Commander, Task Force (CTF) 51/59 held a change of command ceremony on Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Aug. 8. Brig. Gen. Gregg Olson relieved Rear Adm. William Lescher as commander of CTF-51/59. During his farewell remarks, Lescher, who assumed command of CTF-51/59 Aug. 26, 2012, expressed ho
Guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) returned to its Naval Station Norfolk homeport Aug. 6, marking completion of a seven-month deployment. In January, Gonzalez deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility to support maritime security operations and promote theater security cooper
The U.S. Navy completed the first fleet firing of Raytheon Company’s Rolling Airframe Missile Block 2 as part of its ongoing developmental and operational testing (DT/OT). In an at-sea test conducted from the USS Arlington (LPD 24), two RAM Block 2 missiles engaged a subsonic target in a scenario de
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has successfully completed the comprehensive risk reduction program for the U.S. Navy’s Knifefish Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) program. Designed to discover any potential systems defect
A Coast Guard Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) returned home from a four-month counter piracy deployment to the Middle East, June 29th. The team was comprised of three units: Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Los Angeles-Long Beach, MSST San Diego, and the Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Tea
The guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) departed Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 7 for an eight-month deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). “Despite a challenging schedule, the crew has formed
The U.S. Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) authenticated the keel for the future USS Portland (LPD 27) during a ceremony at HII’s Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard, Aug. 2. The keel was authenticated to be “truly and fairly laid” by the ship’s sponsor, Bonnie Amos, spouse of Gen. James Amos, 35
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas awarded a $20,249,617 million dollar firm-fixed price task order Aug. 7 to Guam Multiple Award Construction Contracts (MACC) Builders A JV, a large business, for ongoing Guam realignment work. “With this contract award, the Department of Defense
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Crew 102, which had been deployed aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1) since March, is scheduled to return to San Diego Aug. 7 following the ship’s maiden overseas deployment in support of operations with regional navies in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Crew 102 turned over
More than 400 friends and family members arrived on board the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) for a one-day Tiger Cruise in Gaeta, Italy, Aug. 5. Participants in the event, also known as ‘tigers’, received a welcome aboard package upon arrival which included a welcome aboard lette
Aboard the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) the outgoing “Gold” crew and incoming “Blue” crew completed the first crew swap on a deployed LCS during a brief turnover ceremony Aug. 6. Both crews assembled in two distinct formations on either side of the flight deck “T” line used to designate
Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) will become the first West Coast ship to deploy with the MV-22 Osprey this fall. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) is embarked on Boxer as a part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and will deploy wi
USS Anchorage (LPD 23) successfully completed final contract trials and returned to San Diego July 18. Final contract trials serve as the final review of a newly constructed ship, with the ship’s crew operating the vessel while still under warranty from the shipbuilder. The trial, run by the Navy’s
The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), along with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed their Certification Exercise (CERTEX) on Aug. 7. CERTEX is a comprehensive set of training exercises that combines Navy and Marine Corps amphibious capabilities. “The single most essential objective
