Month: October 2024

Source: United States Navy

Introduction/Thank You

Good morning, everyone!

It is an honor to be with you here today.

Mayor Scott, thank you for joining us and for your years of public service to the City of Baltimore.

Thank you, Senator Cardin, for your partnership and support of our service men and women and their families in our Navy and Marine Corps.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks, ma’am, it is an honor to have you here today. Thank you for your leadership of the Department of Defense and fierce advocacy of our service members and DOD civilians.

Admiral Holland, thank you for your presence and for your career of service to the Navy Submarine Force.

To all of our service members, distinguished guests and visitors—welcome and thank you for joining us.

City of Baltimore

It is wonderful to be here in Baltimore, Maryland—a city rich in both American and naval history.

And not only because when I was a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, my friends and I would come up to Baltimore to escape Annapolis every once in a while!

The city of Baltimore maintains a strong connection with our maritime services and is a critical enabler of our National Maritime Statecraft.

Baltimore boasts a storied shipbuilding history, famously the originator of the “Baltimore Clipper,” an eighteenth-century merchant sailing vessel known for its speed.

In the early days of our Nation, the city earned a reputation as the center of commerce, and the Port of Baltimore remains one of the busiest in the Nation today.

And in the wake of tragedy, we come together here in Baltimore.

Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, the Navy worked with Key Bridge Response Unified Command which included the Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Synergy Marine.

NAVSEA’s Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving led critical efforts to support the clearance of the Port of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Federal Channel.

We mourn those we lost on March 26, 2024. Please join me in a moment of silence to honor the memory of the six souls taken too soon from us that day.

The ship we are on today—USS Constellation—was named after and includes materials from one of our Navy’s six founding frigates, which was built here in Baltimore.

And it was not far from here that during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, Francis Scott Key penned the immortal words to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem.

Baltimore has deep roots with our Nation’s Navy and boasts one Continental Navy ship and five previous Navy vessels named for the city including:

a brigantine,

a converted merchant ship which served in the Quasi-War against France,

a sidewheel steamer which served in the Civil War,

a cruiser which fought in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War and then later in the First World War,

a Baltimore-class cruiser which earned nine battle stars during the Second World War, and

most recently, a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine, SSN 704, which participated in undersea operations against the Soviet Union and decommissioned on July 10, 1998.

Ship Naming

Baltimore shaped America’s formative years—a strategic location since its very origins and an integral part of the Nation’s thriving shipping and shipbuilding industries.

Baltimore’s external influence is far reaching—affecting American culture, food, sports, and commerce.

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to announce the name of the next Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, SSN EIGHT-TWELVE, USS Baltimore.

Make ready!

Sponsor Introduction

I am also honored to announce that the ship sponsor of the future USS Baltimore is Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

The ship’s sponsor fills a critical role throughout the life of a warship, serving as the bond between the ship, her crew, and the nation they serve.

And I can think of no one more fitting to take on this vital role—no one with more resilience and grit and whose spirit embodies that of Baltimore—than Deputy Secretary Hicks.

Since its very founding, the city of Baltimore has introduced new ideas, transforming the Nation and indeed the world.

And in the Department of Defense, Deputy Secretary Hicks has championed innovation, modernization, and other strategic initiatives aimed at increasing our military’s adaptability, efficiency, and capabilities in the face of emerging global challenges.

Thank you, ma’am, for your lifelong commitment to our Navy, to our service men and women, and to the United States of America.

You, like the service members who will serve on this proud ship and the city it will be named after, represent the absolute best this country has to offer.

Closing/Mayor Scott Introduction

In closing, our Navy and Marine Corps Team is indeed the most powerful, capable, and lethal Force this world has ever seen.

And I know that we have the best ships, submarines, aircraft, equipment, and weapons.

But a strong Navy and Marine Corps is about more than just acquiring advanced systems and platforms.

Our people are the foundation of this Department—they ensure that America remains the greatest nation in the world and that we remain the land of the free.

We have the strongest Navy and Marine Corps in the world because of the people onboard ships like the future USS Baltimore.

May God bless you and our service men and women stationed all around the globe.

And now, I would like to introduce a community leader, public servant, and lifelong resident of Baltimore City who at the age of twenty-seven was one of the youngest people ever elected to the Baltimore City Council, and at the age of thirty-six was the youngest mayor in Baltimore’s history.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the 52nd Mayor of Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott.

Source: United States Navy

Remarks

Good evening, everyone. It’s wonderful to be here with you today to celebrate Polish Armed Forces Day.

