Month: October 2023

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Tennessee Man Found Guilty of Felony Charges Related to Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Tennessee man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of five felony charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Ronald Colton McAbee, 29, of Unionville, Tennessee, was found guilty of all charges against him following a jury trial in U.S. District Court. McAbee was convicted of five felonies, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; civil disorder; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

            On Sept. 25, 2023, McAbee pleaded guilty to a separate felony charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer and a misdemeanor charge for an act of physical violence on the Capitol grounds before U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras in the District of Columbia.

            Judge Contreras will sentence McAbee on Feb. 29, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 6, 2021, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the U.S. Capitol building to assist the U.S. Capitol Police in maintaining the security of the Capitol from ongoing riots. At approximately 4:20 p.m., MPD officers made their way to an interior tunnel of the Capitol building. Here, they assumed a post in an Archway that provided access to the building’s Lower West Terrace.

            As the officers arrived, hundreds of individuals gathered outside the Archway, some throwing and/or swinging various makeshift weapons at the group of officers. At about 4:27 p.m., an MPD officer positioned toward the opening of the Archway was knocked to the ground, kicked, and stripped of his baton. During this incident, McAbee was positioned on the south side of the Archway and was able to observe the assault.

            After the officer was knocked to the ground, McAbee stepped into the Archway, grabbed the officer’s leg, and pulled him further towards the crowd. When a second MPD officer stepped off the police line to assist the downed officer, McAbee stood up, yelled at the officer who had stepped out to assist, and then swung his arms and hands towards the officer’s head and torso. McAbee made contact with the officer and was wearing reinforced knuckle gloves at the time of the assault.

            McAbee then returned his attention to the downed officer and lifted him by the torso and shoulders. As a result, McAbee and the officer slid down a set of steps, with McAbee falling on top of the officer. The two landed in the crowd, where McAbee lay on top of the officer while other rioters assailed the officer for over 20 seconds before the officer was finally able to get up and work his way back to the Archway. The officer sustained physical injuries, including a head laceration, concussion, elbow injury, bruising, and bodily abrasions. The officer was transported to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

            McAbee was arrested on Aug. 17, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.

            The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington, Memphis, and Knoxville Field Offices, which identified McAbee as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #134 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

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Defense News: VCNO and MCPON Visit Sailors in Mayport, Jacksonville and Key West

Source: United States Navy

KEY WEST, Fla. – Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea traveled to Florida Navy installations to visit with Sailors and observe the U.S. Navy’s Hybrid Fleet event, Oct. 11.

Franchetti and Honea opened their trip at Naval Station Mayport, where they held an all-hands call with more than 650 Sailors from around the base. The conversation lasted more than ninety minutes and covered topics like readiness and recruiting, as well as VCNO and MCPON’s priorities.

“What we do every day is all about three things: warfighting, warfighters, and winning,” said Franchetti. “I’m counting on each and every one of you to be focused on your job, and focused on being the best that you can be in everything that you do.”

After the all-hands call, Franchetti and Honea had lunch with commanding officers and command master chiefs from select Naval Station Mayport commands.

“I ask that our leaders be very clear on what their priorities are, and that they articulate them very well to their Sailors so we are not wasting time or resources,” said Honea. “Then it’s about focusing on those priorities, and making sure that we are talking about those things every day.”

The group then travelled to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where they visited Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 (VUP-19). At VUP-19, VCNO and MCPON received briefs on the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System, part of the Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance family of systems. The MQ-4C Triton conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that pair with the P-8A Poseidon, and it brings increased persistence, capability, and capacity through its multi-sensor mission payload.

The briefing previewed VCNO and MCPON’s afternoon visit to Naval Air Station Key West for the Hybrid Fleet event. Running Oct. 4-13, the event aims to evaluate unmanned aerial and surface systems in order to strengthen and increase warfighter capabilities across the Navy and U.S. Fourth Fleet area of responsibility.

