Month: July 2023

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON – Rear Adm. Casey J. Moton relieved Rear Adm. James P. Downey as Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) during a change-of-office ceremony, July 7, at the Washington Navy Yard.   

Moton assumed leadership of PEO CVN after previously serving as the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC). 

Rear Adm. Moton recognized teammates from across the PEO CVN enterprise, representing Naval Reactors; industry, especially HII Newport News Shipbuilding; NAVSEA headquarters, Naval Shipyards, Warfare Centers, Regional Maintenance Centers, and the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News; as well as partners at Naval Air Systems Command,  Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, and Naval Supply Systems Command.

“The people of PEO Aircraft Carriers have accomplished a long list of important milestones during [Downey’s] tenure,” said Moton.  “The PEO team and our partners accomplished these things in a time of immense challenge, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent challenges to labor and supply chains.  You’ve accomplished this with a sense of urgency driven by Strategic Competition.  Admiral Downey’s steady hand has guided this team to these successes.”

A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Moton is a 1991 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Over the course of his 34-year career, Moton has served across all phases of surface ship design and shipbuilding.  In his most recent assignment as PEO USC, he was responsible for acquisition and sustainment of the Navy’s expanding family of unmanned maritime systems, mine warfare systems, and small surface combatants.

Earlier in his career, Moton led two major defense acquisition programs—first, as Major Program Manager for Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules, leading development and testing of mission packages for surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare; and later as Major Program Manager for the DDG 51 Program, where his team delivered the first five ships after the restart of DDG-51 production; and placed an additional 12 ships under contract, including the first Flight III Destroyers. 

Downey has been nominated to assume the role of Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command and the rank of Vice Admiral.  He will transition to a temporary position as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN RDA) while awaiting confirmation. 

A Focus on Collaboration

Rear Adm. John F. Meier, U.S. Navy, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, delivered the ceremony’s keynote address.  As the type commander responsible for manning, training, and equipping all aircraft carriers based on the east coast, Meier spoke about the close and collaborative relationship he shared with Downey during his tenure as PEO CVN—a partnership that Meier and Moton intend to continue.

During his remarks, Meier stressed the importance of collaboration among the operators who fight the ships and fly the missions and the acquisition professionals who deliver the platforms and capabilities. 

“When Rear Adm. Downey relieved Rear Adm. Antonio as PEO Aircraft Carriers in June 2019, I had just taken command of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic,” Meier recalled.  “Since then, we’ve collaborated on many initiatives to accelerate readiness.”

“Rear Adm. Downey’s efforts over the past four years will realize dividends for years to come,” Meier said.  “Our nation and Navy are more prepared because of his service and dedication.” 

The Honorable Fredrick J. “Jay” Stefany, acting ASN RDA, served as presiding officer for the ceremony.  During his remarks, Stefany underscored the critical role Rear Adm. Downey played in strengthening the partnerships among Navy and Industry leaders, program managers, planners, and deckplate shipbuilders.

“Admiral Downey was instrumental in keeping stakeholders focused on ensuring Gerald R. Ford would be ready for her current global deployment, as the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 12,” said Stefany.

Stefany also reiterated his confidence in Moton as the right leader to carry PEO CVN’s momentum forward.

“The Navy is very lucky to have you moving your pennant from PEO USC to PEO Aircraft Carriers … a portfolio that is absolutely critical to America’s maritime dominance,” said Stefany.

“I look forward to seeing PEO CVN continue to flourish under your watch, hitting key milestones, and providing much-needed capability to our Fleet,” Stefany added.

Downey thanked his team of more than 200 professionals in the program office and praised the staff’s passion and ability to collaborate, enabling the PEO to overcome one challenge after the next and “get the hard work done.” 

“When things get tough on the geo-political landscape, the front-loaded question is always, ‘Where are the Carriers?’” said Downey, adding, “The work of delivering carriers and readiness to the fleet—with a sense of urgency—feeds our most immediate national security objectives.” 

