Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

Capt. Miguel Dieguez will relieve Capt. Jorge R. Cuadros as Commanding Officer and Regional Engineer, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast at a Change of Command ceremony to be held at 9 a.m. Friday, May 13, at Ceremonial Hangar 117 onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville.

Capt. Dieguez is coming to NAVFAC Southeast from his last tour as the Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay Public Works Officer in Kings Bay, Georgia.

Capt. Cuadros will be honored for his service to the command with the award of the Legion of Merit medal and then transition to his new position at NAVFAC Headquarters at the Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

NAVFAC Southeast is home to approximately 1,900 civilian and 120 military personnel who provide facilities support services and military construction oversight throughout the southeast region at its Public Works Departments and Resident Officer in Charge of Construction offices located at military bases as far west as Corpus Christi, Texas; east to Charleston, South Carolina and south to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The NAVFAC Southeast Headquarters is located on board NAS Jacksonville, Florida.

For more information contact the NAVFAC Southeast Public Affairs Office at 904-542-6622 by 4 p.m., Thursday, May 12. Media interested in covering the Change of Command ceremony will need to report to the NAS Jacksonville main gate security parking lot on Friday, May 13 at 8 a.m. This event is not open to the general public.

Source: United States Navy

Smith was welcomed aboard by Truman’s Command Master Chief Keith Wilkerson and Carrier Air Wing 1 Command Master Chief Cynthia Baker.

“I am truly grateful to have MCPON Smith come out here to spend a couple of days with us to speak with our Sailors about current events and policies,” said Wilkerson.

During the three-day visit aboard Truman, Smith toured the ship and addressed the crew during an all hands call on the ship’s weekly triad show.

“The good work that you’re doing is not lost on the Navy or the nation,” said Smith. “Keeping Russia in check so that things don’t spill over into NATO and create a much more difficult world situation is beyond my ability to articulate.”

While aboard, Smith spoke with Sailors from various departments, including Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Sheldan Popo, a flight deck chief, who spoke with Smith about flight operations.

“It was an awesome opportunity to get another perspective for my Sailors on why what they do on deployment matters,” said Popo. “I’m happy my Sailors were able to interact with the MCPON and have the opportunity to see the possibility of where their careers could go.”

Truman; additional elements of the carrier strike group include the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, commanded by Capt. Patrick Hourigan; the staff and guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28 commanded by Capt. Todd Zenner, which include: USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), deployed as part of the Cooperative Deployment Program; and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), commanded by Capt. Christopher Marvin.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security, and defend U.S., allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.

For more news from CSG 8, visit, www.facebook.com/CSG8, www.navy.mil/local.cvn75/, www.facebook.com/usnavy, www.instagram.com/uss_harrys.truman, www.navy.mil, or www.twitter.com/harrystruman.

Source: United States Navy

This is the first visit by a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to Naples in six years and presents another opportunity to strengthen relationships with a NATO founding member and critical Ally. This is Truman’s second visit to Italy in 2022, the first being their port visit to Trieste April 23.

“The friendship we have enjoyed with Italy during this deployment has been second to none,” said Rear Adm. Curt Renshaw, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8. “The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group’s partnership with the Italian Navy has been integral to the success of this deployment, and for our Sailors to have the chance to experience and learn more about the country’s rich history and culture further builds upon our strong relationship.”

The already strong bonds of partnership is acutely felt in Naples, which hosts the headquarters of Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVEUR-NAVAF/SIXTHFLT) and Allied Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples. This visit, to the U.S. Navy’s command and control headquarters in Europe reinforces the strategic importance of the U.S.-Italy relationship.

Sailors from Truman, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 will participate in a cleanup and maintenance project at the Capua Colosseum; the second largest colosseum of the Roman Empire and home to Spartacus in its day.

“We’re fortunate to have these opportunities to learn a little history and give back to the international community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Steven Hervey, the command religious ministry department principle assistant. “I am looking forward to visiting a site where Roman Gladiators were trained so our Sailors can learn their history and be inspired by their warrior ethos.”

