Category: United States of America

Source: United States Navy

Rear Adm. Brian A. Harding, commander of Naval Information Warfighting Development Center, relieved Cmdr. Sarah M. Quemada of her duties as NITWG Norfolk’s commanding officer. NITWG Norfolk is a subordinate command of the Naval Information Warfighting Development Center command based in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Navy maintains the highest standards for commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met.

Capt. Steve McIntire has been temporarily assigned as NITWG Norfolk’s commanding officer until a permanent replacement is designated.

Cmdr. Quemada assumed command of NITWG Norfolk in June 2023. She has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Information Forces.

For additional questions, please contact Naval Information Forces Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Robert Fluegel, at robert.j.fluegel.civ@us.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

Commissioned on Sept. 7, 1968, CV 67 was the first Navy ship to be named John F. Kennedy. The ship conducted multiple tours in the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Ligurian, Aegean and Adriatic seas, during a period of escalating tension in the Middle East and North Africa, often while under the surveillance of Soviet ships.  

In the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the John F. Kennedy and her battle group established air security along the mid-Atlantic seaboard, “to help calm a fearful and shocked nation,” in support of Operation Noble Eagle. In February 2002, the ship deployed in support of Operations Anaconda and Enduring Freedom, followed by support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in July of 2004. The ship was decommissioned in 2007 after 39 years of service. 

“Ex-John F. Kennedy will always be remembered as a symbol of enduring freedom and a beacon of hope and peace during difficult times in our nation,” said Rear Adm. Bill Greene, Director, Surface Ship Maintenance, Modernization and Sustainment. “The countless members of the ship’s crew and all who sustained it during its lifecycle should be proud of the exceptional work that kept the ship sailing and supporting our fleet for many years. Fair Winds and Following Seas.” 

The nation’s aircraft carriers and embarked carrier air wings project power, sustain sea control, bolster deterrence, provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintain the nation’s enduring commitments all over the world.  

For more about the ship’s historic contributions, please visit: USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67/CV-67) 

Source: United States Navy

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Meredith Berger, in collaboration with Jane Overslaugh Rathbun, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Department of the Navy, released a sixth memorandum titled CSO Serial Six: Technical Debt on Dec. 31.

The memorandum outlines concrete actions to mitigate technical debt across DON installations, ensuring mission assurance while advancing sustainability goals.

Technical debt, resulting from outdated systems and unsupported technologies, poses significant risks to operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and resilience. CSO Serial Six directs DON components to take action to address these challenges, emphasizing modernization, resource optimization, and environmental stewardship.

CSO Serial Six directs the Navy and Marine Corps to develop plans that outline readiness measures for inclusion in POM-27 to achieve the following outcomes:

• Cyber Resilience Readiness Exercises (CRRE): Conducting regular exercises to identify vulnerabilities, test response protocols, and strengthen cybersecurity for facility-related control systems. For example, simulating a cyberattack on building automation systems helps evaluate defenses, improve incident response times, and ensure mission-critical infrastructure remains operational during potential threats.
• Sustainable Cooling Technologies: Implementing innovative cooling methods to reduce water dependency and enhance energy efficiency. For example, passive design strategies such as green roofs, strategically placed shading devices, and optimized building orientation reduce heat gain, minimizing the need for mechanical cooling systems and significantly lowering energy consumption. 
• Modernized IT Infrastructure: Outdated systems and unsupported technologies hinder user productivity by causing frequent disruptions, slower performance, compatibility issues, and increased downtime, forcing users to spend more time troubleshooting and detracting from mission-critical tasks. Investing in energy-efficient, sustainable technologies enhances resource efficiency, boosts workforce productivity, and provides faster, more reliable systems with minimal disruptions, while offering expanded functionalities. For example, implementing cloud-based collaboration tools not only reduces downtime but also enables real-time communication and data sharing, streamlining workflows and improving decision-making across teams.
• Comprehensive E-Waste Management Plan: Implementing responsible recycling and disposal practices for outdated equipment to minimize environmental impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and recover valuable materials for reuse. For example, partnering with certified e-waste recyclers to securely process decommissioned IT hardware ensures that sensitive data is destroyed, valuable metals are recovered, and hazardous materials are safely handled, aligning with sustainability goals and operational security. 

Through these actions, DON will reduce vulnerabilities, improve mission readiness, and align with the Department’s broader sustainability objectives.

“Identifying and reducing technical debt is essential to mission assurance,” said Assistant Secretary Berger. “By addressing technical debt, the Department of the Navy can mitigate cyber vulnerabilities, strengthen national security, and modernize its IT infrastructure with cutting-edge, energy-efficient technologies. These actions will provide more reliable and efficient systems, which will enhance mission readiness, operational cost efficiency, and increase user productivity. Through sustainability, we support an agile, resilient, and ready force equipped to meet the demands of today’s missions and stay ahead of future requirements.”