Downey celebrated the significant milestones the PEO CVN team achieved during his tenure, which included: 

• Delivering 16 of 21 aircraft carriers out of major CNO Availabilities successfully, with a reduction in average days of maintenance delay from 55 days to 15 days 
• Christening the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) 
• Celebrating the Keel Laying for the future USS Enterprise (CVN 80) and First Cut of Steel for the future USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) 
• Introducing innovations in Integrated Digital Shipbuilding and partnering with the shipyards to empower performance, from deck-plate workers to senior management 
• Completing decommissioning work on the Navy’s Surface Ship Support Barge , which served as primary platform supporting complex refueling, defueling, and maintenance operations for used reactor components at Newport News Shipbuilding, from 1964 to 2016
• Completing USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) Full ship shock trials and enabling her first full deployment 
• Redelivering USS George Washington (CVN 73) from a very challenging Refueling and Complex Overhaul

In closing, Downey welcomed Moton to the PEO Aircraft Carriers Family.  “You’re about to embark on one of the most remarkable assignments across the DOD,” Downey said, “Leading the team of acquisition and sustainment professionals building the most formidable and complex weapon system in the world.” 

Source: United States Navy

A small team of mechanics at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) keeps the production lines rolling at the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. FRCE’s Ground Support Branch repairs and maintains the vital ground support equipment used to move aircraft, transport parts, test systems and perform other critical functions that support aircraft production efforts at the depot.

FRCE’s Ground Support Branch is responsible for maintaining and repairing more than 2,000 items of ground support equipment necessary for operations for FRCE’s main facility at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point and detachments located at MCAS New River, the North Carolina Global TransPark in Kinston, and MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.

Dependable ground support equipment is a key factor in successful aircraft maintenance efforts, said Don McLean, overhaul and repair supervisor on FRCE’s V-22 Osprey production line.

“Work platforms and stands allow us to do our jobs safely, and we need test equipment to perform functional tests on aircraft, “McLean said. “We can’t do what we do without the equipment and the support we get from the Ground Support Branch.”

Ensuring the equipment remains functional keeps the shop busy. This year alone, the Ground Support Branch is scheduled to perform more than 5,000 preventive maintenance operations to keep the depot’s ground support equipment in working order.

“In this shop, there’s a lot of variety in the equipment we service. We maintain air conditioning equipment, diesel and gas engines, generators, forklifts, carts used to transport parts throughout the facility, aircraft maintenance tools and test equipment — you name it,” said Tim Washburn, ground support supervisor at FRCE. “The common factor is that all this equipment is essential for aircraft maintenance operations.”

The small shop is staffed during all shifts at the facility to ensure that equipment is ready for production work. One mechanic travels between FRCE’s detachments each week to avoid transporting equipment to Cherry Point for servicing. 

“We provide regular on-site support to ensure the work continues,” said Washburn.  “If our mechanic can fix a problem there without sending the equipment back to FRC East at Cherry Point, it saves time and keeps the equipment in service.” 

The shop also provides cranes and operators to FRCE and its detachments, to lift aircraft for transport or remove large components from aircraft. Two mechanics maintain all the straps and slings used for lifting operations.

“We are responsible for equipment used in most shops within the depot,” Washburn added.  “If work slows down in one shop, it affects the entire production line.”

FRCE’s Facility and Plant Maintenance Services Division is responsible for keeping track of when equipment is due for preventive maintenance. Equipment is scheduled on a yearly basis, but sometimes that plan has to shift to avoid backlogs in the ground support shop.

“We have to ensure that our preventive maintenance doesn’t create bottlenecks in production,” said Michael Lyon, equipment and facility services specialist. “That’s why we have to be flexible and move schedules around to balance maintenance with workload requirements.”

The addition of next-generation aircraft, like the F-35 Lightning II and the CH-53K King Stallion, to the depot’s workload creates new challenges for support equipment maintainers. Most of the support equipment for these platforms is specific to the aircraft and is provided by the aircraft manufacturer. Equipment that requires major repairs will be sent to the manufacturer, but the ground support team will be instrumental in providing preventive maintenance to this technically advanced equipment. This means that mechanics need to be trained and licensed to maintain these new support items.    

