Month: June 2023

Source: United States Navy

Senior Chief Gunner’s Mate Jessica Saunders was ecstatic when she received the news.
 
“This is not only a significant milestone for my naval career, but also for all Sailors,” she said. “The glass ceiling is shattered!  From the day I enlisted, I understood that with hard work, motivational leadership, and a warfighter mentality, I could achieve my goals and help better our Navy for future generations.”
 
Saunders was accepted for enlisted status and placed into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) in September 2001 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Aug. 6, 2002. Over the course of more than 20 years of service, she has served aboard USS Sacramento (AOE 1), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Cowpens (DDG 63), and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). 
 
In addition to tours at sea, she served at Naval Air Station Sigonella’s Weapons Department, Naval Station Mayport Security Detachment, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  In February 2023, she reported to SCSTC SD as the ammunition supply administration and ordnance officer Instructor and ETD departmental leading petty officer. 
 
“Back in the 1990s when I reported aboard my first ship as gunnery officer, there were no females at that time in the armory,” said Capt. Justin Long, commanding officer, SCSTC SD.  “As I retire later this summer from the Navy, I’m so proud to see outstanding Sailors and leaders, like GMCS Saunders, at the highest levels of their communities. As she said herself, ‘the glass ceiling is shattered!’ Congratulations GMCS Saunders on continuing to blaze a trail for female Sailors from all backgrounds and walks of life.”
 
For information about the Surface Combat Systems Training Command San Diego, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC-San-Diego

Visit SCSTC on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SCSTCSD
 
 

Source: United States Navy

Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence, in collaboration with the Naval Intelligence Activity Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (NIA DEIA) Office and the Asian American Pacific Islander Community (AAPIC) Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted the chat.

“The Office of Naval Intelligence was honored to host General Nakasone and hear his life story and experiences as an Asian American,” said Studeman. “The Intelligence Community needs leaders like General Nakasone to share their passion and perspective about the diversity of gender, race, ethnicity and thought in America that makes us truly great.”

The United States celebrates AAPI Heritage Month during the month of May to commemorate the vital contributions of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and native Hawaiians to the American story and to recognize some of the challenges they have faced along the way. The Department of Defense’s theme for this year’s cultural observance is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity”.

During the chat, Nakasone discussed his heritage as an Asian American and the impact it has had on his career and leadership. From his own experiences, his family history, and learning from the struggles of others who have experienced bias taught Nakasone the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all.

“At the end of the day, as a leader, I think it’s my responsibility to set that framework, that culture, that environment of dignity and respect,” said Nakasone.

Nakasone is the son of second-generation Japanese American and retired Army Colonel Edwin Nakasone who served in the Military Intelligence Service during WWII as a Japanese linguist. His extended family served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated units in the history of the U.S. military. His strong family background during a time where Japanese Americans were under constant scrutiny following the events of Pearl Harbor and subjected to racial bias gave Nakasone the perspective and drive to forge his own career.

“It’s important for all of us to understand that we all have heritage to draw on,” said Nakasone.

As the senior Asian American within the U.S. military, Nakasone has taken advantage of his heritage to provide unique, mission-critical perspectives to some of the most challenging issues facing our nation. He describes the wide range of diversity within the armed forces alone as a critical asset.

“From that diversity, I found that we always got better solutions,” said Nakasone.

Throughout his years of service, Nakasone has advocated for more diverse leadership that better represents the demographics of our nation and can recognize the strength of a culturally diverse fighting force. His emphasis on the importance of strong mentors and leaders provides a blueprint for career development at all stages in all communities. For Nakasone, the value in mentorship and leadership lies

in having alternate perspectives, learning to actively listen to the stories of others and developing a strong sense of empathy. These tenets are critical to improving the intelligence community.

“This idea of being able to have a series of mentors that provide you the ability to see yourself because we’re only as good as our ability to see ourselves 360,” said Nakasone. “That’s one of the things that has really been able to help me.”

Nakasone expressed his appreciation for ONI’s mission and commended the establishment of the AAPIC ERG as a great opportunity to ensure the press forward with greater inclusivity and opportunity for all.

Following the chat, Studeman thanked Nakasone for sharing his time and story with the workforce as well as Ronald Rose, the NIA DEIA Officer, Carrie Buckles, senior executive champion of the AAPIC ERG and event co-host, and the AAPIC ERG members for organizing the event.

Also in attendance was the Honorable Franklin R. Parker, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Sandra Brown, Assistant Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence and Deputy Director, Naval Intelligence Activity, and Jing Deng, Information Workforce Division Director and Intelligence Chief Human Capital Officer at Deputy, Commandant for Information, Headquarters Marine Corps.

The NIA DEIA Office collaborates with and supports seven ERGs. Each ERG provides employees with a particular commonality to share a space, support each other, and spread awareness throughout the naval intelligence enterprise.

NIA’s AAPIC ERG was founded in early 2023 when Yuwen Michelson, along with her colleague Connor Akiyama, employees at Nimitz Warfare Analysis Center, attended an intelligence community event for Asian Americans within the intelligence community and discovered an opportunity to develop an AAPI specific ERG.

