Category: United States of America

Source: United States Navy

Good morning, everyone! Thank you, Rear Admiral Garvin, for your kind introduction.

Senator Reed, Admiral Swift, distinguished guests, it is wonderful to be with all of you here in Newport to celebrate one of our Naval services’ time-honored traditions—the changing of command. 

As the only Secretary of the Navy in our Nation’s history who is a graduate of the Naval War College, I cannot over-emphasize how important this institution is to the success of our Navy and Marine Corps.

Education is indeed the foundation of our Fleet and our Force, ensuring that our Sailors, Marines, and civilians are prepared to meet the many evolving dynamic challenges that will test our determination, resolve, and skills.

It is critical to advancing our Department’s three enduring priorities of Strengthening Maritime Dominance, Building a Culture of Warfighting Excellence, and Enhancing Strategic Relationships.

And it is the key to realizing our vision for a new, national approach to Maritime Statecraft.

Since 1884, the Naval War College has educated the leaders our Fleet and our Force, as well as the leaders of the armed forces of our international allies and partners around the globe, preparing them for the challenges we face today and will face in the future as maritime nations.

NWC plays a unique and important role in our Naval University System.

We charge the leadership, faculty, and staff here in Newport with:

Educating and developing tomorrow’s naval and Joint Force leaders

Informing today’s decisionmakers

And engaging with our allies and partners around the world on matters of joint warfare in order to address the complex, global security challenges we face in all domains that we operate in, from below the ocean’s surface to the stars above.

RADM Garvin and NWC Accomplishments

Over the last year, Rear Admiral Garvin—as the 58th President of the Naval War College—has been steadfast in his devotion to this institution, empowering the students, faculty, and staff to pursue their research passions, provide support to our Fleet, Combatant Command, and national leaders, as well as engage with the global maritime community.

When we consider how NWC is revolutionizing our approach to training our future leaders, there is no better example than the Perspectives on Modern War course. 

This new, year-long learning community supported by 68 members of the NWC faculty provides students with the opportunity to explore new concepts, ideas, and technologies, ensuring they are provided with a relevant and current curriculum as they prepare to lead the Fleet and Force of tomorrow.

NWC has also embraced its mission to inform and continue to educate today’s leaders and decisionmakers.

As I said in my speech on Maritime Statecraft at Harvard University last fall, I expect our Admirals and Generals to be skilled warfighters, but I demand that they be strategic thinkers.

The Naval War College is vital to ensuring that this is so.

From formalizing the organization, structure, and processes associated with the Flag Officer and Senior Executive Training—FLEX—series, to hosting senior-level wargames, including:

CNO Futures

Global 17 and Global 18, Trans-Atlantic Maritime Command and Control and Naval Contested Logistics War Game

The Naval War College is leading the way in preparing our talented cadre of Admirals, Generals, and civilian Senior Executives to deter conflict and if necessary, be victorious in combat.

Beyond the focus placed on training and educating students and fleet leaders here in Newport, we’ve witnessed a tremendous increase in engagement and outreach by the Naval War College community.

Early in his tenure, Rear Admiral Garvin and the NWC team hosted the International Seapower Symposium last September, where 174 delegates from 91 countries—including 75 Heads of Navy—gathered in Newport to discuss global maritime challenges and how we could collectively work together to address them.

I will also highlight that several of the international attendees at ISS are graduates of Naval War College, from either our Naval Command College or Naval Staff College.

In fact, on any given day, roughly 40 Heads of Navy around the globe are NWC alumni.

And Rear Admiral Garvin and his team are actively engaging our international alumni in their home regions and countries.

An example of this was the Indo-American War College Conference in Delhi, India, co-hosted by NWC and the Indian Naval War College earlier this year.

During this conference, NWC alumni from across the region gathered to hear keynote addresses and panels focused on IUU Fishing, Indo-Pacific Confidence Building, and climate change, among other topics.

This conference also provided NWC leadership with the opportunity to strengthen their ties with their Indian counterparts and to explore future opportunities for collaboration in areas such as wargaming and China Maritime Studies. 

All of this speaks directly to the prestige placed by the international community on this institution and world-class instruction our faculty and staff provide to the current and future leaders of militaries around the world.

And while these in-person engagements are critical, I would be remiss if I did not highlight the digital presence and reach of NWC’s Digital Commons.

This year alone, over 900,000 products from the digital commons have been downloaded by users around the world, representing some 38,000 public and private organizations.

