Commander Naval Surface Force News

The U.S. Navy has long valued the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D Printing.AM refers to the depositing of material layer by layer to create an object. For the Navy, it’s not practical to carry every replacement part for every system on a ship, and it can be difficult to forecast if or when parts will fail. AM provides a flexible source of supply in being able to make parts instead of ordering them and waiting for them to arrive, especially for warships at the far end of the supply chain.

The U.S. Navy commissioned Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) Saturday, June 20.The Navy commissioned Kansas City administratively via naval message due to public health safety and restrictions of large public gatherings related to the coronavirus pandemic and transitioned the ship to normal operations. The Navy is looking at a future opportunity to commemorate the special event with the ship’s sponsor, crew and commissioning committee.“This Independence…

The Surface Navy Association will hold its 31st National Symposium January 15-17, 2019 at the Crystal City Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Va.The symposium will feature senior Navy leaders delivering keynote remarks, focused on the theme of “Ready, Agile, Focused: Own the Fight!”Featured speakers include Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran; Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Richard A. Brown, USN; Director, Surface Warfare (N96) Rear Adm. Ronald A. Boxall; and Director, Expeditionary Warfare (N95) Maj. Gen.

A series of mishaps at sea has prompted the U.S. Navy to examine the way it conducts business. The accidents shared some similar contributing causes such as fundamental watchstanding and seamanship, and each of these incidents were preventable. The four incidents involved surface combatants in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. • On January 31, 2017, the Yokosuka-based Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam, while anchored in high winds, dragged anchor and ran aground in Tokyo Bay. 1,100 gallons of hydraulic fluid spilled into Tokyo Bay.

The U.S. Navy's first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) experienced a casualty to one of its main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) on July 11 reportedly caused by a leak from the attached seawater pump mechanical seal that resulted in seawater entering the engine lube oil system, according to the Navy. The ship’s crew addressed the leak, enabling Freedom to return to homeport July 13 on her own power for repairs on a separate, unrelated issue. While in port, the crew performed seawater contamination procedures.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) was inducted as the first ship to undergo a modernization effort that will significantly upgrade its capabilities in multiple mission areas, Sept. 25, at Naval Base San Diego. The CG Phased Modernization Program is designed to balance the Navy's long-term requirement for a carrier strike group air defense commander (ADC) platform and its future shipbuilding requirements. "We are saving money, preserving force structure, and generating options for leadership," said Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. As part of the ceremony, Cowpens was transferred from the authority of Rowden to Vice Adm. William Hilarides, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

Capt. Anthony L. Simmons relieved Cmdr. Curtis B. Calloway as commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) at sea on Sept. 16. Simmons arrives from the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 and will remain in command pending the completion of a DESRON 2 command-directed investigation into the command climate aboard James E. Williams. Calloway, former James E. Williams Executive Officer Cmdr. Ed Handley, and Command Master Chief Travis Biswell have been assigned to the staff at Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic pending the outcome of the investigation. The ship and her crew departed Naval Station Norfolk May 30, for an eight-month deployment to the 6th Fleet area of operations.

The United States government has pursued energy policies based on “the mistaken belief in the unproven science that claims carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of recent and future warming of the Earth,” write naval veterans Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, Vice Admiral Edward S. Briggs, and Captain Donald K. Forbes in a new report for The Heartland Institute. Driven by that unproven science, our energy policies “adversely affect the exercise…

The stationing of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer at Rota represents a national contribution by the US and Spain to NATO missile defence, enhancing the security of the European region, the Mediterranean Basin and the Atlantic Ocean. The first of the four, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), has arrived in Rota, Spain from Norfolk Navy Base. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said: "Permanently forward deploying four ships in Rota will enable us to be in the right place, not just at the right time…

The first big naval professional development event of the year, the Surface Navy Association’s 2014 Symposium,  kicks off in Crystal City, Virginia, with the theme, “Surface Warfare…Warfighting First.”  Leaders in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will speak at the symposium and associated events starting Tuesday, January 14, 2014. The symposium kicks off with the SNA annual meeting and, focusing on the warfighters of today and the future, there will be a series of roundtables for junior officers, enlisted surface warriors and midshipmen from NROTC units and the Naval Academy.

USS Freedom’s (LCS 1) maiden 10-month deployment validated the Navy’s overall concept of operations and provided valuable feedback on its operation, manning, and logistics, sums up  Vice Adm. Tom Copeman, 
Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. "The insights gained on the deployment will be used to further improve the operational flexibility, maintainability and efficiency on future deployments for this newest class of ship in the U.S. Navy . We must be more innovative in the manner in which we schedule maintenance to allow for operational flexibility while forward.

Vice Adm. Tom Copeman , Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet fittingly remembers USS Guardian, now being scrapped. "During times of war and while operating in international exercises for nearly a quarter of a century, the crew and ship remained at the highest levels of readiness, serving our nation well," noted Admiral Copeman. "A significant moment during a ship commissioning ceremony occurs when there is a call to 'bring this ship to life,' and the crew sprints from their positions pierside…

The Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium will be held January 15-17, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Crystal City, VA. The association was incorporated in 1985 to promote greater coordination and communication among those in the military, business and academic communities who share a common interest in Naval Surface Warfare and to support the activities of Surface Naval Forces. SNA provides for its members support, programs and activities which enable professional growth, personal satisfaction and camaraderie.