Mr. Krzywosądzki and Major General Nolbert, thank you for inviting me and for your role in strengthening the partnership and friendship between our nations.

Poland and the United States share an enduring bond—a bond forged in a crucible of shared sacrifice and the common pursuit of freedom and liberty.

And this day, marking the Polish victory over Soviet forces in the Battle of Warsaw—known as the “Miracle of the Vistula” —commemorates that victory, and all those who fought for Polish independence throughout history.

Indeed, Poland’s long fight for freedom and the partnership between our nations stretches back all the way to the American Revolution and beyond.

“The Father of American Cavalry,” Casimir Pulaski, one of only eight honorary American citizens, fought for our freedom and independence.

Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette persuaded him to travel to the colonies, and he saw in the American people a struggle parallel to the fight for Polish independence after the partition by neighboring Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

By the time he arrived in the United States, he was renowned throughout Europe for his bravery and for his passion for his people—the Polish people.

He wrote to George Washington that “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.”

His feats of arms in his first engagement of the Revolutionary War—at the Battle of Brandywine—secured the Continental Army’s retreat and he was credited with saving the life of George Washington.

But most notably, he led a cavalry charge that turned the tide of the Battle of Savannah, where he was mortally wounded.

His actions and steadfast devotion to the most noble of ideals earned him his other sobriquet: the “Soldier of Liberty.”

But our partnership extends beyond the American Revolution.

Polish servicemembers have served alongside their American counterparts in around the globe, from World War I and World War II to today as NATO allies.

I am incredibly grateful to Poland for your support to our Sailors stationed at Aegis Ashore in Redzikowo.

And as Secretary Blinken highlighted during his stop in Warsaw last week, more than 80 percent of all aid for Ukraine flows through Poland.

Poland provides $4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine including tanks, aircraft, air defense, and helicopters.

And Poland continues to host around a million Ukrainian refugees. 

Poland’s unwavering support for Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion demonstrates commitment to the enduring spirit of freedom and democratic values.

Your contributions have been invaluable, and your bravery has been an inspiration to all.

Let us honor the memory of Casimir Pulaski—and indeed all those who have served in the Polish armed forces.

Let us recommit ourselves to the ideals they fought and sacrificed for—and the ideals that unite our nations.

I am immensely proud to stand here today beside Poland and recognize our strong partnership and shared values.

May God bless the United States, Poland, our armed forces, and their families.

Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Thank You/Introduction

Good morning, everyone!

Admiral Houston, thank you for that kind introduction and for your leadership of our Navy nuclear team.

It is an absolute honor to be here with all of you today in beautiful New Jersey—the birthplace of the United States Submarine Force—to commission our fleet’s newest Virginia Class submarine, USS New Jersey (SSN 796).

Mayor Perry, thank you for supporting our service members and their families who are stationed, train, and work here at Naval Weapons Station Earle. And thank you for all you have done to make today possible.

Governor Murphy, thank you for your presence today and for your advocacy of our maritime services in New Jersey.

Representative Norcross, Representative Smith, and Representative Pallone, welcome and thank you for your support of our men and women in the armed forces.

President Boykin and Vice President Runkle, thank you for your partnership building the Navy our Nation needs.

Dr. DiMarco, on behalf of this crew and our Navy, thank you for serving as ship sponsor for the USS New Jersey.

In this role, you will forever be the connection between this warship, her crew, and the legacies of so many servicemembers from New Jersey.

To the crew of USS New Jersey and your families, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Our Navy families shoulder the burdens of our absence, and service in defense of our country is only possible because of the love, support, and sacrifice of our loved ones.

I am grateful to have had the support of my wife Betty and our four sons throughout my own naval career, a career in business, and now as Secretary of the Navy.

To the rest of our Navy team, the commissioning committee, and our partners in industry: thank you for your unwavering support—this commissioning was made possible only by your tireless efforts.

New Jersey and Call to Service

This modern marvel behind me is the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration amongst government, industry, and the crew.

The Navy’s newest Virginia-Class Fast Attack Submarine, USS New Jersey, is the third commissioned ship named to honor the contributions and support provided by the state of New Jersey.

Our Navy’s Submarine Force is formidable—a lethal combination of one of the most powerful platforms available today manned by our Nation’s best and brightest.

SSN 796 brings tremendous firepower to our Fleet and indeed our Nation—providing our commanders a valuable asset which strengthens our national security.

