Month: January 2024

Source: United States Navy

DON and DLA are committed to the success of regular engagement with stakeholders and community groups, including the CRI.  Consequently, senior leaders at DON and DLA, which are signatories to the 2023 Administrative Consent Order (ACO), will re-evaluate the effectiveness of the process to date, to improve the outcomes directed by the ACO. The ACO requires the CRI to convene for two meetings per quarter, and provide one public update per quarter. In advance of the first quarterly meeting of 2024 in February, the Federal agencies will work with the CRI community representatives to revise operating procedures and ground rules that will ensure civil discussion among CRI participants. 

The two quarterly meetings in February and March come in advance of, and will inform, the March quarterly public update. The Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH), which has begun a formal transition with Joint Task Force-Red Hill to assume responsibility for the remainder of the closure process, will support DON and DLA by providing updates on defueling, closure, and implementation of drinking water requirements.  

NCTF-RH and the Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) will host a combined public open house February 7 at the Ke’ehi Lagoon Memorial Hall where they will provide updates on defueling, closure, and water monitoring.

On the CRI website, the EPA, DON, and DLA have provided updates to frequently asked questions and comments, as well as prior CRI meeting summaries, which are found at:   https://cnrh.cnic.navy.mil/Operations-and-Management/Red-Hill/2023-Administrative-Consent-Order/Community-Representation-Initiative/.

The public may submit comments or questions through mail CNRH.PAO@US.NAVY.MIL or by leaving a message at 808.471.0880.

Source: United States Navy

USS Georgia is commanded by Capt. Christopher Osborn, commanding officer of USS Georgia Gold Crew. There is no impact to operations.

Navy commanding officers are held to high standards of personal and professional conduct. They are expected to uphold the highest standards of responsibility, reliability, and leadership, and the Navy holds them accountable when they fall short of those standards.

For questions related to this release, contact Commander, Submarine Group Ten Public Affairs at spencer.e.marion.mil@us.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

Lt. Cmdr. James Heydon, Lt. Cmdr. Adam Klyne, and Lt. William Hall started at NPTU in July 2023, becoming the first cadre of Royal Australian Navy personnel to go through one of the Department of Defense’s most rigorous and demanding training pipelines. They previously graduated from the prerequisite Nuclear Power School in July 2023.

“I was really looking forward to putting the concepts and theories that we learned at power school into operation at the prototype training,” said Klyne. “Operating a nuclear reactor was thrilling, humbling, and allowed us get that hands-on experience we need to safely operate the Royal Australian Navy’s future SSNs.”

NPTU trains officers, enlisted Sailors and civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet.

“NPTU is where our nuclear operators put the knowledge and theories they learned in power school into actual power plant operation and watch standing capabilities,” said Adm. Bill Houston, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. “It’s here that our students learn to safely and competently operate the plant in both normal and potential casualty situations.”

The three Royal Australian Navy Officers’ will next report to Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC) in Groton, Connecticut where they will undergo the same training given to U.S. Navy officers entering the submarine force. After completion of SOBC, they will be assigned to a U.S. Navy Virginia class submarines to continue their training and qualifications.

“Our progression through the schools in South Carolina, and next in Groton, bring us closer to our ultimate goal of serving aboard not just SSNs, but Australian-flagged SSNs early next decade,” said Hall.

Initially announced in September 2021, the AUKUS trilateral agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States is a strategic endeavor aimed at strengthening the security and defense capabilities of the three nations that also promotes stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia will acquire conventionally armed SSNs for the Royal Australian Navy under Pillar I of AUKUS via the Optimal Pathway announced by the leaders of the three partner nations March 13, 2023.

The Optimal Pathway for Australia’s acquisition of nuclear powered submarines began this year with an increase in the number of U.S. SSNs visiting HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. As early as 2027, U.S. and UK SSNs will begin extended rotations to Australia to accelerate the development of Australia’s workforce, infrastructure, and regulatory system as part of the Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W). With congressional approval, the United States intends to sell three Virginia Class SSNs to Australia starting in the early 2030s with the potential to sell up to two additional hulls if needed. These efforts will maintain Australia’s submarine capabilities as it builds its fleet of SSN-AUKUS, a UK designed nuclear-powered attack submarine that will incorporate technologies from the three partner nations and built in both the UK and Australia. The Royal Navy intends to take delivery of the first SSN AUKUS in the late 2030s followed by the first Australian-built SSN-AUKUS in the early 2040s.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Adm. Douglas Perry relieved Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer as Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Commander, Joint Forces Command Norfolk in a ceremony aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

“As we gather here this afternoon, our Sailors, ships, aircraft, and submarines trained by Second Fleet operate up and down the Eastern Seaboard, in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the Red Sea,” said Secretary Del Toro. “Thank you, Vice Adm. Dwyer, for your service to our country and our Navy, and for your leadership of this critical command for the past two and a half years.”

Secretary Del Toro noted that the recent successful strikes by U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands— against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels illustrates the importance of Second Fleet.

