Month: March 2024

Source: United States Navy

Family members, friends, and shipmates attended the ceremony to honor and bid fair winds and following seas to Haeuptle, who served 26 years in the Marine Corps and another 18 years as a civil servant.  

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti presided over the ceremony and praised Haeuptle for his dedication and leadership.  

“You truly made a difference and lived up to our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, every single day,” said Franchetti. “Bravo Zulu, and congratulations to you and your family for such an amazing career and a job so well done.” 

In his remarks, Haeuptle expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, and attributed his success to those who he served alongside. 

“I’ve been very fortunate to have a career of incredible experiences,” he said. “I have been inspired and motivated to serve by the great men and women with whom I have had the privilege to serve. When properly led, they will do incredible things each and every day.” 

As DNS, Haeuptle led a staff of more than 1,100 personnel, executing the business of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV). During his time as DNS, he directed the staff through historical events to include the stand-up of the Learning to Action Drive Team, Navy Problem Solving Office, Disruptive Capabilities Office, trilateral security partnership Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS), and the management of delayed Senate confirmations of Navy Flag Officers.  

Haeuptle served in various leadership roles throughout his tenure, including Special Assistant to the President and the Senior Director of the White House Situation Room, the National Security Council’s Chief Information Officer, and as the Chief of Staff for the Under Secretary of the Navy. His Marine Corps career was spent predominantly in operational and deployed units and included senior-level positions within the Department of the Navy, Headquarters Marine Corps, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. 

His retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter, leaving a legacy of excellence and professionalism within the Navy.

Source: United States Navy

An additional 400-ton lift capacity barge is on track to arrive early next week. The barges, contracted through Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) will support the U.S. Coast Guard led Unified Command in its effort to clear and re-open the channel.

The barges will be used by the Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) to remove submerged portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. SUPSALV will accomplish the work in phases. Following an overall assessment, work will focus on disassembling and removing the bridge section by section. The disassembled pieces will be lifted onto barges, which will then be transported away.

An additional 12 crane and support vessels to include tugs, survey, dive and crew boats, are in the mobilization process and will arrive to Baltimore in the coming days. SUPSALV will manage the operation and use of all assets to provide centralized oversight of all salvage operations.

SUPSALV is a world leader in the ocean engineering discipline of marine salvage, towing, pollution control and abatement, diving and diving system safety, salvage equipment procurement and underwater ship husbandry.

For Navy-specific questions, please contact the CHINFO Newsdesk at CHINFONewsDesk@us.navy.mil.  For general questions related to Key Bridge support efforts, please contact the U.S. Coast Guard led Unified Command at keybridgejic@gmail.com.

Source: United States Navy

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) announced Laura Lake, R.A., as the distinguished recipient of the NAVFAC Architect, Landscape Architect, and Interior Designer (ALAID) of the Year Award for 2024.

“I am pleased to announce that Laura Lake from NAVFAC Southeast was selected as the 2024 NAVFAC Architect, Landscape Architect & Interior Designer of the Year,” said NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey. “Her leadership, expertise, and dedication has had a direct and positive impact on NAVFAC and its Architect, Landscape Architect & Interior Designer Community.”

Lake, a senior architect within NAVFAC Southeast’s Planning, Design & Construction directorate, serves predominantly as the design manager for several significant military construction projects. Throughout the year, she has developed eight comprehensive Design Manager (DM) training modules, delivered training sessions at DM forums, and provided mentorship and guidance to junior architects and members of the design team.

“Laura epitomizes the finest qualities of our community of technical professionals,” said Capt. Miguel Dieguez, NAVFAC Southeast commanding officer. “Her innate ability to think critically, remain agile, build productive relationships, and communicate a common vision of the desired outcome is what make her so special and an invaluable member of our team. But beyond her impressive project portfolio, Laura is a dedicated mentor and consummate teammate who is helping to make NAVFAC a better organization each and every day.”

Lake led the management of the Air Force’s Weapons Generation Facility project at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, involving nuclear certification, high-risk cost/schedule factors, and intricate phasing. This project, crucial for restoring nuclear capability to the base, received a perfect 30/30 complexity rating on the NAVFAC Project Complexity Matrix. Through an innovative construction award package, Lake successfully accelerated the project schedule, transforming it from eight months behind schedule to six months ahead of the mission’s required completion date.

“The entire NAVFAC enterprise is saturated with tremendous talent, so being selected as 2024 ALAID of the Year is an incredible achievement,” said Lake. “I have always felt great gratification in being able to play a part in the support of our military, so for my contributions to be recognized as commendable is quite rewarding.”

Lake also serves as the senior architect/design manager for the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) simulator and training facility expansion at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The NPTU project involves wetlands, endangered species, in-water construction, multiple buildings, roadway improvements affecting on-base housing, and risk category (five) buildings in highly seismic areas prone to liquefaction. This project requires close coordination with the Air Force’s 628th Civil Engineering Squadron, on a very high priority Navy project.

“I’ve had unique experiences from working with three different DoD branches of services (Air Force, Army, and Navy) during my 16 years here at NAVFAC Southeast,” said Lake. “I’ve learned quite a bit from each one, but am most excited to be working my current mega military construction project for NPTU in Charleston, valued at more than $300 million.”

Lake, daughter of a retired Civil Engineer Corps officer, initially pursued a career in education after high school but later fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an architect. Despite initial challenges, she returned to school and graduated at the top of her class, reflecting on her journey as “the most rewarding, and at the same time, the most terrifying thing I ever did.” During her master’s program, she was the sole woman in all her classes, highlighting her determination and resilience. Lake earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Architecture from the University of South Florida.