And this submarine honors not only the legacy of the ships who bore the name USS New Jersey before her—both battleships.

The first New Jersey was part of the Great White Fleet and circumnavigated the globe. Following the end of the Great War, USS New Jersey (BB 16) brought our soldiers back home from Europe.

The second New Jersey was known as the “Big J.”

She was the most decorated battleship in our Navy’s history—fighting in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

During her 47-year career, she took part the two largest naval battles in history, the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf, and supported the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

She received 19 battle and campaign stars, six Navy Unit Commendations, and at least 11 Meritorious Unit Citations.

This submarine also honors the legacy of the great people from New Jersey.

Because people—our Sailors and Marines—are our greatest strength, and force resilience and readiness begin and end with them.

Our Sailors, including those from New Jersey, raised their right hands to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

In turn, through their willing service and sacrifice, we as Americans wake up every day in a nation which values and protects democracy—a nation which strives every day to become a more perfect Union.

I thank the future Navy and Marine Corps Officers from Rutgers University who presented the colors for us today.

These men and women will lead our Sailors and Marines, and some, if they are lucky, may one day even serve on this submarine.

I am proud to stand here today as we welcome another “player to the field,” manned by an all-volunteer force of Sailors who have dedicated their careers and their lives in service to our Nation.

And she will honor all those from New Jersey, sailing to protect our freedom from deep below the ocean’s waves.

Closing

To the Sailors of the USS New Jersey, you are about to embark on a great adventure as you bring this ship to life.

On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you all for the work you have already done, for the sacrifices you have already made, and all that you will accomplish in the future.

May God continue to watch over this ship, her crew, their families, and may they have fair winds and following seas wherever they may sail.

Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Remarks

Good evening, everyone! It is an honor to be here with you tonight to celebrate the 59th year of Singapore’s independence.

Ambassador Lui, thank you for inviting me for this wonderful occasion and for providing me with the opportunity to say a few words.

The summer certainly flew by, didn’t it? It seems like just yesterday we were watching the new Midshipmen, including Midshipman Fourth Class Liang Yinze Garcia, being sworn in at the Naval Academy on I-Day.

Under Secretary Lago, thank you for your career dedicated to public service and leadership at the International Trade Administration.

Assistant Secretary Kang, thank you for your important work at the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, shaping and maintaining a secure international landscape.

And I must also mention my wife Betty, who is here with us tonight and has been by my side throughout our forty years of marriage which included a naval career, a career in the private sector, and once more, service to our Navy and Marine Corps Team.

I am grateful to be here to not only celebrate Singapore’s independence, but also celebrate the strong relationship between Singapore and the United States.

Singapore is a favorite port call of our Navy and Marine Corps—from the incredible food, shopping, and nightlife to the melting pot of cultures to the memorable skylines of Marina Bay.

Our partnership crucially extends outside of the “Little Red Dot” and the U.S., into all of our shared waters.

For many years, Singapore has been a major security cooperation partner to the United States, and indeed a regional leader within both ASEAN and the larger Indo-Pacific region.

And this is critically important, because as you have seen and read in the news, we face tremendous uncertainty in the world today.

Together, Singapore and the United States have a steadfast strategic relationship—across numerous spheres—and we share a common and significant interest in preserving the rules-based international order.

Alongside our partners, Singapore participated in Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea to deter further escalation and protect innocent commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

At the same time, Singapore—like the United States—supported relief efforts and aided affected civilians in Gaza.

The United States and Singapore are also dedicated to improving our ability to collaborate and operate with partners.

This year, we conducted the 29th iteration of the world’s largest international maritime exercise, our biennial Rim of the Pacific—or RIMPAC—Exercise.

Held in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC 2024 included 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than twenty-five thousand personnel!

This year, the Republic of Singapore Navy led a task unit of Republic of Korea, Mexico, and United States ships, and we were proud to sail alongside the RSN’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Stalwart.

During the exercise, RSS Stalwart successfully launched two Aster surface-to-air missiles at high-speed drone targets, neutralizing both simulated missile targets and validating key anti-air warfare capabilities and tactics.

Our Navy’s cooperation with Singapore also occurs within the classroom.

Our Naval Academy Midshipmen have the privilege of attending Nanyang Technological University as semester exchange students, and our Navy and Marine Corps Naval Postgraduate students have the unique opportunity to study at the National University of Singapore’s Temasek Defence Systems Institute.

I should note that my son John attended National University of Singapore for a summer exchange and studied wastewater electrolysis.

