and the sailors who crew them, to avoidable threats.
We are entering a new era where security can no longer be a back-burner issue, delayed until the next incident proves the need. The threat landscape has changed. Our posture must change with it.
Now is the time for hyper-vigilance.
Now is the time for accountability.
Now is the time to reinforce the protection of the strategic assets that underpin our national defense.