Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

Slough assumed command of Makin Island in April 2023 after serving as the ship’s executive officer since 2021.

As Makin Island’s commanding officer, her exemplary leadership spearheaded the successful completion of numerous training and certification events, enabling the deployment of a combat-ready ship following a 100-day Continuous Maintenance Availability and a truncated training cycle. Throughout her tour, she demonstrated a unique talent for innovation and interoperability in advanced warfighting concepts, successfully integrating with the thirteenth Marine Expeditionary Unit during workups and a highly productive seven-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific Region. She masterfully employed her forces, executing 11 individual exercises and operations involving 22 partner nations, and oversaw the first-ever deployment of a full squadron of 10 F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets aboard an Amphibious Assault Ship. With commitment to excellence, she guided Makin Island to earn the 2023 Battle Effectiveness Award, achieving a 100 percent first-pass qualification rate in every mission area and executing 3,000 individual training events.

“Serving as the commanding officer of the USS Makin Island has been the most rewarding experience of my career.” said Slough, “The dedication and resilience of this crew, combined with the constant improvement of our capabilities on this ship, have made every challenge an opportunity for growth.

Together, we’ve pushed boundaries, achieved mission success, and demonstrated the true strength of teamwork and innovation in the modern Navy.”

Arana, a 1997 graduate of the University of Florida, was commissioned in 1999 through the Officer Candidate School program. He has served as the executive officer of Makin Island since April 2023. Prior to joining the Raider family, he completed squadron tours with HSC-26, 28 and was a plank owner of the HSC Weapons School Atlantic. He h also served as the Assistant Air Officer (MINIBOSS) aboard USS KEARSARGE (LHD 3), Operations and Maintenance Officer for the Tridents of HSC-9. Post Department Head, CAPT Arana served on the Joint Staff, Pentagon in the National Military Command Center as Operations Officer, National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center. He also served at the as Assistant Deputy Director for Operations, J-3, and as a Global Strike Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Defense, and the President of the United States. CAPT Arana went on to serve at the 59th commanding officer of the World-Famous Golden Falcons, forward deployed in Atsugi Japan. His most recent tour was as Helicopter Assignments Officer and Deputy Director of the Aviation Distribution Office at the Bureau of Navy Personnel (PERS 43).

” I am both humbled and excited to lead the finest amphibious ship in the fleet. This ship and its crew have a legacy of excellence, innovation, and resilience.” Said Arana. “I look forward to continuing that tradition, guiding our team to new heights, and ensuring we are always mission-ready, wherever the call may take us.”

Makin Island, homeported in San Diego, is currently in a selective restricted availability. The Wasp-class ship is crewed by more than 1,200 Sailors and can embark more than 1,600 Marines. Makin Island’s mission is to transport and land ashore troops, equipment, and supplies to support and sustain amphibious assault operations.

Source: United States Navy

“MSC Far East makes sure every U.S. military ship in the Indo-Pacific region is able to get fuel, ammo, and supplies; this can include services to our allies and partners,” said U.S. Navy Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Andrew Werner, MSC Far East, out of Singapore. “Without a Combat Logistics Force (CFL) or refueling ships, our fleet of ships, and those of some allies, such as the Philippines, would not be able to refuel at sea.”

Sama Sama 2024, which was held Oct. 7-18, was hosted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Navy, and featured participation from allies and partners throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including personnel and assets from Australia, Canada, France and Japan.

MSC Far East provided subject-matter-expert instruction for the refueling-at-sea familiarization training, along with members attached to Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, out of Singapore.

“The purpose of the training was to get the PN familiar with underway replenishment gear on a ship, how to set it up, and how to conduct a safe underway-replenishment,” said Werner. “MSC Far East has Boatswain’s mates that are subject-matter-experts and can train the Philippine Sailors. We do the similar training with other allies and partners.”

Underway replenishments of allied partners present a unique opportunity to strengthen partnerships and exercise compatibility of logistics systems.

“The training went over the fundamentals of refueling and replenishing at sea,” said U.S. Navy Chief Boatswain’s Mate Francisco Fuentes, DESRON 7. “We also conducted hands-on training and observed their on-station procedures for refueling-at-sea, and looked at their replenishment-at-sea stations forward of the ship.

“It was important for us to do hands-on training because it helped them understand our safety procedures, maintenance requirements, and types of equipment we use and our station procedures. This helps with our interoperability.”

According to Werner, he hopes that the training was beneficial to the PN, and they can mutually build upon interoperability.

“Every Navy does evolutions a little different and we were able to show them how on our U.S. Navy conducts a safe refueling—just about every week—when underway on deployment,” added Werner. “They were excited and motivated to learn and I look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Sama Sama 2024 is a multilateral engagement that includes a sea and shore phase that will incorporate medical, engineering, logistics and symposiums, while diving and explosive ordnance disposal teams, naval vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft conduct exercises focused on anti-submarine, surface and air warfare, and maritime domain awareness.

MSC Far East supports the U.S. 7th Fleet and ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific Region are manned, trained, and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations, with a workforce that includes approximately 6,000 Civil Service Mariners and 1,100 contract mariners, supported by 1,500 shore staff and 1,400 active duty and Reserve military personnel.

Source: United States Navy

George Washington assumed the role of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed carrier, replacing USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which operated out of Yokosuka for nearly nine years before departing Japan in May.

“USS George Washington departed San Diego to begin the final phase of its redeployment to Japan, where it will once again serve as the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier,” said Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5. “It will take up station alongside the always-ready forces postured in the area of responsibility. George Washington, with all its capabilities, represents America’s commitment to stability in the region where it will sail and fly with our partner navies as we strive to move from interoperability to true interchangeability.”

