Month: November 2023

Source: United States Navy

The strike group is commanded by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 and comprised of flagship aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons, and the Information Warfare Commander.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Philippine Sea, and Mason entered the Red Sea after transiting from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, Nov. 4. CSGs bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet.

“The arrival of IKECSG to Middle East region displays our speed and agility to flex as our nation’s leaders determined a balance of maritime capability in support of national security priorities,” said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander, CSG-2, IKECSG. “The strike group brings an unparalleled combat superiority to CENTCOM and we will be leveraging our presence in the theater to enhance regional security and operate alongside our allies and partners.”

Squadrons of CVW-3 include the “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, the “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83, the “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, the “Screwtops” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, the “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

IKECSG units departed their homeports of Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, on Oct. 13 & 14 for a scheduled deployment.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

Source: United States Navy

The SAIM and DON CIO is the Principal Staff Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy on information technology, digital modernization, cybersecurity and data management. Rathbun assumed responsibilities as the DON CIO, Oct. 29.

“Jane’s leadership, technical acumen, and personal character stood out amongst a very competitive field of candidates and represent the best of our ongoing efforts to build a culture of warfighting among our one Navy-Marine Corps team,” said Secretary Del Toro. “She is the right person to drive our efforts to implement the Department of Defense Digital Modernization Strategy and enable our ability to leverage data for decision advantage.”

Over the last two years, an empowered CIO office, modeled after industry best practices to drive innovation and sustain the Department’s warfighting competitive advantage, has worked to modernize infrastructure, innovate and deploy new capabilities, and defend naval information, regardless of where it resides. For example, the DON CIO has spearheaded several DOD priorities, such as improving business processes through Operation Cattle Drive, an institutional framework to reduce the number and variability of systems and applications, which lowers cost and reduces cyber risk; creating solutions to address “Fix My Computer” challenges, such as the implementation of Flank Speed Managed Devices, improving network resiliency and overall user experience; and improving data maneuverability through the adoption of zero trust principles and next generation technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, a key priority aligned with the Biden Administration’s recent Executive Order.

“I am honored and humbled to serve the DON as the SAIM and CIO,” said Rathbun. “I take seriously our mission to build a modern, agile, and adaptive naval information environment that can be leveraged anytime and anywhere to meet the challenges during all phases of competition, crisis, and conflict. I look forward to working with the CNO and Commandant to achieving the operational and business outcomes articulated in the NAVPLAN and Force Design 2030.”

Rathbun has been serving as the Acting Department of the Navy DON CIO since March 2023 and previously served as the Deputy Secretary of the Navy for Information and Chief Technology Officer.

Source: United States Navy

Personnel at FCC, which is also Navy Space Command, and U.S. 10th Fleet (C10F), and MARFORCYBER are responsible for the Navy and Marine Corps’ Cyber and Space Warfare and defend the Navy and Marine Corps’ networks, provide battlespace awareness to the fleet, and provide cyber and space-effects. They are part of the core of warfighter development leveraging innovation, new technologies, and competencies needed to ensure our competitive edge over our adversaries.

“Modern warfare relies on Cyber and Space operations. Nowhere is innovation more needed than in the cybersphere and in our pursuit of information superiority. We must leverage new technologies to continue to evolve our networks and improve our warfighting and cyber domains. From our Command and Control Systems to defending ourselves from malicious cyber actors, the work our Cyber and Space Sailors, Marines and civilians carry out globally is vital to our operations,” said Secretary Del Toro.

During the visit, Secretary Del Toro met with Vice Adm. Craig Clapperton, Commander, Fleet Cyber Command, toured the defensive cyber operations spaces and command watchfloor, and discussed cyber and space capabilities. Additionally, Secretary Del Toro met with Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, to discuss the Navy’s role in cyber operations.

“Cyber and Space operations are integral to our warfighting efforts,” said Clapperton. “We will synchronize and integrate cyber capabilities to deter conflict where we can and to prevail in a conflict if we must.”

In the afternoon, Del Toro visited Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, which, like Fleet Cyber Command, serves as a multi-function headquarters for Marine Corps Forces Space Command and Marine Corps Information Command, where he similarly spoke with leaders and Marines about their role in Cyber and Space warfare.

“With the recent establishment of the Marine Corps Information Command, everything we do is through the lens of converging capabilities,” said Maj Gen Ryan Heritage, Commander, MARFORCYBER. “With a team of exceptional Marines and Civilians, we are converging cyber, space and information capabilities in order to provide comprehensive and effective support to warfighters around the globe.”

FCC/C10F/Navy Space Command is responsible for Navy information network operations, offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, space operations, and signals intelligence. Comprised of more than 14,000 Sailors, Reservists and civilians stationed globally, C10F is the operational arm of the command and executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders.