Integrating Governance, Workforce Development, and National Security

CSO Serial Six is the latest directive to establish and guide the department’s sustainability practices and policies. Prior CSO serials are as follows:

• Serial One: Infrastructure Resilience ensures installations can withstand environmental and operational stressors, and calls for planning resilience upgrades, ensuring energy reliability, and designing infrastructure that lasts. Sustainability is at the core, integrating cross-collaboration for long-term viability.
• Serial Two: Water Security underscores the need for reliable water resources to meet operational demands. By conserving water, enhancing storage, and improving distribution systems, this serial sets clear policies and metrics for resilience in the face of growing environmental pressures.
• Serial Three: Nature-Based Resilience Solutions promotes integrating natural defenses such as wetland restoration and dune stabilization to not only protect infrastructure but also enhance ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, aligning mission assurance with environmental stewardship.
• Serial Four: Sustainable Supply and Acquisition encourages a shift toward sustainable sourcing, embedding lifecycle considerations into procurement processes, and promoting environmentally preferable materials to minimize waste and ensure reliable resources to meet operational needs.
• Serial Five: Shore Energy and Decarbonization Goals establishes clear targets for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy efficiency across shore installations. By optimizing energy use, integrating renewables, and pursuing net-zero goals, energy security is strengthened and aligned with decarbonization objectives.

CSO Serial Six builds upon prior CSO Serials by integrating sustainable energy strategies (Serial Five), water security measures (Serial Two), and sustainable procurement practices (Serial Four) into IT modernization. By reinforcing infrastructure resilience (Serial One) and nature-based solutions (Serial Three), it ensures a cohesive sustainability strategy that aligns governance, operational readiness, and workforce needs.

To ensure implementation of all CSO serials, the sustainability directorate works with Navy and Marine Corps teams to develop and refine implementation plans; support measurement and tracking of progress to ensure effective execution; facilitate knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance understanding and adoption; and provide periodic updates on the progress of implementation and key performance indicators to drive accountability and transparency.

For the Department of the Navy, sustainability drives mission readiness, strengthens infrastructure resilience, optimizes resources, and minimizes environmental impact. It supports operational adaptability, safeguards people and missions, and ensures the Navy and Marine Corps remain prepared to meet evolving challenges and future demands.

 

Source: United States Navy

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced the names of two future John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers, T-AO 205-class, to be the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg (T-AO 215), the future USNS Thomas D. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216).

Secretary Del Toro detailed the announcement Jan. 16 during video remarks directed to the Department of Navy’s (DoN) chaplain corps.

“Our Navy Chaplains are more than just religious figures—they are beacons of hope, resilience, and unwavering support in the demanding world of naval service,” said Secretary Del Toro. “These ships will carry forward their spirit of selfless service and will forever be a recognition of the invaluable contributions of Navy Chaplains.”

The naming selection of the future T-AO 215 and T-AO 216 follows the tradition of naming John Lewis-class oilers after civil rights leaders and will be the first to bear her name. Secretary Del Toro previously named USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), USNS Ruth Bader Ginsberg (T-AO 212), USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213), and USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214).

There have been no Navy vessels previously named for Captain Joshua L. Goldberg or for Thomas D. Parham, Jr.

“The heart of the Navy Chaplain Corps mission is to care for Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and their families, always focused on serving them. Naming these ships after a couple of heroic chaplains is both humbling and reassuring that we have the support of our military leaders in building the Spiritual Readiness of our flock,” said Navy’s Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm. Gregory N. Todd. “Chaplains Goldberg and Parham were model servant leaders and shone with the inner strength that comes from higher purpose, facing numerous challenges of their time strengthened by their connection to the Divine. Their example inspires all of us.”

The naming of the future T-AO 215 honors Captain Joshua L. Goldberg, USN (1896-1994), the first Jewish rabbi to volunteer for naval service in World War II and the first to be promoted to O-6.

Born in the Russian Empire in present-day Belarus, Goldberg was drafted into the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. Deserting in 1916 and emigrating to the U.S., he subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Europe.

After leaving the service in 1920, he became a rabbi in 1926. Commissioning in the U.S. Naval Reserve in December 1941 and called to active duty in 1942, Goldberg actively ministered to Sailors with an inter-faith team, designed and wore the first prescribed Jewish prayer tallith, helped develop the radio program, “The Navy Goes to Church,” and wrote Ministering to Jews in the Navy, which was intended to guide non-Jewish chaplains in ministering to the needs of Jewish Sailors ashore and afloat. He also served, in an unofficial capacity, as the Chief of Chaplain’s consultant on Jewish affairs. He remained in the Navy following the end of the war, serving as District Chaplain to the Third District, and then as special consultant on Jewish matters to Armed Forces Chaplains Board in 1950.

 He retired in 1960, receiving the Legion of Merit in recognition of his myriad contributions. The Goldberg Award, which is given to the O-3 or O-4 chaplain who has shown excellency in facilitating the religious needs of their Sailors, is named in his honor.

Secretary Del Toro named Teresa Todd, spouse of the Rear Adm. Todd and Debbie Anderson, spouse of the Navy’s Program Executive Officer (PEO) Ships, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Anderson to serve as sponsors of the future USNS Joshua L. Goldberg.

They, in their role as the ship’s sponsor, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew. The following individuals were identified as sponsors.

