Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, meets with Sailors during a tour of the Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) on Aug. 13, 2020. Kitchener also evaluated Boxer’s current state of readiness during his visit. US Navy photo.
The new head of the Navy’s surface fleet said his predecessor made major improvements in training and readiness, and he wants to use them as a foundation to improve the tactical side: more advanced warfighting training, more...
Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener gives remarks during a change-of-command ceremony for commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP) on Aug. 3, 2020. US Navy Photo
Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener has taken command of Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet during a small ceremony in San Diego, Calif., the Navy announced on Monday.
Kitchener, formerly the commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic, relieved Vice Adm. Richard Brown, who is retiring from the service after 35 years.
“I am thankful for Vice...
Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Sullivan, assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Medical Readiness Division, center, addresses the medical team while preparing for Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG-100) as part of the Navy response to the COVID-19 outbreak aboard the ship on April 28, 2020. US Navy Photo
When COVID-19 was first detected on guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG-100) late last month, the Navy put into action a new set of procedures to stem the...
Cmdr. Samuel Young and his flagmen conduct a passing of the flag ceremony for his retirement. Cmdr. Young is retiring as the Future Operations Officer for Carrier Strike Group Two. Navy Photo
To maintain fleet readiness during COVID-19-related training and movement restrictions, Navy officials are allowing officers and enlisted sailors to delay pending retirements and separations for up to a year. At the same time, the service is also welcoming back to active duty recently departed personnel.
The...
Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) respond to a man-overboard drill during a steel beach picnic in the Mediterranean Sea on Aug. 25, 2019. US Navy Photo
Manning forward-deployed ships with fewer sailors, making less carrier strike groups available to deploy and reducing the size of command staffs are moves the Navy is considering as part of its drive to reduce $40 billion from its budget, according to a February memo outlining the cuts under...
Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced) conduct maintenance on an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft atop the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), Philippine Sea, Jan. 26, 2019. VMM-262 (Rein.) is the Aviation Combat Element for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. US Marine Corps photo.
CAPITOL HILL – Manning and maintenance considerations are driving conversations about Navy and Marine Corps operations, as the two sea services rebuild readiness...
Tugboats maneuver the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) in position for dry-docking in preparation for the ship’s Extended Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) on March 5, 2019. US Navy photo.
ARLINGTON, Va. – The chief of naval operations gave the Navy an aggressive goal to eliminate lost operational days from overrun maintenance availabilities by next year, and surface navy and maintenance community leadership believe they’re on track to do just that.
The...
Vice Adm. Richard A. Brown, commander, Naval Surface Forces, speaks during the Retired Flag Officer Briefing at the Surface Navy Association’s 32 National Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Va. on Jan. 14, 2020. US Navy Photo
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Readiness Reform and Oversight Council created in the aftermath of two fatal surface ship collisions has proven to be a useful “barrier-removal organization” that the head of the surface force would like to see remain in place for years to...
Vice Adm. Richard A. Brown, commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivers his remarks during a change of command ceremony for the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., in 2019. US Navy Photo
The Navy needs a bigger fleet – and while ongoing budget talks don’t sound promising for the buildup of manned warships that some had envisioned, the surface force is working hard to quickly bring unmanned vessels into the force to...
https://news.usni.org/2020/01/13/vadm-brown-future-fleet-must-be-bigger-leverage-unmanned-vessels
Ens. Micah Burge, from Branson, Mo., views a monitor in the bridge of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) in 2019. US Navy Photo
The surface navy is taking a serious look at how it trains individuals and watch teams in maritime warfighting skills, taking a similar approach to the recent effort to bolster navigation, shiphandling and seamanship skills, the head of the surface force told USNI News.
Following a string of collisions in the Western Pacific in 2017, the...