“It was important that we represent our chapter as Asian Americans within the IC”, said Michelson.

Organizing this event gave the AAPIC ERG the opportunity to reach out to senior Asian American leadership to give them the chance to share their story and give space to fellow members of their community.

“This is a unique ask for a general and General Nakasone is very passionate about sharing his heritage.” said Michelson.

By providing ally-ship and resources to these groups, NIA DEIA along with the AAPIC ERG raise awareness and engage in meaningful conversation that promote inclusivity and cultural awareness within the workplace and is open to any military or civilian employee who wish to join.

Source: United States Navy

NPS Department of Physics Associate Professor Ray Gamache and his former graduate student, NPS alumnus U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Chris Phifer, developed and recently patented a new polymer-based, self-sealing fuel line capable of withstanding a .50 caliber bullet without losing so much as a single drop.

“We’re not just a physics department, we’re the applied physics department,” Gamache said. “While we’re doing things that involve fundamental research, what we’re ultimately doing is pursuing applied solutions with our military students that are important to the warfighter.”

Gamache credits the operational experience and tenacity of Phifer to develop and test multiple prototypes for his thesis to arrive at the right design of a “heterogeneous elastomer system” for a pressurized fuel line to immediately snap back into position sealing simulated combat damage.

“It was a process to build, test, learn until we got it right,” Phifer recalled. “The challenge was that I had to worry about both entry and exit points, so we created multiple 8-inch lengths of hose made from the polymers we selected, sealed on one side and a pressure fixture on the other, and found certain properties performed better on sealing the entry wound and others performed better sealing the exit wound.

“It was during the second phase of this process that we decided to incorporate multilayered polymers with opposing material characteristics, and discovered through trial and error that too many layers reduced the performance but the design with two different composites was able to self-seal.”

Self-sealing technology has been around for some time – since World War I, to be precise. Legacy systems relied on specific interactions with fossil fuels to function and thus proved obsolete with the introduction of new types of fuel. The challenge, Gamache explained, was finding the correct materials to employ.

After testing out various materials to varying effects, Gamache and Phifer found that polyureas and polythioureas worked best. Capable of 300 percent elongation – “rubber on steroids,” according to Gamache – the materials immediately “snapped back” after being pierced by the bullet.

“It isn’t rocket science,” Gamache said. “You simply need a material that has elongation and strength to it so that it has a memory of what it used to be like. When the bullet pokes a hole through it, it just goes back and pushes everything to where it used to be.”

While the research by Gamache and Phifer was initially conceived for aviation applications, Gamache noted that the technology can also apply beyond fuel lines.

“It can be any kind of line,” he said. “It’s a technology that gives you self-sealing and – most importantly – instantaneous self-sealing. There’s a lot being published on self-healing, i.e., closing up over time, but you don’t want self-healing on a fuel line because you’re going to be out of gas before long. Self-sealing is what we are after and elastomeric materials do that.”

Phifer is now stationed at U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) helping develop the joint Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) for the Marine Corps, and agreed that the technology is important, but so is the process.

“This was a team effort with Dr. Gamache, the machine shop, the physics lab techs and even a summer high school intern,” Phifer added. “I have used what I learned from both my physics studies and my applied research process in my role with the ARV program. My time at NPS allowed me to work and understand physics and engineering concepts and develop my problem-solving skills to address the daily issues that arise in a program office.”

The research into self-sealing fuel lines may not fundamentally alter the face of modern warfare, but the technology developed has the potential to provide a marked battlespace advantage for America’s military forces. Increased survivability of warfighter and equipment, extended loiter times and decreased maintenance demands are just a few examples of this technology’s potential impact.

Entitled “Self-Sealing Hose,” the patent went public in November 2022 and is available for licensing through NPS’ Technology Transfer Program.

Innovation driven, NPS develops warfighters and warfighting solutions. Read more about the technology patent:
https://techlinkcenter.org/technologies/self-sealing-hose/7b946c58-00de-4437-8505-e98747d7295e

The primary objective of the NPS Technology Transfer Program is to initiate partnerships with industry and/or academia, license existing technologies, and encourage and assist faculty and staff to transfer newly-developed technologies to the private sector. For more information on the program and how to work with NPS, visit https://nps.edu/web/research/technology-transfer.

Source: United States Navy

In France, Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander of NAVEUR-NAVAF and Allied Joint Force Command Naples; Rear Adm. Oliver Lewis, Director of Maritime Operations for NAVEUR-NAVAF; and Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, attended ceremonies in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Normandy American Cemetery and Somme American Cemetery, respectively.

In Italy, Vice Adm. Thomas E. Ishee, commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet and Rear Adm. Calvin Foster, vice-commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet, attended ceremonies in the Florence American Cemetery and Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, respectively.

Memorial Day, first widely observed on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the fallen in the Civil War, has stood as a day of remembrance, mourning, and ceremony throughout the years.