From faculty publications and podcasts to social media posts, the influence of the Naval War College in ongoing debates and discussions surrounding maritime issues is indeed global.

Rear Admiral Garvin, I cannot thank you and the team here at NWC enough for serving as thought leaders in the maritime domain, educating decision-makers and driving solutions that will benefit us, our allies, and our international partners in the decades to come.

And we are grateful to your wife, Cheryl, for her support, engagement, and involvement with the Naval War College community.

Your family has made an incredible impact on NWC that will not soon be forgotten.

President Biden, Secretary Austin, and I look forward to your continued success as you develop the current and future leaders of the Joint Force during your tenure as the President of the National Defense University.

Rear Admiral Darryl “D-Day” Walker

Rear Admiral Walker, congratulations on your new role as the 59th President of the Naval War College.

It is an honor to welcome you and your bride of almost forty years—Laura—back to Newport.

You bring an incredible amount of experience to this role that will benefit the NWC community, including your time as an enlisted Airman nearly forty years ago.

And I will highlight for the audience that the Walker family continues to proudly represent both services through their sons Michael—an Air Force F-35 pilot—and Marc—a Navy Supply Corps officer.

From serving and leading in the air, at-sea, and ashore in both Navy and Joint environments, I have no doubt that your perspectives and vision for this vaunted institution will take it to new heights, advancing the work of your predecessors to ensure our graduates can think and lead strategically.

As you are keenly aware, we are at a turning point in our nation’s history, and success will be defined by our ability to embrace our position as one of the world’s leading maritime power.

I challenge you, as the now-leader of our Department’s War College, to:

Build upon initiatives like the Perspectives in Modern War course that are critical to preparing our future naval leaders, giving them the confidence to make informed decisions rooted in the academic rigor they experienced here at NWC

Ensure the curriculum remains relevant to the challenges we, our allies, and our partners face in the global maritime commons

And, finally, continue to develop the close ties we share with like-minded nations, including energizing our global alumni network to solve the most pressing maritime challenges we face, together.

I will also offer that you are not alone in this endeavor as you navigate the challenges that lay ahead. 

Admiral Franchetti and I will always be available to you throughout your tenure as president—do not hesitate to call us!

And I would be remiss if I did not say—from one NWC alum to another—welcome home.

Closing

Rear Admiral Garvin, Rear Admiral Walker, and your families—thank you all for your dedication and support to our officers, our Sailors, and the Naval War College.

The future of the college is bright because of everything you both have and will accomplish, and I wish you both continued success as you continue to develop the leaders our Nation needs.

May God continue to bless our Sailors, Marines, civilians, the students, faculty, and staff of this institution, and their families. Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Good afternoon, everyone! 

Rear Admiral Garvin, thank you for that kind introduction, and thank you for your leadership and stewardship of the Naval War College over the past 14 months. 

We look forward to your change of command tomorrow with Rear Admiral Walker as you prepare to transition to Washington, D.C. to serve as the next president of the National Defense University.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, it is an absolute pleasure to be with you this afternoon to honor Dr. John B. Hattendorf—a legend here at the War College and a titan in the study of maritime history.

And I would like to extend an especially warm welcome to Dr. Hattendorf’s daughters—Kristina, Ingrid, and Anna, his grandchildren, and close friends who are here with us today.

For sixty years, Professor Hattendorf has served our Navy and our Nation. As a Surface Warfare Officer during the Vietnam War, he sailed throughout the Indo-Pacific, experiencing both the joys and hardships of life at-sea.

During his shore duty tours on the Navy Staff in the Naval History Division and as the speechwriter and research assistant to the President of the Naval War College, he gained a deep appreciation for those who served before him, examining the challenges they faced and decisions they made.

After earning his doctorate in history from the University of Oxford, Professor Hattendorf returned to NWC to serve as a civilian faculty member, teaching courses ranging from strategy and policy to maritime history to generations of naval leaders from around the globe.

And throughout his tenure at the Naval War College, he served as a visiting academic at institutions across the world, including Singapore, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

With dozens of publications to his name, one need not look far to find Professor Hattendorf’s works, or witness the influence he has had on the debates surrounding the global maritime challenges we face today.

He studied British and American naval strategies, brilliantly and eloquently capturing their respective evolutions over hundreds of years.

He brought to life the stories of our world’s greatest naval thinkers and leaders, including Sir Julian Corbett, Admiral Lord Nelson, Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, and Alfred Thayer Mahan.

Rumors are that he knew some of these other legends personally!

