Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

SAN DIEGO – Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S Pacific Fleet (CNSP) recognized the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) as the recipient of the Logistics Readiness Excellence Award (LREA) for fiscal year 2023.

The award recognizes the contributions, achievements, and support of afloat supply departments.

“I am honored that the Makin Island team earned the Logistics Readiness Excellence Award,” said Cmdr. Matthew Miller, Makin Island’s supply officer. “Winning this award is a testament to the hard work, attention to detail, and persistence displayed by our Sailors in the Logistic Readiness Divisions and all of the repair parts petty officers (RPPOs). Readiness results in lethality, and I am immensely proud that our team is committed to driving operational lethality through logistical readiness.

The LREA is broken down into five ship class categories; Small, Medium 1, Medium 2, Medium 3, and Large. Makin Island was selected as CNSP’s Large-category recipient.

“Being a cohesive team across all work centers drives our success,” said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Deandre Kidd, a Sailor assigned to the Makin Island Supply Department. “We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the recognition for the time, effort, and dedication we have to this crew.”

Winning this award does not come easy. A lot of hard work from the entire supply department goes into this achievement.

“It is an honor to be a part of such an amazing crew here on the Makin Island,” said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Cardenas, a Sailor assigned to the Makin Island Supply Department. “Regardless of the long and busy days, and the often stressful, high-paced environment, we always come together to accomplish the mission.”

Makin Island is currently in a selective restricted availability while homeported in San Diego.

Source: United States Navy

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii and NOAA Fisheries, also known as the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), have collected new data from its turtle tagging project, which is part of a 10-year Interagency Agreement funded by the Navy to support the recovery of threatened and endangered sea turtles. Efforts include in-water surveys and telemetry tagging to understand their movement, feeding, breeding and behavior patterns.

The NOAA and NAVFAC team spent six days of surveys between Jan. 16 and Feb. 14 tagging turtles early this year. Trevor Johannsen, marine natural resources specialist for NAVFAC Hawaii, worked with Dr. Alexander Gaos, the PIFSC research marine biologist who is leading the project.

“It took six trips to the field with Alex and his team and they scouted around the harbor looking for turtles. With their snorkel gear, if they saw a turtle, they were able to jump in the water and grab it, bringing it in,” explained Johannsen. “We then worked on the turtles on the dock–tagging them with metal tags on their flippers that are numbered and putting the satellite tags on as well.”

Johannsen said data from two turtles that left the harbor revealed a surprising journey.

“They went straight from Pearl Harbor to Molokai and Kooholawe, and then it went all the way over to Kauai and is currently swimming around Niihau. It’s really interesting to see where the turtles are moving,” he said. “They traveled much further than we expected: traveling around the main Hawaiian Islands, and traveling out to the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.”

Johannsen said the team also discovered that the turtles like to wedge themselves into “resting caves” and in the process knocked off their satellite tags.

“But it won’t affect the data,” added Johannsen. “They are actually waiting for all the tags to stop responding before finalizing the data, which should be about a year from being deployed.”

Out of the 23 green sea turtles that were tagged at the beginning of the year, eight satellite tags were still transmitting data as of July 23.

According to NOAA’s latest progress report, although quantitative data are not available, the Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program has conducted in-water and basking survey around many of the main Hawaiian Islands and noticed turtles with the fibropapilloma virus (FP) — a tumor-causing disease commonly affecting green sea turtles that cause cauliflower-like tumors to form on the skin anywhere on the body, including the eyes and mouth — within Pearl Harbor was much higher than in other areas. The cause remains unclear. Future efforts may be conducted to measure the frequency of FP in Pearl Harbor.

Nicole Olmsted, natural resources specialist for NAVFAC Hawaii, explained the importance of the telemetry tagging project and the partnership between the Navy and NOAA.

“It’s fostering a relationship between the two groups to share information and it promotes learning more about our endangered resources and will inform future management decisions,” she said. “The Navy is committed to protecting our natural resources in Pearl Harbor and all other installations across the United States.”