“One of the best ways to change our force is to rapidly operationalize new technologies, new systems, and new tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Franchetti. “Whether you’re talking about artificial intelligence, cyber, unmanned platforms, directed energy, or hypersonic missiles, we are on the cusp of technological breakthroughs that are going to define future conflict.”

The U.S. Fourth Fleet is developing, fielding and operating a hybrid fleet of manned and unmanned vessels to check the flood of illicit trafficking and learn how the Navy can more rapidly employ proven cutting-edge technology on the modern battlefield. VCNO and MCPON finished their day with demonstrations and briefings from the U.S. Fourth Fleet Innovation Team and innovative tech companies in attendance.

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Defense News: SECNAV Visits Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence

Source: United States Navy

“The work being done here in Danville is exceptionally innovative, both for manufacturing and workforce training,” said Del Toro. “These talented professionals fill a critical need in our nation by creating and developing data sets to manufacture mission-essential parts aboard submarines and ships through additive manufacturing, and training the next generation of innovators who will strengthen our warfighting readiness.”

At the summit, Secretary Del Toro delivered remarks to approximately 400 attendees representing major shipbuilders; small business; federal, state, and local government entities; Department of the Navy uniformed and civilian personnel; and media.

“The Department of the Navy is committed to advancing the President’s vision for a future that’s ‘Made in America’ with economic growth that works for working families,” said Del Toro. “The President’s ‘Build America, Buy America’ initiative is expanding job opportunities across the country, and our Navy’s efforts in Danville directly support this.”

Following the summit, Secretary Del Toro attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Regional Training Center.

“October is National Manufacturing Month, and I cannot think of a better product to manufacture than a good old U.S. submarine,” said Del Toro. “To be able to start this week here in Danville, and finish the week by commissioning the USS Hyman G. Rickover this Saturday, a submarine like the ones that each and every one of you will contribute to in the future, is just an extraordinary privilege.”

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Defense News: Navy Hospital Ship Departs for Pacific Partnership 2024-1

Source: United States Navy

The U.S. Navy will join allied and partner nation forces for the 19th iteration of Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multilateral disaster response preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region. This annual maritime humanitarian and civic assistance mission focuses on improving disaster response preparedness, resiliency and capacity while enhancing partnerships with participating nations and civilian humanitarian organizations throughout the region.

For this year’s mission, medical and dental practitioners will be embarked on the 1,000-bed hospital ship. Aboard the Mercy, a combined 800 military and civilian personnel will support the multi-month mission led by U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Quin, PP24-1 mission commander, and Rear Adm. Mark A. Melson, PP24-1 executive agent under U.S. Pacific Fleet, and commander, Task Force 73.

“The Pacific Partnership mission teams work collectively each year with host and partner nations to strengthen existing regional interoperability, and increase disaster-response-capacity,” said Melson. “I am honored to be part of this year’s mission because this annual mission helps increase security and stability in the region, while fostering new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.”

The Pacific Partnership mission team aboard the Mercy will make stops in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Experts in the fields of engineering, medicine and disaster response will partner with each host to conduct civic-action projects, community health exchanges, medical symposiums, and disaster response training activities.

“This mission reflects the continued commitment to the region and dedication to disaster-response-readiness from the United States, our partners and allies, and the host nations,” said Quin.

Engagements between Pacific Partnership participants and host nations ensure the international community is better prepared to function together when responding to a disaster emergency by increasing capacity, enhancing regional partnerships, and increasing multilateral cooperation for disaster preparedness.

The Pacific Partnership began in response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia. The mission has evolved over the years from emphasis on direct care to an operation focused on enhancing partnerships through host nation subject matter expert and civil-military exchanges.

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Defense News: USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Source: United States Navy

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea yesterday, in order to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war. The forces in the area include the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), with its 8 squadrons of attack and support aircraft, and the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).

Efforts to increase U.S. posture continue, including the rapid movement into theater of U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.

“The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation,” said General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.