More recently, he’s chronicled the history of Newport, Rhode Island and the growth of the Naval War College—reinforcing that Newport is indeed a “Navy Town.”

And while this portrait is an important recognition of his contributions to and impact on the Newport and Naval War College communities, his true legacy is the generations of NWC graduates around the world who studied under him, including myself.

As a former student of Professor Hattendorf during my time at the Naval War College almost three decades ago, I can say that he had a profound impact on both my career and my life.

In 1996, he taught Lieutenant Commander Del Toro to appreciate our country’s history as a maritime nation, to think strategically as a leader, and to learn from the decisions of those who went before me.

As the then-director of the Advanced Research Department and Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History, he served as one of my three thesis advisors, along with Dr. Robert Wood and Dr. Steven Fought.

As I wrote my thesis, titled “Congressional Budget Committees and Their Impact on the Department of Defense”—which I will highlight has been described by my staff as a “page-turner”—Professor Hattendorf was instrumental in guiding my examination of the evolution of our Nation’s federal budget process, showing me how to use history as the foundation for well-crafted arguments and thoughtful recommendations.

And when I delivered my speech last fall at Harvard University calling for a new approach to our National Maritime Statecraft, the lessons I learned from Professor Hattendorf were not far from my mind.

During my speech, I stated that, “It is my steadfast belief that we will only be successful in developing a new, national approach to maritime statecraft with the support of military and civilian leaders who are well-versed in our nation’s maritime history, for the challenges we face today are eerily similar to the ones we have faced in the past.”

For 50 years, Professor Hattendorf has worked to educate civilian and military leaders across the globe on matters relating to maritime history, shaping our approaches to tackling the challenges of today, and demonstrating—through his works—that victory is indeed achieved by seapower.

Professor Hattendorf, sir, your passion for history and love for education has transformed so many lives.

Our Navy, our Nation, and indeed our world are better off because of your service to others, and we are proud to be a part of your enduring legacy.

May this portrait forever serve as a reminder to future generations of Naval War College students of your dedication to this college, your relentless pursuit of knowledge, and the thousands of lives you have influenced.

May God bless the Hattendorf family, and may God continue to grant our Nation with fair winds and following seas.

Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

Good morning, everyone!

It is an honor to be here with you this morning on this mighty warship to celebrate the service of Lieutenant General Cavanaugh, and welcome Lieutenant General Shea as she assumes command of U.S. Marine Forces Command, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, and Marine Forces Northern Command.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Lieutenant General Cavanaugh’s family and friends here with us today.

To Lieutenant General Cavanaugh’s wife, Shery, thank you for your dedication and all you have sacrificed on behalf of the Marine Corps and your husband. Congratulations on your upcoming 29th anniversary this month!

Thank you, Mrs. Evelyn Cavanaugh, for raising an incredible son who dedicated his life to service of our Nation.

And to Brian, thank you for your support throughout your father’s distinguished career.

I also want to welcome and thank Lieutenant General Shea’s family for being here.

To Lieutenant General Shea’s husband Lieutenant Colonel Nick Slavik, thank you for your service in the Marine Corps and unwavering support of your wife throughout both of your impressive careers.

Christine and Hillari, it is wonderful to have you here in celebration of your sister and aunt.

As we all know, families truly are the backbone of our armed forces, and I was blessed to have the support of my wife Betty and our sons throughout my career in the Navy and now.

Justice Willet, thank you for being here today and for your career of public service.

Representative Kiggans, welcome, and thank you for your support of our service members and Veterans in the House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, along with your work within Virginia’s Second District.

Mayor Dyer, thank you for your service in the Marine Corps and service to the city of Virginia Beach.

General Berger, thank you for your lifetime of service to the men and women of our Marine Corps.

I welcome former NASA Administrator and Major General Bolden—sir, thank you for being here today, for your leadership of NASA and the Marine Corps.

General Smith, thank you for being here and for your leadership and guidance of our United States Marine Corps.

I’m grateful to see Trish here as well, the ship sponsor of the future USS Helmand Province (LHA-10).

Admiral Caudle, thank you for your service and leadership of US Fleet Forces.

Sergeant Major Ruiz, it is wonderful to have you here today—thank you for your mentorship of our Marines and the Corps.

To all of our general officers, flag officers, senior enlisted leaders, distinguished visitors, guests, family, and friends: welcome, and thank you for joining us for this ceremony.

I am humbled and honored to be a part of this momentous occasion today—the changing of command and responsibility from one Commanding General to another.