Upcoming analyses of individual and combined turtle home ranges will provide a better understanding and visualization of sea turtle habitat use within Pearl Harbor. Additional captures and satellite tagging will provide new insights into these and other aspects of sea turtle biology and movement ecology in and around the Navy defense sea area of Oahu which includes Pearl Harbor, the Pearl Harbor entrance channel, and the waters immediately south of the Pearl Harbor entrance channel.

For more updates on the turtle tagging project, information and reports can be found on the NOAA website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/endangered-species-conservation/sea-turtles-pacific-islands-updates

Source: United States Navy

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti presented the newly created Arctic Service Medal to submariners and civilians, Sept. 17. This award recognizes their exceptional service and dedication during operations in the strategic Arctic region.

The Arctic Service Medal honors the Sailors’ commitment to excellence and their significant contributions to national security and maritime superiority in the Arctic region. The medal was presented to the crew of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN-789), Sailors assigned to other fast-attack submarines stationed in Naval Submarine Base New London, as well as civilians from Undersea Warfare Development Fighting Center and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

“First I want to say thank you for answering our nation’s call to service and for being part of something bigger than yourselves – for being part of America’s Warfighting Navy – the world’s preeminent fighting force,” said Franchetti. “I could not be more proud of the exceptional work you did in the Arctic Circle. Your three-week operation during ICE CAMP advanced the lethality of our submarine force and showcased to the world that our Navy can operate anywhere and anytime – in any maritime environment.”

CNO visited USS Indiana during their participation in ICE CAMP 2024 this spring, witnessing firsthand the demands of the Arctic environment and the critical operations and training taking place in this strategic region. Franchetti noted that the crew’s achievements included successful navigation through ice-covered waters, participation in joint exercises with allied forces, and the collection of vital data to support future Arctic operations.

Franchetti further emphasized the strategic importance of the Arctic region to U.S. national security and the vital role of the U.S. Navy in supporting a free and open Arctic region and preventing competitors from disrupting emerging sea lines of communication.

“Our Department of Defense Arctic Strategy makes it clear that we must be able to operate in the Arctic to protect our homeland and preserve our defense-treaty commitments,” said Franchetti. “Your actions demonstrate how the U.S. Navy is enhancing our Arctic capability by investing in sensors, intelligence, and information and sharing capabilities with our Allies and partners so we can better understand the environment. We are going to continue to exercise in the Arctic so we can hone our skills, defend our homeland, and safeguard our national interests.”

The Arctic Service Medal is awarded to service members in the Navy and Marine Corps who have been assigned to a unit that conducted an ice-covered strait transit, such as the Bering Strait or Barrow Strait, or a unit that conducted a transit of the North Pole. It is also awarded for those assigned to a submarine that conducted a vertical surfacing through ice, or a submarine that conducted at least seven days of military operations while under the marginal ice zone or pack ice and those who were assigned to an ice camp or an operations center set up on an ice floe.

Commanding Officer of the USS Indiana, Cmdr. Kyle McVay, expressed pride in his crew’s accomplishments, saying, “Receiving the Arctic Service Medal is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every sailor onboard. We are honored to be recognized for our contributions to the Navy’s mission in the Arctic.”

This new medal underscores the importance of the Arctic in the U.S. National Defense Strategy and the Navy’s ongoing efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and security in this critical area.

Source: United States Navy

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — On Sept. 5, Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach celebrated the graduation of 46 officers from the Naval Intelligence Officer Basic and Information Professional Basic courses.

This milestone marks the completion of a rigorous 20-week training program designed to prepare these officers for their first tour as information warfare professionals within the operational fleet.

The graduation ceremony commenced with opening remarks from Lt. Cmdr. Terrance Green, IWTC Virginia Beach executive officer.

“As you step into your new roles as information warfare professionals, remember: You have the tools, the knowledge and the network to succeed,” he told graduates. “Always strive for excellence, not just for yourself but for the teams you lead and serve with. Your character and competency will shape the future of the Navy.”

