Month: November 2023

Source: United States Navy

The USS New York will be in New York City for five days. While in New York City, the ship’s crew, along with Marine and Coast Guard personnel, will engage in a range of activities throughout the week to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. These activities include participating in the annual NYC Veterans Day Parade, conducting a wreath-laying ceremony, volunteering at the NY State Veterans Home in Queens, and joining in various community relations events.

“We’re thrilled to be here in New York City for Veterans Week, and the entire crew of the USS New York is incredibly excited to participate in these events,” said Capt. Benjamin Oakes, commanding officer of the USS New York (LPD-21). “It’s an honor to be part of such a meaningful celebration, and we’re grateful for the warm welcome and the opportunity to show our appreciation for our nation’s veterans right here in this amazing city.”

The New York has the primary mission of carrying Marines and equipment anywhere in the world. It can remain under the radar and place many Marines on the beach very quickly to build combat power ashore before the enemy is even aware.

New York, whose motto is “Strength Forged through Sacrifice, Never Forget” is one of three amphibious transport dock ships named in honor of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The ship’s bow stem was cast using 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. The Navy named the eighth and ninth ships of the class USS Arlington and USS Somerset in honor of the victims of the attacks on the Pentagon and United Flight 93.
Several memorials to its namesake can be found throughout the ship including uniforms from the first responders of the 9/11 attacks, the original name plate from the previous ship to bear its name, and memorabilia from various Broadway musicals and New York City sports teams. These serve the crew as daily reminders of the ship’s deep, patriotic heritage.

To stay informed about all the 2023 NYC Veterans Week events, please visit our website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com. You can also follow us on social media for updates: Facebook @FleetWeekNewYork, Instagram @FleetWeekNYC, and X @FleetWeekNYC.

Source: United States Navy

A Patuxent River F-35 Integrated Test Force (PAX ITF) detachment and two F-35Bs completed DT-1 and DT-2 aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) in 2018. These sea trials happened during the ship’s ongoing autumn deployment to the Western Atlantic for WESTLANT 23, which encompasses a range of U.K. and U.S. naval aircraft trials.

The flight test on HMS Prince of Wales, Britain’s biggest warship, was conducted to gather data that will inform recommendations that could result in increased operational capability for the 65,000-tonne ship, for QEC carriers, and for the 5th generation joint strike fighter aircraft.

During October and early November, three test pilots flying two specially instrumented F-35B aircraft performed close to 150 short takeoffs (STOs), approximately four score vertical landings (VLs), and almost 60 shipborne rolling vertical landings (SRVLs), while PAX ITF flight test engineers collected data, compared it to models, and made initial analyses.

“The last four weeks at sea have been the busiest HMS Prince of Wales has ever seen,” said Royal Navy Capt. Richard Hewitt, the ship’s commanding officer. “Watching the F-35B perform the first ever night SRVL was amazing and a real testament to the integration of the F-35 team and my ship’s company.

“The test points achieved will not only improve U.K. F-35B operations, but those of our F-35B program partners and allies as well,” Hewitt said.

A key ally, the U.K. is the only top-partner of the seven international partners in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The other six are Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, and Norway. Additionally, there are currently nine foreign military sales customers.

The ship’s lead planner, who worked extensively with the PAX ITF during the preparations, onload, and execution of the flight trials, and whose air engineers worked hand-in-glove with the embarked test team shared his perspective.

“The integration of our teams to realize approximately 150 test points of the F-35B program will potentially increase the way the U.K can operate the F-35,” said Royal Navy Lt. Cdr. Jamie Elliott, Air Engineering Department Head. “SRVL, night SRVL, and heavy load (bombs) test points yielded data that will inform any future decisions about the possible F-35B operational clearance to take off and land heavier, operate in heavier sea states, and turn the jets around faster for more sorties.”

One pilot who flew test missions during the sea trials shared why the experience was a memorable one to him.

“It was an excellent opportunity to have the privilege to fly aboard HMS Prince of Wales and participate in flight trials designed to contribute to pushing the boundaries of 21st century aircraft carrier operations,” said Marine Maj. Alex Horne, F-35 test pilot, PAX ITF.

“Witnessing firsthand the interoperability of the F-35 and the carrier in taxing conditions ranging from high deck motion to high winds over deck, and from maximum weight launches to night operations will be a lasting memory credited to the dedicated men and women embarked for this trial.”

Before the first test point was achieved, much communication and coordination went into crafting a comprehensive test plan and concept of operations, and readying everyone and the equipment.

“Through detailed planning, diligent preparation, and working closely together with the HMS Prince of Wales’ crew, we achieved highly successful flight test during this detachment,” said Andrew Maack, Pax River F-35 ITF chief test engineer, who was embarked during the flight trials. “We were honored to conduct these sea trials with our F-35 program Level I partner as we worked together to deliver additional warfighting capability.”

“I was proud of how the ITF team—maintainers to pilots, engineers to logisticians, and security to information technology to detachment integrators—collectively performed from day one,” Maack added. “Team members recognized the value of our mission, appreciated the importance of this detachment, and committed to the hard work to ensure we accomplished safe, secure, and efficient flight test aboard the U.K.’s newest aircraft carrier.”

Engineers in disciplines like flying qualities, utilities and subsystems, mission systems, propulsion, as well as flight test operations were part of the approximately 180-person team detached from the PAX ITF.

The carrier is currently alongside in Norfolk, Virginia, where it offloaded the PAX ITF team and their equipment. The Portsmouth-based ship and her crew head back to sea soon to conduct further aviation trials before heading back across the Atlantic to England’s south coast.