World Today/MARFORCOM Accomplishments

As you have seen and read in the news, we face tremendous uncertainty in the world today.

Just as our Marines and Sailors demonstrated unparalleled courage at the Battle of Iwo Jima, they must also lead at the tip of the spear against the existential threats facing our nation worldwide.

In Europe, Russia is well into the third year of its full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

For the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power—our pacing challenge—in the Indo-Pacific.

In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we are working alongside our NATO allies and Middle East Partners to ensure the safety of innocent, civilian mariners and protecting our commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

Immediately following the October 7th attacks in Israel, our Navy-Marine Corps Team was on station, the ready integrated force the world needed.

And the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit crucially operated in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation, ensuring the free flow of maritime traffic and stability in the region.

In February, NATO assumed command of United States and British Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean. Naval Striking Forces NATO executed a Transfer of Authority, assuming command of the Sailors and Marines assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, including USS Mesa Verde, USS Arleigh Burke, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus.

In March, it was my honor and privilege to welcome home the more than 4,000 Marines and Sailors of Bataan ARG when they returned from eight and a half months deployed.

Their return to homeport underscored the profound sacrifices made by our service members, offered freely in defense of our Nation.

And our Marines remain a ready presence at any clime and place.

In June, the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group with the 24th MEU departed the East Coast and are on station today in the Mediterranean.

Alongside nineteen other NATO Allies, they participated in the 53rd and largest iteration of Exercise BALTOPS 2024.

This exercise provided an opportunity to enhance joint operations and demonstrated a commitment to preserving peace in the region.

And these joint training exercises are essential, because the threats we face today require tremendous interoperability, flexibility, and modernization.

General Cavanaugh’s leadership of Marine Forces Command has been instrumental in implementing Force Design, ensuring our Marines’ ability to fight and win in the future operating environment.

Last August, the Marine Corps and Navy executed Large Scale Exercise 2023, the third and most complex iteration of the exercise which included more than 25,000 Marines and Sailors around the world.

LSE 23 was a Live, Virtual, and Constructive exercise which spanned across 22 time zones and included six Carrier Strike Groups, six Amphibious Ready Groups, and 75 live and virtual ships.

It pushed the envelope of real world and synthetic training, both ensuring our Force’s ability to jointly operate and validating Distributed Maritime Operations capabilities.

Throughout the exercise, Lieutenant General Cavanaugh served as Admiral Caudle’s Deputy Joint Force Maritime Component Commander and is likely the only Marine Officer who can say he issued orders directly to a submarine!

I thank Lieutenant General Cavanaugh not only for his tactical prowess and vision to strengthen our maritime dominance, but also for his leadership philosophy and incredible dedication to his people.

Throughout his career and especially during his time as Commanding General, he fully understood that people are the true strength of our Marine Corps and Navy, and indeed our Nation, and that our people provide us the greatest advantage over our adversaries.

Lieutenant General Cavanaugh, I am confident that the legacy you leave behind—through the success of this command and those you have mentored and led along the way—will continue to serve our Marine Corps and country well into the future.

Because of you, the future of MARFORCOM is bright, though it will not be without its challenges.

And I know Lieutenant General Shea is ready to meet each and every one of them.

Lieutenant General Shea, I know you are ready, because I have seen you in action, leading the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs.

It was an honor to work with you in the Pentagon, and I thank you for your dedication and service in support of our Navy-Marine Corps Team.

I look forward to hearing about Marine Forces Command’s many successes during your tenure—and I know there will be many.

Closing

I thank you all once again for this opportunity to speak at this incredible event.

Lieutenant General Cavanaugh, thank you for your exceptional service to the United States Marine Corps and our grateful Nation. I wish you a wonderful retirement and hope you have more time to enjoy the Orioles and Ravens with your family—though I am sure you already have season tickets for the Diamondbacks and Cardinals lined up!

And Lieutenant General Shea, I wish you the best of luck and know these Marines are in good hands.

May God bless our Marines, Sailors, civilians, and their families with fair winds and following seas.

Thank you.