The importance of teamwork and relationships was a central theme among the speakers.

“We accomplish our mission because we have the finest Sailors our nation has to offer,” said Capt. John Heavrin, director of intelligence at Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic. “We are expected to know everything about some things, and something about everything when it comes to our nation’s adversaries. We deliver clarity in the most complex and threatening operational environments.

“Trust in your teammates. Lean on their expertise. Lead with grace, and you will achieve great things.”

Capt. Bobby Carmickle, Naval Information Forces chief of staff, echoed the sentiment of hard work and humility.

“Know the subject matter experts and use them. Leadership goes up and down the chain of command,” he said. “Stay humble and stay hungry. Admit that you don’t know it all but have an insatiable appetite to do more, demand more.”

During the ceremony, Carmickle presented the Rear Adm. Danelle Barrett Leadership Award to Ensign Francis MarteMatos for his outstanding leadership and excellence in the classroom. Ensign Christopher Bailey was recognized as honor graduate of the Naval Information Professional Basic Course.

Heavrin presented the Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course honor graduate award to Ensign Brandon Biwer, who was also honored with the Rear Adm. Paul Becker Leadership Award for his exceptional teamwork, tone and tenacity.

The newly graduated officers will soon be deployed to assignments around the globe, from Sicily to South Korea, where they will contribute to the Navy’s information warfare efforts in diverse operational environments.

IWTC Virginia Beach, part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, offers over 70 courses in information technology, cryptology and intelligence, supported by a team of 300 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. Annually, the center trains over 7,000 students across five training sites, including Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut.

CIWT, with its four schoolhouse commands and multiple training sites in the United States and Japan, provides instruction to over 26,000 students each year. The center delivers essential training for cryptologic, information systems and electronics technicians, as well as intelligence specialists and officers in the information warfare community.
 

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s Chief of Staff Mr. Christopher Diaz delivered remarks at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) Maritime Economic Deterrence Executive Council (MEDEC) to discuss the importance of the initiative at Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 17, 2024.

MEDEC is the Navy’s acknowledgement of maritime economic risks and represents the department’s commitment to helping researchers identify and address problems early for the safety of Navy personnel, as well as the security of U.S. allies and partners.

The council brought together industry leaders to form breakout groups and discussions throughout the day. The findings and recommendations generated today will directly inform Secretary Del Toro to develop MEDEC’s approach to working with Navy partners throughout the government, in industry, and in the investment community.

For over 80 years, the Department of the Navy has challenged the analysts of CNA with tackling the hardest problems facing our Navy-Marine Corps team, informing national decisionmakers as they chart our nation’s course.

“MEDEC serves as the coordinating body for the organizations throughout the Department of the Navy that are focused on addressing adversarial economic activities that threaten the technologies and capabilities our Sailors and Marines rely on for their competitive advantages in the maritime domain,” said Diaz.

Secretary Del Toro announced the creation of MEDEC in New York City during a panel discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute and the Bloomberg Foundation Feb. 22, 2024.

“We have brought together experts from a wide range of disciplines from across our department, including supply chain management, technology protection and security, foreign investment review, intelligence and law enforcement, among others,” said Diaz.

MEDEC is co-chaired by Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition), Vice Adm. Scott Pappano.

“Our adversaries are pushing the boundaries and pursuing courses of actions that go beyond leveraging their military might, to include exploitation of the investment, industry, and innovation ecosystems that serve as the engine of the economies of the United States, our allies, and our international partners,” said Pappano.

“It is critical that we get this right, for every compromise of a capability, every loss of intellectual property that is critical to the technologies we rely on, represents a material loss to investors, firms, and their employees,” said Diaz. “More importantly, loss or compromise creates serious risk for our personnel operating around the globe, and that is a risk we are unwilling to accept.”

CNA is an independent, nonprofit research and analysis organization dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. For 80 years, CNA’s scientific rigor and real-world approach to data has been indispensable to leaders facing complex problems.

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