Navy

May 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has upheld the Navy’s termination for default of a contract with McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics for the A-12 stealth attack aircraft, the Justice Department announced today.    » read more »

May 03, 2007 -- The Navy’s newest attack submarine Hawaii will be commissioned Saturday, May 5, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony in Groton, Conn.

The third submarine of the Virginia class, SSN 776 will bear the name Hawaii to recognize the tremendous support the Navy has enjoyed from the people of the Aloha State and in honor of the rich heritage of submarines in the Pacific theater.    » read more »

5/3/2007 -- NORFOLK (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen visited Naval Station Norfolk on May 1 to speak with Mid-Atlantic Sailors about the future of the Navy.

“I’m blessed to be in a command position in a Navy this good,” Mullen said during this stop on his tour of bases.

“I have three priorities right now and they are to get it right for our people, operate our fleet and build the fleet for the future. My $115 billion budget is for those three things.”    » read more »

5/1/2007 -- NORFOLK (NNS) -- Every year motor vehicle accidents claim the lives of Sailors, especially during the Critical Days of Summer, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

According to the Naval Safety Center, as the volume of vehicles on roadways increase so does the risk of mishaps, injuries and deaths, and by practicing traffic safety regularly, Sailors not only protect themselves and loved ones but others on the road.    » read more »

4/27/2007 -- MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) deployment began April 25, with the departure of High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift and the embarked Task Group (TG) 40.9, from Naval Station Mayport.

“After much anticipation and preparation it feels great to get underway,” said Capt. Douglas Wied, commander Task Group 40.9. “We’re looking forward to working with our partner nations in the Caribbean Basin and Central America, exchanging ideas with them and strengthening our ties.”    » read more »

4/26/2007 -- WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Individuals and families can now go online to get simple, ready-to-use fact sheets, checklists, and forms on how to prepare for a variety of natural and man-made disasters -- part of Operation Prepare.

Operation Prepare is a public awareness program initiated by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) for community members of Navy ashore installations.    » read more »

4/27/2007 -- WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion April 26 of the latest Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense “hit to kill” intercept flight test.

Conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy, the test involved the simultaneous engagements of a ballistic missile “unitary” target (meaning that the target warhead and booster remain attached) and a surrogate hostile air target. This marked the eighth successful intercept in 10 flight tests for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program.    » read more »

April 25, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today issued the following statement expressing disappointment with the Navy’s denial of the Air Force’s request for a military transfer of excess Navy property at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove.    » read more »

4/23/2007 -- WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) announced on April 23 the creation of the Command Master Chief (CMC) Management Office and selected Fleet Master Chief Jacqueline DiRosa to oversee its operation.

The office, which will be located at the Navy Annex and stand up early this summer, will ensure that senior enlisted leaders competing for command master chief positions meet the performance standards and attributes required for selection to the CMC program.    » read more »

4/23/2007 -- PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) entered the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 23, while enroute to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism.

BHRESG is a rapid response strike group available for humanitarian or non-combatant evacuation operations.

While operating in the 7th Fleet AOR, the BHRESG will conduct drills and exercises to prepare for operations in the Persian Gulf.    » read more »

4/23/2007 -- PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The identity of an F/A-18A Hornet pilot who crashed during an April 21 Navy flight demonstration at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C. has been released.

Blue Angel No. 6 was flown by Lt. Cmdr. Kevin J. Davis, 32, of Pittsfield, Mass. He served as the opposing solo pilot. This was Davis’ second year on the team and his first year as a demonstration pilot.    » read more »

4/21/2007 -- BEAUFORT, S.C. (NNS) -- An F/A-18A Hornet assigned to the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) crashed during the final minutes of an air show at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., at approximately 4 p.m. EDT, April 21.

The pilot did not survive.

The pilot of the jet was joining the Delta formation for the final maneuver of the aerial demonstration when the mishap occurred. It was his second year on the team, and first year as a demonstration pilot.

The other five Blue Angel jets were not involved in the incident and landed safely moments later.    » read more »

4/21/2007 -- NORFOLK (NNS) -- As the Hampton Roads area prepares for the upcoming hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until Nov. 30, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (FFC) is taking a proactive approached to ensuring the safety of Sailors and their families by participating in Hurricane Exercise 2007 (HURREX 07).

The purpose of HURREX 07 is to provide ship and shore commands a focused training scenario to help with ship sorties, evacuation, emergency preparedness, personnel accountability, and recovery.    » read more »

4/20/2007 -- NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Navy bid farewell to the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2), April 20 in a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.

During its 29 year career, the ship’s primary mission was to transport Marine Corps forces. However, Saipan was also involved in providing evacuation and disaster relief when needed.    » read more »

4/20/2007 -- CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Thousands of family members and friends crowded the pier at Naval Air Station North Island on April 20 to welcome home the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) following a three-month deployment in support of operations in the Western Pacific.    » read more »