“We’ll get new gear that doesn’t exist anywhere else on the base, and we have to send people out to learn to use that gear,” said Marshel Patterson, F-35 logistics manager at FRCE. “They receive training with the Marines that can provide on-the-job training, then teach everyone else to use the equipment.”

New platforms like the CH-53K will also bring new support equipment challenges to the shop, because the support equipment that fits the CH-53E will not fit the larger K model.

“We were told to look at it like a completely different aircraft,” said David Thorpe, H-53 Branch head at FRCE.  “It’s a completely different beast than the last generation, and it will bring new challenges to support.”

Support equipment mechanics in FRCE’s Ground Support Branch are looking forward to the opportunity to support the new technologies, according to Clinton Hall, lead mechanic for F-35 ground support equipment at FRCE.

“Since I started in ground support, the job has gotten more technical, more focused on electronics,” said Hall. “I really enjoy the challenge of learning to troubleshoot a new system. For a ground support mechanic, there’s nothing better than putting your hands on the equipment, figuring out what’s wrong and fixing it. When I find a new problem and can solve it so the equipment works like it’s supposed to, I really feel like I accomplished something. I played a part in supporting the fleet.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti served as the guest speaker and presiding officer over the ceremony. Attendees included intelligence and information warfare community leaders, former ONI commanders, family members, and ONI and NMIO employees.

Franchetti summarized Studeman’s body of work as commander of ONI with one word: dedication, and elaborated on his achievements in his three focus areas: threat, mission, and people.

“There is no one who better understands the threat the People’s Republic of China poses to our American way of life,” said Franchetti. “Mike aligned ONI’s efforts and really built a cadre of experts to address the most challenging situation we face, for both our nation and our Navy, not to mention the world.”

She noted Studeman’s progress in reimagining the way ONI delivers intelligence to decision makers and reinvigorating fleet engagements as well as his commitment to speaking boldly about the threat the United States faces from China.

Franchetti praised Studeman for these efforts, noting, “He raised the profile of Naval Intelligence and underscored the key role ONI and NMIO play in supporting the whole of government, industry partners, and allies and partners alike. Thanks to you, we are postured and we are more ready to drive winning outcomes by harnessing the full spectrum of Naval Intelligence.”

Franchetti welcomed Brookes as the incoming ONI commander, stating, “You bring the exact type of professional experience and energy we need for this immense responsibility. I am confident that ONI is in good hands.”

Prior to concluding her remarks, Franchetti expressed gratitude for the dedication, support and sacrifices of the ONI workforce, their families and support systems.

“Your tireless pursuit and analysis of information combined with your expertise and deep knowledge is invaluable at every single level of decision making. What you do on a daily basis matters to our Navy and—most importantly—to the security of our nation,” she said.

Following the presentation of awards from Franchetti and U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, Studeman took the floor and reflected on his time as ONI commander—his last Navy assignment prior to his upcoming retirement in late July.

“I can think of no better way to end my career here, at the Navy family,” he said.

Studeman reflected on the continuous nature of an intelligence agency’s obligation to understand how to contend with evolving challenges, stating, “There are more secrets to find, there are more truths to uncover, there’s more clarity to provide in our line of work. We need to help the nation avoid strategic surprise and to be able to win the peace, manage crises, and, God forbid, prevail in war.”

Studeman thanked ONI and NMIO employees at all levels and across all functions—from mission enablers to watch standers, analysts, managers and staff—for their support and commitment during his tenure.

“I’m confident that ONI is going to rise to the occasion the way it always has, and I want to express my deepest thanks to ONI for everything you’ve done to get us to this point in managing the world, but also for what you’re going to do going forward,” Studeman said.

Following the official transfer of command from Studeman and Brookes, Brookes echoed the need for ONI’s continued focus on strategic competition.