MARFORCYBER provides operational support to the Fleet Marine Force. It is a distributed force, integrated throughout the U.S. Cyber Command enterprise to increase warfighter lethality and provide domain-specific access to warfighting capabilities.

Source: United States Navy

Sailors and naval aviators from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) and those of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (CSG 2) trained on high-value unit defense, ballistic missile defense, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime security operations.

They were joined by USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) – the U.S. Sixth Fleet Command and Control ship – and the Italian Navy frigates ITS Virginio Fasan (F 591) and ITS Carlo Margottini (F 592).

“Operating and training alongside each other demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to seamlessly accomplish multiple missions, deter aggression and support our allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, Commander of CSG 12.

More than 11,000 U.S personnel participated in the three-day exercises.

“The seamless integration of naval and air commands between us and our partners helps build a theater-wide common tactical picture to make us a more ready and postured force,” said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, Commander of CSG 2. “Our focus on teamwork and dual-carrier operations provide us the ability to train like we fight.”

The Italian ships Fasan and Margottini joined the two carrier strike groups to exercise NATO alliance integration. Fasan also participated in Composite Unit Training Exercise with the Eisenhower strike group earlier this year.

“Operating dual carrier strike groups alongside Allies and Partners in a dynamic environment demonstrates our capability and capacity to respond with agility decisively to any contingency,” said Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. “Our presence sends a clear signal about our commitment to deter aggression and promote stability throughout the region.”

The ships of the Gerald R. Ford strike group have participated in multiple operations and exercises throughout the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, including Sage Wolverine, Baltic Operations 2023, exercise Air Defender 2023, and NATO enhanced vigilance activity Neptune Strike, as well as operations with 17 countries in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.

The Gerald R. Ford strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

The ships of DESRON-2 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117).

The Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), the guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allies and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability throughout Europe and Africa.

Source: United States Navy

Douglass was one of seven sailors who died in the June 17, 2017, collision of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and the MV ACX Crystal.

In attendance at the memorial service were YN3’s father, Master Sgt. (Ret) Stephen Douglass, grandfather Carl Douglass, Rear Adm. Luke A. Frost, Director, Reserve Warfare, OPNAV N95, and over 50 veterans who served during World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. Attendees joined the Gold Star family on the Honor Flight event, visiting many of the Washington D.C. veteran’s memorials ending at the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Gold Star Dad, Master Sgt. (Ret) Stephen Douglass, served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard and 26 in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Kuwait, and Iraq.

“I am here with the Honor Flight Maine group, and it’s just been a wonderful time traveling to Washington D.C., to see all of the memorials, remembering how great this country is,” said Stephen .”Attending the honor ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial here for my son, Shingo Alexander Douglass, left me speechless.”

Grandfather Carl, a Purple Heart recipient, was in the U.S. Army for 28 years, fought in the Vietnam War, and served in Korea.

“This honor flight brought back many memories of the Vietnam War and the Korean War,” said Carl. “The memorial service at the Navy memorial for my grandson, Shingo Alexander Douglass, was a big surprise. We appreciate everything the Navy has done for us and my son and grandson.”

The Honor Flight Network, a national nonprofit organization, collaborates through independent hubs to fulfill its mission of showing appreciation and honor to veterans.

“It is an honor to host this event in the auditorium of the U.S. Navy Memorial,” said Katherine McCarthy, Donor Relations Manager with the U.S. Navy Memorial. “Here is where row F, seat 09 in the auditorium is inscribed, ‘In Memory of YN3 Shingo Alexander Douglass, lost at sea,”

Veterans participate in Honor Flight trips, providing them the opportunity to share experiences, remember fallen comrades, and connect with others who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and those who are critically ill from any service era.

“We are so honored to have them on this trip,” said David Patch, Cmdr. (ret) Honor Flight Maine, Board of Directors, and Vice Chair. “Of course, all our veterans on these trips are heroes, and we don’t differentiate between those who served one enlistment, a career, or served in combat or not.”

“I had the good fortune of being involved in the honor flight since 2007, working with the staff on Capitol Hill and going down to the World War II Memorial pretty early in the Honor Flight Program when Senator Bob Dole used to go,” said Rear Adm. Luke A. Frost Director, Reserve Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations OPNAV N95. “Every story is different, and I love connecting with Veterans, hearing their service stories, and personally thanking them for their service in a real and tangible way.”

For further information about the U.S. Navy Memorial and the Honor Flight program, please visit www.usnavymemorial.org and www.honorflight.org, respectively. These initiatives embody the spirit of honor and remembrance, paying tribute to the sacrifices made by our service members and their families.

(U.S. Navy story by Chief Mass Communications Specialist Orlando Quintero)