T-AO 216 is named to honor Navy Chaplain, Captain Thomas David Parham Jr., USN (1920-2007), the Navy’s first African American Sailor promoted to O-6. 

A daughter of the late Capt. Parham, Capt Mae Pouget, USN (Ret), expressed the family’s gratitude to the Navy on the naming selection.

“Daddy served sailors and Marines with humility, empathy, and respect, showing love for all from his Heavenly Father. Chaplain Parham’s legacy of military service lasted from 1944 to 2021, through himself, his children and his son-in-law,” said, Capt. Pouget. “The family would like to thank Secretary Del Toro, U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black, Chaplain of the Marine Corps Rear Adm. Carey Cash, and Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff.”

Ordained into the Presbytery of Mahoning (Youngstown, Ohio) in 1944, Parham commissioned as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps in September that same year. After a string of shore assignments in which he was mainly assigned to minister to Black units, he sought release from active duty in 1946.

With the onset of the Korean War, he returned to active naval service in 1951. Though he still faced discrimination, Rear Admiral Stanton Salisbury, then Chief of Chaplains, made it clear that the Chaplains Division had no plans to assign Parham to “segregated duty.” After serving overseas in Japan from 1953-1955 and transferring to the U.S. Navy in 1955, he was assigned to the First Marine Division as Chaplain in 1956. Following other assignments with the Marine Corps, he had duty afloat on-board Valley Forge (LPH 8) and subsequently served at Naval Air Station Newport, where he advanced to O-6 in 1966. Assigned to the Bureau of Personnel as Assistant Chief of Chaplain for Plans in 1967, Parham was actively involved in efforts to boost minority recruitment and address the Navy’s recurring drug problems. He continued to undertake shore assignments in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia until his retirement in 1982. 

Secretary Del Toro named Capt. Mae Pouget to serve as the sponsor of T-AO 216. Capt. Pouget served in the Navy as a medical officer.

“Having served on a submarine tender with sailors and civilian mariners, I have the utmost respect for the Military Sealift Command,” said Capt. Pouget. “I will advocate for and attend to the USNS Thomas J. Parham Jr. (T-AO 216) and pray for her divine protection.”

Fleet replenishment oilers are designed to supply fuel to the Navy’s operating carrier strike groups. The oilers have the ability to carry a load of 162,000 barrels of oil and maintain significant dry cargo capacity

Find more information about Fleet Replenishment Oilers here:

Source: United States Navy

The event brought together senior Navy leaders, local officials, and project stakeholders to celebrate the milestone.

“This groundbreaking represents NAVFAC Southeast’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities that directly enhance the fleet’s operational readiness,” said Capt. Miguel Dieguez, NAVFAC Southeast commanding officer. “This new Nuclear Regional Maintenance facility will consolidate resources, improve collaboration, and ensure that our submarine force has the maintenance infrastructure it needs to remain at the forefront of our national defense.”

The NRMD plays a vital role in supporting the operational readiness of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s ballistic missile submarine force. It provides intermediate-level repair and maintenance of propulsion plant systems and components, ensuring submarines remain mission-ready for both rapid 28-day overhauls and extended 270-day major maintenance periods.

Currently, NRMD operations are dispersed across NSB Kings Bay in temporary trailers, CONEX boxes, and facilities shared with the TRIDENT Refit Facility at Kings Bay (TRF-KB). This project will consolidate these functions into a single, purpose-built structure, enhancing communication and collaboration between engineers and mechanics on the waterfront.

“There has been a tremendous amount of effort to get us to this point, and from our perspective, it has been a collaborative and satisfying experience,” said Brian Logan, deputy director, Naval Regional Maintenance Department, Kings Bay. “The final design turned out to be spectacular…and today it is satisfying to take pause…and reflect on what all has been accomplished and what is coming.”

The new low-rise facility will feature a reinforced concrete slab-on-grade with a steel and precast concrete superstructure supported by a pile foundation. The building will include nuclear repair shops, ship services support areas, applied instruction spaces, and a parking facility accommodating up to 300 employees.

The contract for this $136 million project was awarded to BL Harbert International on Dec. 13, 2023.

“BL Harbert is profoundly grateful and humbled by the opportunity to contribute our construction expertise to execute this project with the Navy,” said Jeremy Pipkin, senior vice president at BL Harbert International. “Over the next few years, we look forward to integrating into the Kings Bay community as we work diligently to deliver a facility that embodies the highest standards of craftsmanship and reflects the immense importance of the work that will occur within its walls.”

The company will oversee the design and construction of the facility, which is scheduled for completion by Dec. 15, 2028.

The Nuclear Regional Maintenance facility at Kings Bay underscores the Navy’s commitment to maintaining its strategic deterrence capabilities by providing cutting-edge infrastructure to support its submarine fleet.

NAVFAC Southeast, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, provides planning, design, construction, contracting, environmental services, public works, real estate, and facility maintenance for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Space Force, and other federal agencies across the Southeast. Its area of responsibility covers installations from Charleston, South Carolina, to Corpus Christi, Texas, and extends south to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.