Source: United States Navy

Her confirmation makes Franchetti not only the first woman to become the CNO and the first woman on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but also the first CNO who commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program.

Franchetti, a native of Rochester, New York, commissioned in 1985 through the NROTC program at Northwestern University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. At the time, she had no idea she’d make history for the Navy.

“I joined the Navy for free college, for books, and a chance to be part of a team,” she said. “It was going to be for four years and then I’d go on and find something else to do. What I stayed for was the team, I stayed for the mission, I stayed for what we get to do for our nation every day as part of great teams.”

Franchetti has served in leadership roles, both at sea and ashore, at every level of the Navy with postings around the globe.

“I’ve always believed that if you can see it, you can be it… so set your sights high.  In today’s military you get to choose your own adventure and make a difference every day by being part of a great team and something bigger than yourself.”

Her advice to those beginning their careers is inspired by Charles Henry Nimitz, who suggested that the best way to be successful in life – and life at sea – is to learn all you can, do your best, and don’t worry about the things you cannot control.

Video of Franchetti’s remarks on her journey can be found here: 

Source: United States Navy

Identify an issue and work to resolve it. That kind of work ethic exemplifies one of the most recent Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal winners, Lt. Cmdr. Sam Hughes, who worked with TechSolutions, at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global, to create a new, more efficient way to train radar operators.

Hughes came up with the idea to use a simulation program for training radar operators while working as the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWC TSD).

When training new ATC operators, Hughes said he needed two instructors for every trainee, and the training could only take place when the radar scopes were not being used to control aircraft. In addition to manpower and equipment limitations, another issue was the lack of standardization in training methodologies.

“So, we have PQS – performance qualification standards – and they have line items that you have to master before you can get qualified on any position,” Hughes said. “Even though the line item might say, and this is just an example, radar vectoring – one controller might teach it one way while another controller teaches it differently.”

The new radar simulator trains up to 14 people at one time with a standardized training method.

Hughes originally suggested the idea of a radar simulator to the ATC Trainer Management Team, which was updating the training program at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. They liked the idea but didn’t have the resources. So, a colleague, then-Lt. Joe Mercado, encouraged him to contact TechSolutions.

The training module, called Dynamic Air Traffic Control Refresher Training System (DARTS), is now being delivered to 35 Navy and Marine Corps sites.

Jason Payne, director, TechSolutions, said the dedicated radar operator training system took less than 12 months to develop. Once they had a prototype, it was transitioned to a Program of Record through PMA-205 General Training.

“We knew this was a warfighting need that new technology could solve, and something we could help facilitate. So, we asked the Naval R&D community for ideas on how it could be done, and we made an award to the NAWC TSD team to perform the development,” Payne said. “The NAWC TSD team delivered a solution that allows a longer period of time for uninterrupted training with a realistic simulator that delivers information more effectively, and now new radar operators will be better equipped for a position of critical need in the Navy and Marine Corps.”

Payne added that DARTS is a great example of what can be achieved through the ideas submitted by Sailors and Marines. “They are in a unique position to tell us what they need to carry out the mission the Department of the Navy has asked them to do. They have the knowledge of what would make it better, easier and more effective, and we can help them with the technology to do that,” said Payne.

While Hughes’ name is written on the certificate from the DoN, he stressed it was a team effort that helped push the new radar operations training forward. Mercado helped him with the forms and contact information for TechSolutions. He also gave credit to Stephen Lane, NAWCTSD assistant project manager and ATC subject matter expert, who stayed in close contact with ONR Global TechSolutions throughout the process.

“The entire IPT team was pivotal. Cathy Bosarge was the NAWCTSD systems engineer. She worked well with Courtney McNamara, the Advanced Gaming Interactive Learning Environment (AGILE) team lead. AGILE worked hand and hand with the NAWC TSD ATC team and the fleet to ensure that what they delivered was exactly what the fleet needed,” Hughes said.

“This is 100% not me. It was a team effort and as soon as we get it out to the fleet and it works, that’ll be the greatest award I could receive.”

Hughes recently received his Gold Star, awarded by the Secretary of the Navy, for “professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving in supporting the Air Traffic Control (ATC) training simulation technology development with the Office of Naval Research Global TechSolutions.”

Source: United States Navy

“Aircraft carriers are undoubtedly a well-known symbol of the United States Navy’s power and capability,” said Secretary Raven. “I am grateful to see this ship, embarked aircraft, and personnel train and operate together as they prepare for future operations as a Forward Deployed Naval Force asset in the Pacific theater.”

During the underway visit, Secretary Raven and other distinguished guests visited more than 20 spaces, met with the George Washington leadership, and spoke with members of the ship’s crew.

“It was a privilege and honor to host Secretary Raven and guests, as it is always a pleasure having distinguished visitors on board our mighty warship. We welcome the opportunity to highlight our extraordinary men and women that are grinding seven days a week on the high seas to meet the critical needs of our great nation,” said Capt. Brent Gaut, commanding officer of USS George Washington.

“I greatly appreciate the frank dialogue I had with sailors across all ranks,” said Secretary Raven. “Whether they have only been in the Navy for a year, or have served for decades, each crew member has a unique individual background, special skill set, and technical expertise that makes a team stronger. Every hand on deck is valuable, and I am honored to serve you.”

Before departing, Secretary Raven addressed the crew on the 1MC. He commended the sailors for their professionalism and dedication to duty.

“There are so many processes in place, each critical to the successful operation of an aircraft carrier at-sea,” said Secretary Raven. “I am incredibly proud of this crew for demonstrating how much progress and forward movement you have made since completing Refueling Complex Overhaul.”