Sailors will also be able to indulge in local foods, art, history and outdoor excursions, all while embracing warm hospitality of southern Italy.

“Fostering these relationships with our Italian partners is important not only for Truman, but for NATO as a whole. We thank them for hosting us and for all the Italian experiences offered to our Sailors,” said Capt. Gavin Duff, commanding officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). “For many of our Sailors this is their first opportunity to see renowned, historic landmarks like St. Peter’s Basilica, Pompeii, and the Colosseum. I know this port visit – both the experience and hospitality of the Italian people – will stay with them for years to come.”

Truman is the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG); additional elements include the nine squadrons of CVW 1, commanded by Capt. Patrick Hourigan; the staff and guided-missile destroyers of DESRON 28 commanded by Capt. Todd Zenner, which include: USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109); and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), commanded by Capt. Christopher Marvin.

The HSTCSG is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of maritime stability and security, and to reassure Allies and Partners throughout Europe and Africa.

For more news from CSG 8, visit, www.facebook.com/CSG8, www.navy.mil/local.cvn75/, www.facebook.com/usnavy, www.instagram.com/uss_harrys.truman, www.navy.mil, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

Source: United States Navy

The crew swap follows “Gold Crew’s” five-month deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility where the crew, comprised of both U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners, participated in Obangame Express and performed maritime security operation patrols with African partners along the west coast of Africa.

“Our deployment success was due to impressive cooperation and coordination among several partners, Allies, national and international agencies and three different United States maritime forces,” said Capt. Michael Concannon, gold crew commanding officer, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams.  “The resolve and mission focus of our African partners, with support from many other organizations, led to the successful execution of several maritime training scenarios in Exercise Obangame Express.  We then implemented that training during maritime security operations along the west coast of Africa that led to a successful illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing interdiction and a successful drug interdiction event.”

The oncoming “Blue Crew” will be led by Capt. Chad Graham. Having the ability to swap crews on a ship almost anywhere in the world gives naval forces the ability to maintain a constant presence in any region of the world.

“My crew and I are excited to be back aboard Hershel “Woody” Williams,” said Capt. Chad Graham, blue crew commanding officer. “Capt. Concannon and the “Gold Crew” excelled in their missions, and we are eager to get underway and continue their work to build on the African partnership success.”

Following the crew swap, “Blue Crew” will finish the maintenance availability in Civitavecchia, and head to the northern coast of Africa to take part in Exercise Phoenix Express 2022.

Throughout the deployment the “Gold Crew” traveled approximately 12,000 nautical miles while operating in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the first warship permanently assigned to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

The ESB ship class is a highly flexible platform that may be used across a broad range of military operations. Acting as a mobile sea base, they are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to support missions assigned.

For over 70 years, U.S. Sixth Fleet forces have forged strategic relationships with our Allies and partners and solidified a foundation of shared values, experiences and vision aimed at preserving security and stability.

U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with Allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Source: United States Navy

The commissioning will be a private event with a limited audience due to public health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be livestreamed for public viewing.

Those interested in viewing the ceremony live may do so here. Media are encouraged to use this public domain, livestream footage in their coverage.

A media availability and static display will be held Thursday, May 12, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Those available to interview include Commanding Officer Cmdr. Daniel Hancock.

Media interested in participating in either or both events, please RSVP no later than Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. (EST) to Julie Ann Ripley, at julie.a.ripley1@.navy.mil, 619-940-8247. Please provide the media member’s name, name of the organization, which event they plan to attend, and confirmation of vaccination. All media in attendance must be fully vaccinated, having received their final dose no later than April 29, 2022. Registered media will receive a confirmation email with participation instructions, and will need to present proof of vaccination during check-in.

Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was launched July 13, 2018, and delivered to the U.S. Navy Nov. 30, 2021. The ship will be commissioned in Charleston, S.C. on May 14, 2022, and then transit to her homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface.