Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Robert Gates News

04 Mar 2024

Risk Reigns in Ocean Shipping, Industry and Economic Experts Say

Š dbvirago / Adobe Stock

Risk is the "new normal" for the global ocean shipping industry that handles 80% of global trade as pressure from geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism and climate change mounts."There are going to be global tensions ... and I think global dangers, at a level we haven't seen since the end of World War II," former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at the opening of S&P Global's TPM24 container shipping conference in Long Beach, California, on Monday.Houthi missile and drone attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are top of mind…

03 Sep 2015

Former CIA Spy Ship Becomes Victim of Oil Slump

U.S. Government Photo

A ship built by the CIA for a secret Cold War mission in 1974 to raise a sunken Soviet sub is heading to the scrap yard, a victim of the slide in oil prices. Christened the Hughes Glomar Explorer, after billionaire Howard Hughes was brought in on the CIA's deception, the 619-foot vessel eventually became part of the fleet of ships used by Swiss company Transocean to drill for oil. But the oil price rout means the former spy ship now called GSF Explorer is just one of 40 such offshore drilling rigs that have been consigned to scrap since last year.

15 Feb 2011

Department of Navy Announces FY12 Budget

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, Rear Adm. Joe Mulloy, briefed the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of the Navy budget roll-out at the Pentagon, Feb. 14. "The FY12 budget request reflects the Navy's continued commitment to Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families," said Mulloy. "It reaffirms the valuable contribution our assets make across the full spectrum of warfare and increases the capability of our fleet. While military pay will increase 1.6 percent, additionally, reenlistment bonuses for key rates are being maintained, and selective reenlistment bonuses are being offered. President Barack Obama's budget for Fiscal Year 2012 was submitted to Congress Feb.

27 May 2010

Papp Relieves Allen as Coast Guard Commandant

Photo courtesy USCG

Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr., assumed command as the 24th commandant of the Coast Guard on May 25, relieving Adm. Thad W. Allen during a military ceremony at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D. During the ceremony, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates awarded Allen the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano presided over the change of command and awarded Allen the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal. While the May 25 ceremony marks the end of his term as commandant…

03 Jun 2009

Lawmakers Push for Shipbuilding Plan

According to a June 3 report from United Press International, several Republican congressmen are pushing to get U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to put together a 30-year plan for building warships. Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, said a quadrennial defense review to be presented to Congress early next year will lay out the shipbuilding issues. (Source: United Press International)

02 Jun 2009

Forbes Insists on Navy Shipbuilding Plan

“The Administration has certainly insisted on transparency when it involves divulging our interrogation techniques to alleged terrorists, but has refused to apply the same standard for the American people when it comes to the readiness of our nation’s defenses. In a move the Washington Post described as ‘unprecedented secrecy,’ Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently instituted a gag order requiring hundreds of Pentagon officials involved in the budget process to sign a non-disclosure agreement barring them from discussing any proposed cuts or expenditures even to members of congress. These were the very individuals who had the expertise necessary to assess any potential damage to national security such cuts could present.

08 May 2009

Skelton on Defense Budget Proposal

“Members of the House Armed Services Committee are anxious to examine the details of the President’s defense budget proposal and get to work on the Fiscal Year 2010 defense authorization bill. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to ensure that each defense dollar is spent wisely and effectively. While many difficult budget and policy decisions are ahead of us, I believe the $533.8 billion requested for defense is a reasonable level which will allow us to support our troops and keep America safe. “I commend the administration for making service members and their families a priority in this budget. I am especially pleased that this year’s budget proposal does not impose new fees on the TRICARE health benefits our service members and their families need.

25 Jul 2008

Navy Cancels DDG-1000 Destroyer Program

The Navy canceled DDG-1000 program .

The Secretary of the Navy informed members of the Senate and House of its plans to cancel the $29b DDG-1000 program after completion of the first two ships, one of which is scheduled to be completed at Bath Iron Works. Assembly work on the guided-missile destroyers was to have been divided between the 124-year-old shipyard, owned by General Dynamics Corp., and a yard in . Cancellation of the 14,000-ton, Zumwalt-class destroyer after just two ships were funded, was made public by Maine's two Republican senators, Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins, and US Representative Thomas H.

27 May 2008

Survey Ship in Estonia to Find WWII-era Plane

Kaleva, which was carrying nine passengers – including U.S. diplomatic courier Henry W. Antheil, Jr. – mysteriously exploded 10 minutes after taking off from Tallinn’s airport on the first day of the Soviet-blockade of Estonia during World War II. News of the blockade and of Kaleva’s crash was overshadowed by the Nazi occupation of Paris, which also occurred on June 14. To this day the wreckage of Kaleva and the remains of its nine passengers have never been found. Estonia’s Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo requested the assistance of a U.S. Navy survey ship in searching for the downed airplane in a January 2008 letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. “We are excited to collaborate with the Estonian military and to search for Kaleva,” said Capt. Nicholas H.

03 Apr 2007

Kings Bay Named Installation of Excellence

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced March 30 that Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is one of five recipients of the 2007 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence. The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. The five recipients of this highly competitive presidential award were selected for their exemplary support of Department of Defense missions. Kings Bay is the only Navy base to win the award, along with two Marine Corps bases, an Army garrison, an Air Force base and a Defense supply center. “We are truly humbled to receive this award,” said Capt. Mike McKinnon, commanding officer of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay.

13 Feb 2007

Congress Eyes Boost in Sub Production

The interest in increasing submarine production hasn't subsided since Democrats took control of Congress last month. In fact, several efforts are under way to increase the Navy's shipbuilding budget in 2008 with funding for five additional ships beyond what the Navy had originally requested, including a second fast-attack submarine. U.S Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, has picked up the continued the debate started by his predecessor, former Congressman Rob Simmons. Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress approved the authorization for two subs a year, but failed to approve the money to make that happen. The president's proposed 2008 Defense spending plan includes funding for just one sub.