George Washington completed its midlife refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding in May 2023, conducted pre-deployment certifications and inspections over the course of 10 months, and departed Norfolk, Virginia, in April for its Southern Seas deployment around South America, arriving in San Diego in July.

The forward-deployed Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, which recently completed training at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada, will embark George Washington to transit the Pacific Ocean and return to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan.

“I am incredibly proud of this team and everything they have accomplished this year,” said Capt. Timothy Waits, commanding officer of George Washington. “This crew, alongside Carrier Air Wing 5, is trained, tested, and ready to return to 7th Fleet as the Navy’s premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier.”

This marks the second time that George Washington has served as the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Japan aircraft carrier. In 2008, it became the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be forward-deployed to Japan before being relieved by Ronald Reagan in 2015.

After operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operations, George Washington will arrive in Yokosuka in late fall.

Source: United States Navy

Martinsen, a Fulbright scholar and NPS Department of Applied Mathematics associate professor, was asked to step-in as Dean of Students over the last year to fill a critical gap. He will now return to teaching, in addition to his new duties as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau commended Martinsen for ably leading his team and the NPS student body through four graduations, incoming classes and the implementation of an initiative to vastly increase the number of newly commissioned ensigns coming directly from the U.S. Naval Academy and other commissioning programs.

“Our students are the mission at NPS, and Capt. Martinsen has always put their success at the forefront of his work,” said Rondeau. “He did not hesitate to say yes when asked to take the Dean of Students role, and like the true leader he is, Martinsen set the bar even higher for his team, and inspired us all by his personal commitment to the institution.”

For his accomplishments and exceptionally meritorious performance, Rondeau presented Martinsen with the Legion of Merit. He then spoke to the audience, offering his gratitude for the unique opportunity to lead NPS students, especially noting the hard work of his student services team who process graduating and incoming resident students, which in June alone totaled more than 800.

“Student Services is not just an outstanding team, it’s a family into which I was welcomed and am proud to have been a part of during my time as Dean of Students,” Martinsen remarked. “For me, it is hard to put into words just how rewarding it is to see our warrior scholar students grow academically. If ever there was a doubt as to how this country will respond to the myriad of challenges we currently face, one need only look to the skill, strength, and motivation of these young leaders to know that we will be alright.”

Rondeau also commented on NPS’ extraordinary good fortune to have a leader of Skalski’s caliber as incoming Dean of Students.  “He is a warrior’s leader,” Rondeau said, noting Skalski’s career as a Navy SEAL who comes to NPS directly from Commander, Task Force 66, part of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet.

Skalski’s achievements as a Navy SEAL and commander through multiple conflicts over his near 40-year career bring a distinct operational focus to his tenure as NPS Dean of Students. In addition, Skalski’s time in service makes him the 19^th “Bull Frog” in the SEAL community, a moniker given to their to longest serving active-duty member, and is a measure of leadership that makes him ideally suited to command the student military element at NPS.

Martinsen and Skalski then read their orders. As is the time-honored tradition for a change of command, Martinsen turned to Skalski and said, “I am ready to be relieved,” to which Skalski then replied, “I relieve you.” He then took to the podium to offer his thoughts to the assembled audience as NPS’ new Dean of Students.

“The opportunity to serve here at Naval Postgraduate School is truly a gift and an opportunity,” he said. “There are many challenges ahead. While I saw technology advances in artificial intelligence, and the integration of robotics and autonomous systems change the fabric of the battlefield in real-time, the human element will always be the decisive difference. This is where our asymmetric advantage, the warfighter or in this case, the NPS graduate student, comes in.”

“I’ve seen the power of teamwork and resilience during my career,” he continued. “I know that with the talent and dedication in this room and across the NPS campus, we can turn these challenges into opportunities.”

Source: United States Navy

The AP School Honor Roll celebrates schools that prioritize AP programs, offering students the opportunity to engage in college-level coursework, accelerate graduation timelines, and cultivate a culture of academic rigor. Research consistently shows that students who participate in AP courses are more likely to enroll in college and earn their degrees on time.

“I am incredibly proud of all our high schools’ efforts to promote participation in and success with our students taking AP courses,” said Dr. Judith Minor, Director for Student Excellence, DoDEA Americas. “It’s an outstanding achievement to have our high schools recognized on the AP School Honor Roll. Offering AP coursework prepares our military-connected students for success in higher education and provides a significant financial benefit to families by offering college credit opportunities.”

AP courses are designed to challenge students academically while providing clear expectations, encouraging critical analysis of evidence, and researching diverse perspectives—qualities particularly vital for military-connected students. As many military families experience frequent relocations, access to rigorous AP courses ensures students maintain consistent academic standards across schools, fostering continuity in their education. The ability to earn college credit through AP courses also provides a significant financial advantage to military families, who often face unique financial challenges due to frequent moves and other service-related demands.

AP courses, as part of DoDEA curriculum offerings, emphasize open-mindedness and intellectual growth by grounding lessons in primary sources and encouraging students to form their own conclusions. Teachers are regarded as experts in their fields, and the content reflects the high academic standards recognized by colleges and universities.

The following DoDEA Americas high schools were recognized for their dedication to promoting a college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and enhancing college readiness:

Platinum Status:
Ramey Unit School
Gold Status:
Fort Knox High School
Silver Status:
Lejeune High School
Quantico Middle High School
Bronze Status:
Antilles High School
Fort Campbell High School

WT Sampson received Platinum in two of the three categories this year. However, due to the small size of the Senior Class, the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba based school did not meet the population percentage requirements for placement on the 2023-24 Honor Roll but did receive a gold medal on the 2022-23 Honor Roll.

The achievements of DoDEA Americas high schools on the annual AP School Honor Rolls underscore their unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education to military-connected students. The College Board’s recognition highlights DoDEA schools’ dedication to academic excellence and preparing students for success in college and beyond.

DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.