The Freedom-class littoral combat ship 'USS Fort Worth' (LCS 3) arrives in her San Diego homeport. The ship, named for Fort Worth, Texas, the 17th largest city in the United States and the 5th largest city in Texas, was built in Marinette, Wis., and was commissioned in Galveston, Texas, Sept 22. After commissioning, Fort Worth departed Galveston and steamed through the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Panama Canal into the Pacific Ocean, completing more than 11,000 miles on her maiden voyage.

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, commander, Military Sealift Command, recognized 82 MSC military and civilian employees with commendations for their role in refitting USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) during a ceremony yesterday on Naval Station Norfolk, Va. Ponce, formerly an amphibious transport dock ship, was refitted by MSC in approximately five months as an interim Afloat Forward Staging Base and deployed June 1 to U.S. Central Command. Adm. John C. Harvey, Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and Rear Adm. David M.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead delivered the keynote address at the 26th annual Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Bellevue, Wash., May 10. Roughead addressed the audience and spoke about the importance of FAPAC to the Navy. "FAPAC is an important organization that figures prominently in our Navy with its outreach, information and support to members and has nurtured great leaders within our Navy," said Roughead. During his remarks Roughead highlighted the importance of diversity in today's Navy. "The kind of diversity of background and expertise in this room stands to have a major impact on how well the United States preserves its interests in the Asia-Pacific…

Military Sealift Command Atlantic, the Norfolk, Va.,-based U.S. Navy command responsible for Military Sealift Command ships transporting equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition in the Western Atlantic Ocean, changed command during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk today. Capt. Samuel R. Norton assumed command of MSCLANT from outgoing commander Capt. Michael G. Graham during a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Vista Point Conference Center. Norton last served as commander of amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, which he led on its final deployment prior to decommissioning earlier this year.

The Navy's first littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Freedom (LCS 1), has successfully completed another major milestone in preparation for her upcoming maiden deployment. Freedom conducted independent ship deployment training and certification at sea from Nov. 13-21, operating with ships from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group during their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the southeastern coast of the United States. Freedom conducted effective complex training as part of the Maritime Security Surge certification for the ship's Gold Crew…

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has recently approved a new non-skid coating for use onboard Navy ships. “The new type of coating provides a quick and easy non-slip surface that ship’s force apply themselves,” said John Wegand, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division non-skid engineering manager. NSWC Carderock is a NAVSEA field activity. As a Technical Authority, NAVSEA is accountable for the technical engineering elements of ship maintenance, modernization, construction, design and safety. “The new ‘peel & stick’ variety offers a 66 percent cost savings when compared to covering a similar area using traditional non-skid,” said Cruiser Class Squadron (CGRON) Combat Systems Analyst Chief Fire Controlman (Surface Warfare) Anthony Belbeck.

Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis, Commander, Naval Surface Forces and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, kicked off the 10th annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Coast 2008 Symposium Aug. 28 at Naval Base San Diego. 'Executing the Maritime Strategy' was the theme of this year's symposium for which Curtis provided opening remarks. The event provided members of the surface warfare community an opportunity to discuss maritime strategy issues critical to the future success of the Navy. Some topics of discussion at the day-long symposium included international programs in support of Maritime Strategy, Maritime Strategy in Africa, Maritime Strategy in the Pacific, Maritime Strategy in the and Resourcing the Maritime Strategy.

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) H. With a $3.5 million price tag, the Norfolk Navigation, Seamanship, and Shiphandling Trainer (NSST) opened June 9 after a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT). From a plain, nondescript brick building at Naval Station Norfolk, Sailors can now travel to foreign ports around the globe, without ever even crossing a quarterdeck. In its first successful week of operation, a brand new, state-of-the-art shiphandling simulator is proving to be an invaluable asset for improving warfighting readiness and safety among Norfolk-based Sailors, explained Lt. Cmdr. Jim Quaresimo, a training officer with SURFLANT.

Thirty-five Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) (LHD 8) graduated the Damage Control Familiarization Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health Programs (DC CREWFAM) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) West Administrative Annex, April 11. DC CREWFAM is designed to provide Makin Island crew members with basic damage control (DC) processes, familiarization with the DC systems aboard the ship, and to review fundamentals covered in the personnel qualification standards (PQS) for those aboard. Machinery Repairman 1st Class (SW/AW) Calandra Crawford, who is also a DC academy instructor, attended the course and feels very strongly about damage control and its purpose on .

Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn relieved Rear Adm. D.C. Curtis as Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, (SURFLANT) Feb. 22, during a ceremony aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) at Naval Station Norfolk. The ceremony marked the end of a successful tour for Curtis, a native of Chicago, who made priorities of warfighting readiness, the Navy of the future, and personnel readiness. During his tour, he oversaw the continued development of the Surface Warfare Enterprise. As the Enterprise's chief readiness officer, Curtis led the establishment of eight Surface Force Class Squadrons (CLASSRONs) responsible for manning, training, equipping, maintaining, and sustaining ships by class for the entire force.