The United States has, since 1992, enjoyed hosting Republic of Singapore Navy Midshipmen at my alma mater, the United States Naval Academy.

Twelve years ago, Midshipman—now Lieutenant Colonel—Sam Tan wrote a new chapter in our Naval Academy history and yours!

Sam graduated number one in the Great Class of 2012, the first international Midshipman to receive the honor.

It was wonderful to host him once more during RIMPAC this year as the Commanding Officer of RSS Stalwart.

It is my sincere hope that the partnership between Singapore and the United States continues to grow, especially amidst the uncertainty and challenges we face in the world today.

Ambassador Lui, I thank you again for inviting me tonight, and for all you do to further this ironclad relationship between Singapore and the United States.

Again, it is an honor to be with you all this evening. May God continue to grant our nations and our people with fair winds and following seas.

Happy National Day, and Majulah Singapore!

Source: United States Navy

PACIFIC OCEAN — Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 deployed with the 13^th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the Essex Amphibious Ready Group in 2018, marking the first combat deployment of the F-35B Lightning II. This deployment demonstrated the effectiveness of amphibious forces when the Marine Corps’ fifth generation fighter capabilities were integrated aboard the Navy’s amphibious assault ships.

Since returning from the first F-35B deployment in 2019, VMFA-211 has continued to play a crucial role in refining tactics and expanding the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to project power. In 2024, VMFA-211 completed a series of exercises with the America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) which enhanced both units’ readiness and interoperability.

From April 9-11, 2024, U.S. Marines and Sailors of VMFA-211 partnered with the Tripoli to conduct three days of training in Yuma, Arizona, as part of the aviation certification (AVCERT) syllabus. The AVCERT ensures that flight deck crews can safely launch and recover aircraft and are prepared to handle emergencies on the flight deck.

Flight deck crew received classes about the F-35B, and ground instruction from senior Landing Signal Officers, pilots who specialize in guiding aircraft to safe and expeditious landings aboard ship. Tripoli flight deck crews launched F-35Bs from the simulated deck of an amphibious assault ship at the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range while VMFA-211 pilots rehearsed procedures for carrier landings.

Three months later, VMFA-211, alongside tilt-rotor and rotary wing squadrons from 3rd MAW, landed F-35B aircraft aboard the Tripoli during day and night operations, July 14-18, culminating in the ship’s successful AVCERT.

“This training gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and how we operate together on the flight deck,” said U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Lawrence Pivec, a member of the Tripoli air department’s V-1 division, responsible for moving aircraft on the flight deck. “We get out here and fly together as much as possible, so we are ready when the call comes.”

Training at-sea enhanced readiness for both the Tripoli and 3rd MAW squadrons. During the AVCERT process, 3rd MAW pilots gained or refreshed flight deck landing qualifications. Two VMFA-211 pilots achieved the day and night carrier qualification. VMFA-211 progressed a pilot from basic to advanced LSO— a role critical for future deployments – and made progress toward creating an additional basic LSO. LSOs help coordinate the complex flight deck environment and are essential for safety during high-tempo amphibious operations. 

“The flight deck is very dynamic and can be a dangerous place, so it is imperative that we ensure the personnel on the deck are trained and qualified to safely operate around the aircraft,” said Maj. Courtenay Franklin, an F-35B pilot and aviation safety officer with VMFA-211.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, VMFA-211 conducted training aboard the Tripoli once more, recertifying the flight deck.

The F-35B Lightning II, known for its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, is uniquely suited for operations from amphibious assault ships such as the Tripoli.

“It is important to have a joint understanding of the standard procedures that go into landing aboard a ship and ship operations,” said Capt. Leland Raymond, an F-35B pilot with VMFA-211. “Having this experience on the LHA [landing helicopter assault class] will translate to any other ship we go on and allows us to practice those standard procedures. It translates across the Navy.”

The multi-role, stealth capabilities of the F-35B when paired with the capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s largest amphibious warfare ships, like the Tripoli, offers unmatched operational flexibility, from close air support and interdiction to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

Third MAW’s F-35B squadrons routinely deploy aboard amphibious assault ships as the aviation combat element of Marine Expeditionary Units to the Indo-Pacific region in support of combatant commander requirements. The mutually beneficial training between VMFA-211 and the Tripoli is a testament to each unit’s commitment to interoperability and readiness to deploy at any moment.

“This is building confidence in our Navy-Marine Corps team,” Raymond said.” We are all aligned in our goals for successful future deployments.”