Month: July 2022

Source: United States Navy

The ship was named after America’s first president, who fervently believed in the necessity of a strong Navy.

Crew members, from those who served during the commissioning to those who participated in the many deployments spanning the world’s oceans, joined the celebration from near and far as they recalled their service aboard the Navy’s sixth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

“We say thank you to our crew past and present from our plank owners who first took our warship to sea, to our resilient warfighters here on George Washington today,” said Capt. Brent C. Gaut, George Washington’s commanding officer. “The years since our warship’s commissioning represent not only the days of hard work and dedication put in by all who have served on board, but also stands as a solemn marker of the joys, struggles, sweat, and at times even the tears of every crew member who has crossed the brow.”

In a response to a social media post encouraging plank owners to share their fondest memories from the ship, plank owner Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Kent B. Dave, who served aboard George Washington from 1991 to 1994, said his proudest moment is seeing his son serve aboard the same vessel 25 years after he did.

Plank owner Data Systems Technician 2nd Class Todd Meyer shared in his response to the post that his fondest memory from his time aboard was during the ship’s maiden deployment.

Just two years after commissioning, George Washington set out on her maiden deployment where she served as the backdrop off Portsmouth, England, for the 50th anniversary of the D-Day commemoration ceremony, before deploying to respond to rising tensions between Iraq and Kuwait in the Middle East. Between the years 1993 and 2000, the ship conducted several deployments throughout the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).

In September 2001, George Washington was deployed to New York City to provide air defense following the September 11 terrorist attacks. A piece of steel from the fallen Twin Towers remains on display in the Chiefs Mess as a solemn reminder of the ship’s contribution to the nation’s security. George Washington also had roles in the post-9/11 War in Afghanistan and the War in Iraq, participating in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.

In 2008, George Washington, with Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) and Carrier Strike Group Eight embarked, departed Norfolk for its new home port of Yokosuka, Japan, to become the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be forward-deployed. During the same trans-Pacific voyage, tragedy struck as a fire broke out aboard the ship. George Washington was redirected to San Diego following firefighting efforts at sea to undergo repairs. The ship departed San Diego in August and arrived in Yokosuka in September.

“When you look at what this ship has accomplished in its first 30 years, you have to look at each Sailor, who at every significant milestone in the ship’s history has left behind a legacy that we carry on today,” said Command Master Chief Christopher R. Zeigler. “None of the ship’s many successes would have been possible without the men and women who swore an oath to protect our nation no matter where the ship was deployed.”

Throughout 2009, George Washington went underway in the Pacific and Indian Oceans several times and participated in different operations with allied navies. In 2010, the ship conducted operations with the Republic of Korea’s navy and air force in the Sea of Japan.

Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan, George Washington left Yokosuka as a precautionary measure to ensure sustained readiness in support of Japan and to assist in disaster relief efforts. In 2013, the ship and air wing deployed to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan to expand search and rescue operations, provide medical care, and deliver supplies using its embarked helicopters.

In July 2015, George Washington participated in Talisman Sabre, an exercise that involved around 30,000 U.S. and Australian service members. Defense forces from New Zealand and Japan also took part in the exercise for the first time.

The ship then transited back to San Diego to complete the first-ever three-carrier hull swap involving 9,000 Sailors and the carriers USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 72). After departing San Diego en route to Virginia, George Washington was diverted to serve alongside the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) to provide humanitarian relief to Haiti after Hurricane Matthew.

George Washington entered dry dock at Newport News Shipbuilding in August 2017 to commence Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), becoming the sixth Nimitz-class carrier to undergo this major mid-life milestone. After years of upgrades, refurbishments, and testing, the ship is scheduled to complete RCOH in 2023.

“Thirty years is a huge milestone in a warship’s history, but for George Washington, it’s just the beginning of our next chapter,” said Gaut. “The crew onboard George Washington today look forward to completing our shipyard period and getting our warship back out to sea to protect and serve this great nation.”

Source: United States Navy

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $36 million firm-fixed-price task order under a multiple award construction contract, June 30, to RQ Construction, LLC, from Carlsbad, California, for entrance road and gate complex located at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana.

Barksdale AFB currently has three entrances to the base. The three existing entry points are concentrated around the Main Base core area but do not provide adequate access to the East Reservation, which includes housing and recreational facilities, and over 9,000 acres available for development.

“The new Gate construction will allow the gate to get out of the runway clear zone, provide access to the East Reservation, and to more efficiently handle high volumes of traffic,” said Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) Lt. Kevin Dorian.

The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a new entrance road and an Entry Control Facility (ECF) that provides a point of entry for personnel, visitors and deliveries to Barksdale AFB.

“An existing Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development project is extending the interstate highway up to the installation boundary,” said Dorian. “The MILCON project will continue this route onto Barksdale AFB and connect with the existing Range Road while providing required ECF and roadway improvements.”

The ECF will be located on the north side of the base and will connect with the new state highway at a terminus point just south of Kansas City Southern Railway Company right-of-way.  

The contract contains two unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $36.9 million. Work will be performed in Barksdale, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by December 2025.

Source: United States Navy

Upon graduating from the Naval Academy in 1999, Cancel selected aviation and went to flight school to earn her wings.

“I always found myself proud to be an American,” said Cancel. “I’m proud of my country and what we stand for — freedom of religion, freedom of speech — and I’ve always felt it was my duty to ensure that those liberties are secure for all of us in America, and that America continues to provide an example of those things to the world.”

Cancel touts flying MH-60 helicopters in the Persian Gulf with the “Screaming Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six and sailing aboard USS Ronald Regan (CVN 76) on its inaugural voyage around South America as the two main highlights of her active-duty career.

Cancel transferred from active duty to the Navy Reserve in 2008, after which she became a civilian flight instructor where she continued to share her love of flying with her students. She has also continued to flourish as a leader and has served multiple tours in the Navy Reserve as a commanding officer.

“I really enjoy flying helicopters, I loved the mission,” said Cancel. “I loved serving my country, and I wanted to keep doing that.”

Cancel also used the citizen-Sailor aspect of her Navy Reserve career to enable her to teach in another way. She now teaches middle school Spanish and is taking graduate courses in education.

 “Teachers have always made a big impression on me,” Cancel said. “I’ve always wanted to be able to impact people’s lives and help them make good decisions — maybe inspire them to join the Navy?”
When asked about the difference between teaching pilots and teaching middle schoolers, Cancel reflects that there’s surprisingly little difference.

“I think I take some of my military demeanor into the classroom, which the middle school kids appreciate because I treat them more like adults, but I also have very high standards. That mutual respect makes them want to meet those standards.”

In the classroom, on the flight line, or serving as a commanding officer, Cancel brings the same dedication and motivation to everything she does.

“First and foremost, I think of myself as a Sailor in the Navy, like any other,” Cancel said. “I just always try to be straightforward and do my best, serve my country, and help other people.”