“Every ship, every submarine, every aircraft that deploys from Second Fleet leaves for the critical juncture where training meets operations. Maintaining a world-class and deployable Navy is not something that can be created overnight when crisis develops. It’s the work of every leader here to ensure that our fleet and our force is ready for whatever the future brings,” said Secretary Del Toro.

Secretary Del Toro also gave a special nod to the work of JFC Norfolk, which is integral to enhancing strategic partnerships, commenting that NATO is as important today as it ever has been.

“As the Secretary of the Navy, I can assure you that the Department of the Navy is fully committed to doing our part to support the ongoing expansion of the Joint Force Command Norfolk headquarters,” said Del Toro. “The continued development of JFC Norfolk in the face of an evolving strategic situation and continued Russian aggression is essential to underwrite the peace, security and prosperity that has been the hallmark of the transatlantic relationship for so many decades.”

After the ceremony, Secretary Del Toro met with local flag and general officers to discuss the state of the Navy and Marine Corps and ongoing initiatives in the Norfolk region, as well as hear their feedback.

Before departing Naval Station Norfolk, Secretary Del Toro toured the Naval Education and Training Command’s Mariner Skills Training Center Atlantic. There, he was briefed on the Navy’s mariner skills training program and the state-of-the-art simulators at the training center.

“It’s truly amazing to see the results of our investments in action. This command provides our surface combatants important shiphandling and navigation skills to fulfill our mission of maintaining global maritime superiority. They’re advancing our enduring priorities of strengthening maritime dominance and building a culture of warfighting excellence. I couldn’t be more proud,” said Secretary Del Toro.

Naval Station Norfolk supports the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, providing facilities and services to enable mission accomplishment. It is the largest naval complex in the world.

Source: United States Navy

Engagements focused on regional security and stability, as well as the defense of American interests and the defense of our Allies and partners.

“Our prosperity and security is built upon free and open oceans and as a maritime nation we will continue to keep the sea lanes open and defend America and our Allies and partners,” said Raven.  “We are steadfast in our commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”

During his visit to Guam, Raven met with Acting Governor Joshua Tenorio and thanked him for Guam’s continued support of the Department of the Navy, as well as their hospitality to Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families. 

“In order to accomplish their mission, our military service members rely on the capabilities of Guam’s infrastructure and the valued contribution of the Chamorro people,” said Raven.  “Thank you to the people of Guam for your support, collaboration and partnership.”

“These are dynamic times. In my meeting with Under Secretary Raven it was clear that the Navy and the entirety of the DoD understand our administration’s priorities and our need to ensure that the quality of life for the People of Guam is improved as a result of expanded military activities,” said Tenorio. 

Tenorio spoke about continued collaboration and emphasized the importance of defense and understanding potential impacts.

“In addition to partnership with DoD to support the construction of a new hospital, we require additional details on the missile defense infrastructure… with the health and safety of our people at the forefront, we need to understand the environmental consequences of whatever is planned and executed,” he said.  “Additionally, with tourism, we want assurances that the new missile defense system is not going to limit commercial air activity on Guam.”

During his visit, Raven also met with Commander, Joint Region Marianas, Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, and other Navy leadership; engaged with Sailors and commands assigned to Naval Base Guam; visited the USS Frank Cable (AS 40); spoke to soldiers assigned to Task Force Talon and visited the Army THAAD site; engaged Marines and Sailors while visiting commands at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz; visited Andersen Air Force Base; and met with several members of Guam’s Armed Forces Committee Chamber of Commerce. 

Throughout the Under Secretary’s visit, he received updates on infrastructure, missile defense, submarine/ship maintenance, capabilities, recruiting, and Typhoon Mawar impacts.  He routinely spoke about the importance and value of military service, the role our forward-postured forces serve, and the Department of Navy’s commitment to ensure the joint force can preserve the peace, respond whenever needed, and win decisively during conflict.

He emphasized partnerships and teamwork, explaining that our strong network of allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific ensures the stability and security of the region and facilitates the preservation of the rules-based international order.

Joint Region Marianas plays a vital role in U.S. efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific due to its unique geographic proximity to Asia and its unparalleled value as a regional supply hub and training location.

In Hawaii, Raven met with senior military leaders, to include Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Samuel J. Paparo; Deputy Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Lt. Gen. Stephen Sklenka; Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Lt. Gen. William Jurney; Deputy Commander, Pacific Air Forces Lt. Gen. James Jacobson; Joint Task Force-Red Hill Commander, Vice Adm. John Wade; and Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett.  He also received operational updates, visited local commands and toured installations, to include Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, and spoke with Navy, Marine and Air Force service members. 

The Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks recently designated Raven as the DoD’s Lead Senior Defense Official for Guam.  This designation assigns Raven elevated responsibilities, to include: serving as the DoD senior representative when meeting with key leaders in Guam; providing senior leader oversight, advocacy, and support to Commander, Joint Region Marianas in the execution of its installation management mission; and bringing senior military leaders together to align efforts to meet operational requirements consistent with the National Defense Strategy, ensure resources are programmed and deconflicted across DoD components, and to develop and deliver new capabilities to meet logistics, environmental and infrastructure requirements.

This was the Under Secretary’s first visit to Guam.