Month: July 2023

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Defense News: A Multinational Staff Operating as One

Source: United States Navy

The exercise is currently taking place off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, as part of UNITAS, spanning from June 15 to June 21, 2023. U.S. Navy ships and submarines work closely with partner nation vessels to carry out various maritime operations. This year, Colombia hosted UNITAS, which is the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. The exercise consists of multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems.

“Working together as a multinational staff allows us to continue to learn and improve from each other every year,” stated Colombian Navy Rear Adm. Carlos Oramas, Commander of the multinational staff. “Our teamwork during the exercise showcases the remarkable achievements we accomplish when united in pursuing a shared mission.”

The multinational staff consists of sailors from various nations participating in UNITAS LXIV. The staff exemplifies a remarkable display of coordination and teamwork throughout a five-day underway phase. Each member is assigned specific responsibilities critical to the mission’s success. During the underway, the staff coordinates and executes a wide range of operations and drills amongst all of the ships that participate.

“UNITAS plays a vital role in promoting collaboration and cooperation between the United States Navy and our South American partners.” said United States Navy Capt. Bryan Gallo, the Deputy Commander of the multinational staff. “This exercise offers a great opportunity to strengthen bonds with our South American partners, enhancing interoperability, and fostering enduring friendships that reinforce regional and maritime stability.”

UNITAS, Latin for Unity, is the longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world. UNITAS was conceived in 1959, with the first UNITAS (UNITAS I) taking place in 1960. UNITAS has occurred every year since then.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

For more information visit:
www.fourthfleet.navy.mil
www.dvidshub.net/feature/UNITAS

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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 10, 2023.

Steven Flood, age 38, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Flood was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023.

The conviction stems from Flood failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between June 15, 2022, and August 4, 2022. Flood had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court which requires him to register for the rest of his life.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Flood was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

 

 

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Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PIERRE – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on March 29, 2023.

Daniel Red Horse, Jr. age 52, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by five  years  of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Red Horse was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 28, 2022.

Red Horse has two prior federal sex offense convictions. As a result, Red Horse is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Between May 2, 2022, and June 3, 2022, Red Horse did knowingly fail to register and update his registration.  This is his eighth conviction for failing to register. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.

Red Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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Defense News: NRL Astronomers Track New Stellar Phenomenon

Source: United States Navy

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Very Large Array (VLA) Low-band Ionosphere and Transient Experiment (VLITE) telescope has helped astronomers confirm findings of a new stellar phenomenon that challenges current scientific understanding of the physics of neutron stars. The object is believed to be an ultra-long period magnetar, a rare type of star with extremely strong magnetic fields that can produce powerful bursts of energy, a finding that was published today in Nature.
 
NRL’s VLITE was developed in collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in 2014. VLITE operates on the VLA as a stand-alone instrument for ionospheric and astrophysical studies. VLITE’s 18 antennas collect over 6000 hours of data per year, which are archived at NRL. Originally it was implemented to constantly monitor the Earth’s ionosphere to study disturbances that can affect it such as geomagnetic storms, seismic events and gravity waves. By this constant surveillance, it can be used as a tool to detect transient blips, bursts of radio waves from cosmic sources that are elusive without constant observation. Understanding these phenomena may lead astronomers to a better understanding of the Universe.
 
In September 2022, an international team of astronomers, led by Curtin University and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Australia discovered the stellar object (named GPM J1839-10) using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). The discovery set off an intense world-wide effort to understand GPM J1839-10. NRL astronomers quickly reprocessed stored VLITE data, identifying previously hidden emission from the stellar object. Armed with the VLITE results, astronomers scoured archives and traced the emission from the source back more than three decades, to 1988.
 
“This enigmatic object has been hiding in the data for decades – we just did not know we had to look for it until its discovery by the MWA”, said Dr. Simona Giacintucci, NRL Research Astronomer. GPM J1839-10 emits a five-minute pulse of radio wavelength emission every 22 minutes, and it’s been doing this for at least 33 years.
 
“Findings like this are exciting because they highlight the gaps in our understanding of the physics of these extreme stars known as magnetars,” said Dr. Tracy Clarke, NRL Research Astronomer and VLITE Project Scientist. “Current understanding says this object should not emit radio waves and yet we are detecting them across several decades and we are not sure why. That is an exciting mystery.”
 
Astronomers believe GPM J1839−10 is a form of rare neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields. “Astronomy is one of those bizarre professions where we are not able to go to our objects to study them,” Clarke said. “We are interested in how many of these are out there and where they are located. That is directing future research.”
 
VLITE has exceeded its original mission fulfilling initial hopes of making discoveries just like this. NRL astronomers will continue to search data sets produced with VLITE to lead future discoveries and a better understanding of the Universe with the fascinating objects it contains. NRL’s instrumentation and cutting-edge research supports the mission of the Navy and Department of Defense while continuing to contribute to science worldwide.
 
 
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory 

NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C., with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, Key West, Florida, and Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.

For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.

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Defense News: USS Stethem Conducts Cooperative Deployment with Indian Navy Following Goa Port Visit

Source: United States Navy

“The port visit reinforces President Biden and Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to an Indo-Pacific region built on shared values and principles as we strengthen the relationship between our two countries,” said U.S. Consul General of Mumbai Mike Hankey. “We recognize and value India’s role and leadership in the Indo-Pacific region at large. Working in concert with India, we will advance the rules-based order and maintain peace and stability in the region.”

The U.S. Navy destroyer worked with the Indian Navy frigate INS Tarkash (F-50), and the operations focused on building interoperability and strengthening relationships through maneuvering and communication exercises.

“Stethem Sailors greatly enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with our partners in the region, working together with the Indian Navy allowed us to gain a greater appreciation for creating stability off their coast following our successful port visit,” said Cmdr. James “Nate” Watts, commanding officer of Stethem. “The operations on India’s West Coast, sailing together, show our strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S.-India bilateral operations included division tactics, a passing exercise and formation sailing, providing both navies the opportunity to work together to further common maritime goals.

Port calls are part of the U.S. Navy’s routine operations. Not only do they reflect the mutual interest between the U.S and its partner nations, they allow Sailors an opportunity to decompress from the high demand of life at sea, contributing to the overall mission readiness of the ship.

Stethem is operating as part of Commander, Task Force 71, U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. CTF 71 is responsible for the readiness, tactical and administrative responsibilities for forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as well as any surface unit conducting independent operations in the region.

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.