“I believe the U.S. has entered a critical period marked by an increased danger for strategic competitions to boil over into conflict. We must not only anticipate this possibility, but be prepared to respond appropriately and with alacrity,” Brookes said. “I believe the National Maritime Intelligence Center has long held a place of importance for the U.S. Navy and Intelligence Community, and I am determined to sustain and reinforce that position.”

Brookes most recently served as the Director, J2, U.S. Southern Command, and commanded ONI’s Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center from August 2013 to June 2015.

Source: United States Navy

“Brunei and the U.S. have a shared interest in regional security and stability,” said Cmdr. Patrick Reilly, VP-16 executive officer. “The purpose of this detachment was to promote maritime security while confirming the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The War Eagles were joined by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah the Crown Prince, and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. Also attending the flight with the Crown Prince was Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Acting Deputy Commander Colonel Hishamuddin bin Abidin, and U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Caryn R. McClelland.

During the flight, the DVs observed the capabilities of the P-8A aircraft and patrolled Brunei’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. VP-16 conducted additional flights with members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

“We were delighted to host the visit of VP-16,” said Ambassador McClelland. “The U.S. demonstrated its commitment to partnering with Brunei to enhance maritime domain awareness and security cooperation in defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

In addition to the flights, the War Eagles participated in sporting events with RBAirF personnel from 15 Squadron, No. 1 Wing and 55 Squadron, No. 5. Wing. The two nations also organized games of “Capture the Flag” and VP-16 was introduced to the traditional Malay game “Kaki Tiga”. Afterwards, the squadrons conducted subject matter expert exchanges to trade knowledge and experience in aviation and operations in the South China Sea.

The VP-16 “War Eagles” are based in Jacksonville, Florida, and are currently forward deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

Deviney, from Freer, Texas, led 4,500 personnel over the course of two years and oversaw their manning, training, and equipment readiness needs to ensure they deployed on time to five separate combatant commands. During his departing remarks, Deviney expressed gratitude for his crew and reiterated Solina’s ability to continue the unit’s success during her tenure.

“You know exactly what needs to be done to get the Seabees ready for the next fight,” said Deviney. “With you in the lead, I know we have the right team in place going forward.”

Deviney also shared his thoughts on the people he had the opportunity to lead. He said, “I want to say a special thanks to the troops and civilians of NCG 2 who work hard every day to ensure we have the best trained military engineers in the business and to the Atlantic Seabee units for upholding our historic “Can Do” legacy.”

Rear Adm. Brad Andros, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. He discussed the importance of NCG 2’s mission and thanked Capt. Deviney for his accomplishments during his tour.

“While successful operations and exercises matter, I am most impressed by your commitment to your people and the development of the force,” said Andros. “You should be proud to know the tangible impact you had on preparing disciplined Sailors for future operations.”

Solina is from McLean, Virginia, and most recently served as the Chief Engineer, Logistics Directorate for U.S. European Command before reporting to NCG 2.

“I am humbled, privileged and honored to assume command of NCG 2 and continue the tradition of Seabees providing a capability like no other to our Combatant Commanders,” said Solina. “I look forward to continuing the Seabee legacy, drawing on our rich history and traditions while adapting to the changing strategic environment to answer the call when our Nation needs Seabees and the ‘Can-Do’ spirit.”

Solina’s assumption of command marks another milestone of women in the Seabees and civil engineer corps. Since Ens. Kathleen F. Lux, became the first women to become a civil engineer corps officer in 1942, Seabee women have risen through both the officer and enlisted ranks. Constructionman Carmella Jones became the first enlisted woman Seabee when she cross-rated into the community as an equipment operator during the summer of 1972 following former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr.’s issuance of Z-gram 116 which authorized limited entry of women into all enlisted ratings.

Rear Adm. (ret.) Katherine Gregory was the first woman to command a battalion when she assumed command of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 in 1999. Gregory later rose to the rank of rear admiral before she retired as Naval Facilities Engineering Command and the chief of civil engineers in 2015.
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Naval Construction Force provides military construction and advanced general engineering support to military commanders globally. Read more about the Naval Construction Force on our webpage: https://www.necc.usff.navy.mil/seabees/.