After World War I, the ceremonial day came to encompass the fallen in all American wars. With exception to the American Civil War, the American deaths in World War II were greater than all other U.S. wars combined. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines,and Airmen laid down their lives and came to rest in cemeteries built on their campaign trail throughout Europe.

The largest offensive in U.S. military history, the Meuse-Argonne offensive, was the deadliest battle in the history of the U.S. Army. It resulted in more than 26,277 American lives lost – many of whom are now buried at the nearby cemetery. Munsch, while commemorating the fallen of Meuse-Argonne offensive, highlighted the historic nature of it all.

“Today we gather at cemeteries and monuments, on watch and at-sea, to both mourn and celebrate our fallen brothers and sisters-in-arms,” said Munsch.” To mourn those who gave their lives for our great nation, and to celebrate the cause in which they gave it, the freedom they preserved. The story of the United States is one built upon the shoulders of those who have come before. We could not be where we are – who we are – without their ultimate sacrifice. Amidst the ever-present global security challenges we face today, we must continue to carry on the legacy of those who have gone before us.”

More than 1,000 km away lies the Florence American Cemetery, its landscape dotted with white headstones memorializing the more than 4,400 service members who fell while liberating Italy during World War II. Surrounded by what was near-constant battle during the Northern Campaign, the location was chosen for its central location to the 20 temporary cemeteries built near it during the flurry of World War II. Within the cemetery lies the Wall of the Missing – 1,409 names carved into its face, names of those whose bodies were never recovered.

“As we stand here today, on the more than 70 acres that the Florence American Cemetery covers, we remember the heroism of the men and women that lie here, and we remember their courage and selflessness in preserving the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Ishee. “Now, over 70 years later, the ideals of freedom, democracy, peace and humanity are being threatened once again, but the NATO Alliance stands ready to deter aggression and defend the security in Europe.”

June 6 will mark 79 years since Operation Overlord in Normandy – the largest seaborne assault in human history encompassing more than 6,000 allied ships carrying 1 million soldiers across the English Channel to occupied France. Lewis, speaking from a podium overlooking the graves that cross-hatch the Normandy American Cemetery, emphasized how Memorial Day is not solely about mourning the past – it is about commemorating and realizing the extraordinary hope the fallen had for the future.

“As we pay tribute to our fallen, whether on these shores or across the countless fields of battle in Europe, mourn them with all your heart,” said Lewis. “But celebrate their hope with all your soul, for it’s their hope that lives on. On these fields, in our capitols, in the very soul of all our people, their hope in that sacred belief of life and liberty for all was born, raised anew by the generations they left behind. That hope is what unites the NATO alliance today, and continues to bind us tomorrow.”

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility.

U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

Source: United States Navy

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. ——Recently, U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command’s (Naval Oceanography) Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) tracked Super Typhoon 02W (MAWAR) through the Western Pacific as the storm reached historic proportions.

MAWAR’s peak intensity was reported to have reached upwards of 160ktnots (184 mph). In times of severe and impactful weather hazards due to tropical cyclones, JTWC plays a vital role in protecting the Navy; Ships and Sailors alike.

“JTWC provides monitoring and analyzing of forecasts, warning on tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Southern Hemisphere for Department of Defense, and other U.S. agencies and allies operating in the region,” said Mr. Brian Strahl, JTWC Director.

The U.S. Navy has a serious presence throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region─where significant naval operations are conducted─and JTWC’s area-of-responsibility covers more than 65 million square miles where tropical cyclones are known to form.
“The information we gather is then disseminated and utilized for resource protection…making sure that our people and our assets [U.S. Navy Ships and Sailors] are protected and out of harm’s way ahead of these destructive systems,” said Strahl.

The information JTWC provides is primarily to protect military and partners, however the information distributed still holds altruistic purpose.
 

“Our [JTWC] products are provided to forward-deployed METOC professionals who use the data to inform Commanders and other decision makers at all U.S. military bases in the Pacific.   That same information is made available and used by countless countries to help keep their citizenry informed and protected, meteorologically-speaking,” said U.S. Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Officer, LT Steven Backofen.

Naval Oceanography and its subordinate commands, like JTWC use weather forecasts and distinct data to help protect United States citizens and their military, yet the information still finds it way for a global-good.

The island of Guam was expected to be hit hard by Super Typhoon MAWAR.

“We provided tropical cyclone warnings from DOD to the National Weather Service in Guam, which then uses the information to inform the government of Guam and subsequently local emergency managers, so it’s certainly our hope that everyone is safe there,” said Strahl.

JTWC’s mission is to enable effective Fleet and Joint Force planning and operations through tropical cyclone forecasts, warnings, and environmental decision support to U.S. assets in the Pacific and Indian Oceans as established by Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

 Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command directs and oversees more than 2,500 globally-distributed military and civilian personnel who collect, process, and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to make better decisions, based on assured environmental information, faster than the adversary.

For more information about JTWC: https://www.metoc.navy.mil/jtwc/jtwc.html

Follow Naval Oceanography on Facebook and Instagram (@NavalOceanography), Twitter (@NavyOceans), and LinkedIn.
 

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