Source: United States Navy

SAN DIEGO — During the ceremony, Cardone was relieved by Capt. Dale Gregory, the new commanding officer of Ronald Reagan. Rear Adm. Gregory Newkirk, commander, Carrier Strike Group 5/Task Force (CTF) 70 presided over the change of command ceremony. Also in attendance was Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commander, Naval Air Forces/commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Ronald Reagan, former flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, arrived in San Diego Oct. 1, following an Aug. 13 homeport shift to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Wash. The homeport shift to Bremerton capped Ronald Reagan’s 9 years of forward-deployed service in Japan.
“To the Reagan Sailors, they are the reason I am still doing this after 29 years,” said Cardone. “There are many people who put their head on their pillow at night and wonder if what they are doing matters. You don’t need to wonder. You are the best of the 1% who proudly volunteered to wear the cloth of our nation and willing to sail the world’s oceans and take on our nation’s most difficult national security challenges as part of your chosen profession. It is you who provides the credible combat readiness that reassures our allies, our partners, and maintain regional stability. You embody the essence of the ship’s motto ‘Peace through Strength’.”
During Cardone’s tenure from October 2022 to October 2024, Ronald Reagan earned the Navy’s battle “E”, Navy Retention Excellence best in class award. His leadership saw the successful completion of its time as the United States Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, participating in various multi-national naval training exercises including Talisman Saber 2023 and Valiant Shield 2024. Under Cardone’s command, Ronald Reagan strengthened American relationships and partnerships with ally and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility with port calls to Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, and Philippines.
“The presence of any carrier, in this case the Ronald Reagan, in the Indo-Pacific for the years that it was under Cardone leadership made anyone think twice before crossing any line,” said Newkirk. “Cardone, well done to you, the crew and your family for everything.”
During the ceremony Newkirk awarded Cardone with the Legion of Merit gold star in lieu of 2nd award for exceptional meritorious conduct and outstanding service during his tour.
“When the United States needed to reassure an ally or partner we would send this magnificent warship with Daryle on the bridge at the captain’s chair to pull into their waters,” said Newkirk.
Gregory, a native of Boca Raton, Florida, assumed command after previously serving as the commanding officer of USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the executive officer of USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Gregory graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1997 and has more than 2,500 flight hours and 650 carrier landings in F/A-18 aircraft.
“Today we are in the middle of the next journey of the ship’s life” said Gregory. “The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has provided in her 2024 Navigation plan two clear goals for us. We have to be combat ready by 2027 and continue to enhance our long term advantage. Throughout our modernization of the ships availability we must get this ship, this crew, and ourselves ready to meet the CNO’s guidance to be part of the 80% of the Navy that will be combat ready in 2027.”
Ronald Reagan provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships, and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

LIMASSOL, Cyprus –After nearly six months of continuous operations at sea, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and embarked Marines of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) (Special Operations Capable) arrived in Limassol, Cyprus, Oct. 4, 2024, to conduct a scheduled mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR).

An MDVR allows Sailors and Marines an opportunity to complete corrective and preventative maintenance actions to sustain operational capabilities that cannot be accomplished while at sea.

“Conducting our mid-deployment voyage repair in Limassol provides a brief window of opportunity to conduct large scale maintenance actions we wouldn’t otherwise be able to accomplish so that Wasp can remain postured to protect our Nation’s interest,” said Capt. Chris “Chewie” Purcell, Wasp’s commanding officer. “Our ability to work maintenance and resupply overseas with trusted allies and partners is a testament to the capability of our maintenance and supply teams aboard Wasp and enables our sustained global presence.”

While the ship is in port, Sailors and Marines of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th MEU (SOC) will participate in events intended to strengthen existing partnerships with foreign militaries operating in Cyprus and build relationships with the local community. Events include a multi-nation soccer tournament, hosted by the Royal Air Force, and a volunteer event at the Logos School of English Education.

During the MDVR, Marines of the 24th MEU (SOC) will participate in routine bilateral training exercises with the Cypriot National Guard in Paphos and Larnaca, Cyprus, in partnership with the Republic of Cyprus. This training is part of their scheduled deployment and focuses on maintaining the readiness and operational capabilities of these Navy and Marine Corps forces so that they continue to be ready for any mission.

Wasp is operating in the 6th Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) areas of operations as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th MEU (SOC) in support of maritime stability and security in defense of U.S., Allied, and partner interests.

The WSP ARG-24th MEU (SOC) is comprised of its flagship namesake, Wasp, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), the Harpers Ferry-class landing dock ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), and the embarked 24th MEU (SOC).

The 24th MEU (SOC) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a command element, Aviation Combat Element (Medium Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), Ground Combat Element (Battalion Landing Team 1/8), and Logistics Combat Element (Combat Logistics Battalion 24).

To follow Wasp’s adventures, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USSWasp

To learn more about WSP ARG-24th MEU (SOC), please visit our DVIDS feature page: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/wasparg24thmeu