“Life lessons I’ve learned over the years were mostly developed prior to me becoming an architect,” said Lake. “I truly believe that critical thinking, perseverance and a good work ethic will translate to anything you do. If you do what you like, and do it well, there is reward just in the doing.”

In December 2023, she was honored as the NAVFAC Southeast (Echelon IV) ALAID of the Year for 2024, progressing to compete for this prestigious accolade after being selected. Nominees from 12 NAVFAC commands underwent evaluation based on their accomplishments in their field, civic engagement, professional registration, ongoing education, awards, professional society involvement, and technical expertise.

Born in Port Lyautey (now Kenitra), Morocco, Lake currently calls Jacksonville, Florida, home. Her interests span from artwork painting and DIY home renovations to Formula 1 racing and enjoying blues and classic rock music.

NAVFAC Southeast oversees the planning and design of facility projects, offering essential services in contracting, construction, leasing, environmental management, maintenance, and contingency support, all of which are crucial for meeting the needs of the Navy and the Department of Defense within the Southeast Area of Responsibility. Operating from its Jacksonville office, NAVFAC Southeast is responsible for managing operations across Navy installations spanning from Charleston, South Carolina to Corpus Christi, Texas, and extending southward to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. NAVFAC professionals are also engaged in the acquisition and disposition of real estate, facility management, and maintenance on all Navy bases in the Southeast (SE) region, while concurrently supervising public-private venture (PPV) housing for military families.

Source: United States Navy

The training provided Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) officers with the knowledge required to coordinate shipboard cruise missile operations in route to Full Operational Capability.

The United States Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, visited McCampbell to observe the shipboard portion of the training March 28.

“We are ahead of schedule, and that’s exactly what we have to do to keep up deterrence and maintain operations within this area of operations,” said Emanuel. “We will give our partners, our allies, the Japanese Navy, the capacity that their investing in. This is not a one and done, this is going to happen again.”

The training included classroom instruction, followed by a shipboard walkthrough and demonstration, aligned to the U.S. Navy cruise missile command curriculum.

“It was a privilege to conduct Cruise Missile Command training with our Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts over the past few days,” said Cmdr. Michael Arnold, Officer in Charge of SCSTC WESTPAC. “This training marks a significant milestone in Japan’s strategic acquisition of the Tomahawk Weapon Control System and our collaborative first step in mastering this new capability. Together, we fortify our alliance, demonstrating our united commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and upholding the principles that ensure regional peace, stability, and a rules-based international order.”

The week-long training provided participants with a hands-on overview of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System consoles and associated equipment, and participants were able to execute a simulated generic strike mission scenario.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest forward-deployed fleet in the world, and with the help of a network of alliances and partners from 35 other maritime-nations, the U.S. Navy has operated in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 70 years, providing credible, ready forces to help preserve peace and prevent conflict.

Source: United States Navy

Since its establishment in November 2023 by the Secretary of Defense, NCTF-RH has shadowed JTF-RH as it conducted community events, replicated and developed safety and security procedures, and looked for opportunities to apply JTF-RH best practices to RHBFSF closure operations.
 
NCTF-RH developed comprehensive plans to systematically close the facility through an integrated master schedule (IMS) created and continuously revised in close coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), and other stakeholders.
 
“Over the past five months, the Navy carefully and deliberately assembled a team of professionals to form a fully operational Navy command capable of safely executing Red Hill closure responsibilities,” said Rear. Adm. Steve Barnett, NCTF-RH commander. “We also completed a series of reviews in tandem with the JTF to verify we are ready to take on the important mission of closing Red Hill. I’m proud of the team’s efforts to get where we are, and I’m confident we’re ready to take the mantle and move forward.”
 
The closure process has four primary phases: removing approximately 28,000 gallons of sludge from tanks; cleaning 16 storage tanks and four surge tanks (four storage tanks have already been cleaned); deconstructing and removing more than 10 miles of pipeline between the facility and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; and environmental remediation around the Red Hill facility.
 
“We have a complex set of tasks that will take some time. This is why the Integrated Master Schedule and close collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health is critical,” said Rear. Adm Marc Williams, NCTF deputy commander. “All of us fully understand that we are entrusted with closing this facility as quickly and as safely as possible, and that’s our number one priority. That’s what the Navy created our task force to do.”
 
Besides the lessons learned during the transition period with JTF-RH, NCTF-RH is also benefiting from personnel and equipment from the joint task force, who safely defueled the facility six months ahead of schedule, successfully setting the conditions for closure.
 
“Rear Admiral Barnett and the Navy Closure Task Force are ready, they understand the importance and enormity of their mission to safely and expeditiously close and decommission Red Hill, ensure clean water and conduct the necessary long-term environmental remediation.” said Vice Adm. John Wade, JTF-RH commander.
 
Closure operations are expected to take three to four years while the environmental remediation efforts will be an enduring mission whose timeline will be largely defined by an environmental assessment that will be conducted later this year.    

 
NCTF-RH is committed to working with all government agencies and community stakeholders to safely and deliberately close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility underground storage tanks and associated piping system, conduct long-term environmental remediation, and ensure continued access to safe drinking water in compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws, policies and regulations.
 
For imagery, video and other digital media please visit our DVIDS site here: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NCTF-RH