Community Relations News

The Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, led by the University of Houston, announced the creation of the annual Port of the Future Award for “Excellence in Port Communications and Community Relations.”  Each year, this award will be presented at the annual Port of the Future Conference, held the first week of April, in Houston, Texas. Finalists may be invited to participate on the Conference panel “Port Communications and Community Relations.”  This year’s Port of the Future Conference will be held April 2-4…

The U.S. Navy's Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) arrived in Sydney, Australia, July 18, ahead of the ship’s ceremonial commissioning.USS Canberra entered Sydney Harbour in formation with Canberra-class landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra before mooring pierside at the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East.“We are thrilled to be here in Sydney this week, and to show this city our fast, optimally-manned ship that sails across the seas as a symbol of our navies’ dedication to each other,” said Capt. Marc Crawford, Commodore of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE.

Green Marine, North America’s environmental certification program for the maritime industry, is celebrating 15 years of sustainability improvements with the release of its 2022 Performance Report.The program includes 52 ports, 49 shipowners (620 vessels), 17 shipyards, & 71 terminals operators (209 sites) in North America, and the report displays all the individual results of the participants in addition to the overall average and an analysis of the environmental performance for the year concerned.

Fincantieri Marine Group announced on Thursday that it has suspended the general manager of its Bay Shipbuilding shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. over recent criminal fraud charges.The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently charged Craig Perciavalle and two other former Austal USA employees for "allegedly making or causing to be made false and misleading statements about Austal USA's performance and financial condition between 2012 and 2016", according to Austal USA, a subsidiary of Australian shipbuilding group Austal. The U.S.

HII announced on Wednesday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division promoted Kimberly Nastasi to vice president of the newly formed integrated communications and stakeholder engagement department. This new department will enhance communication and engagement with key stakeholders inside and outside of the shipbuilding community.As vice president of integrated communications and stakeholder engagement, Nastasi will report to Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson and will be responsible for leading internal and external efforts in marketing and communications…

U.S. Gulf shipbuilding group Bollinger Shipyards announced a raft of leadership changes following its recent acquisition of Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding (BMS) and Bollinger Mississippi Repair (BMR).The announcements reflect leadership changes across all 14 Bollinger facilities, including at BMS and BMR (formerly VT Halter Marine and ST Engineering Halter Marine Offshore respectively) as well as Bollinger Lockport New Construction and Bollinger Marine Fabricators.“I’ve always said Bollinger’s greatest strength is its people and I believe that wholeheartedly…

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), a trade group for the U.S. domestic maritime industry, announced the election of new leadership for the organization. Ku’uhaku Park takes the helm as president, and he is joined by new vice president Jennifer Carpenter, and Sara Fuentes who will serve dual roles as secretary and treasurer. Elected officers will hold their positions for a two-year term.“I am humbled to have been elected by my peers to lead the American Maritime Partnership and carry this banner at such a consequential time for our industry…

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Monday that Danny Hernandez will succeed Beci Brenton as the company’s corporate director of public affairs upon Brenton’s October 31 retirement. Hernandez will join HII on September 13, transition into the position, and report to the executive vice president of communications, while based in the company’s Washington, D.C. office.Brenton joined HII as corporate director of public affairs in 2011 after serving in various public affairs roles during her 26-year career with the U.S. Navy.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine and its board of directors announced that Mark Vandroff will be taking over as CEO effective July 7, replacing Jan Allman who has led the Wisconsin shipyard since 2014.“Our company’s continued growth afforded us an opportunity to expand our senior leadership team and to better organize to exceed our customer’s needs,” said Dario Deste, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “Jan [Allman] has done a tremendous job working with partner Lockheed Martin and the Navy on the Littoral Combat Ship and Multi-mission Surface Combatant programs…

The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) is scheduled to return Friday to their home port of Alameda following a 162-day deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean.In the Western Pacific, the crew patrolled and conducted operations as directed, including enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by monitoring and gathering intelligence on vessels conducting ship-to-ship transfers in the East China…

Danny Wan, who has been the Port of Oakland’s interim executive director since July, is now  appointed to that role on a permanent basis.The Port’s governing Board selected Wan, who was was Port Attorney for six years earlier, at a special meeting on November 14. He replaces Chris Lytle who retired in July after six years at the helm in Oakland. The announcement caps a two-month, nationwide search."We're fortunate to have Danny as the Port's new chief executive - not only is he an experienced public professional, he is also a local leader with demonstrated commitment to the communities the Port serves," said Board President Ces Butner.Wan is a familiar figure in the Oakland community.

The City of Los Angeles welcomed more than 1,200 Sailors and Marines to the Los Angeles and San Pedro area for a week-long tribute to the sea services during the fourth annual Los Angeles Fleet Week Aug. 27-Sept. 2.Los Angeles Fleet Week offers the public an opportunity to tour Naval ships, engage with service members, and enjoy a variety of displays and events throughout the week. It also gives the public an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the sea services and how they support our country’s national defense strategy.“The port of LA is the largest port in the country…

Service members and partner nations participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) departed Bengkulu aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), April 10. "I'd like to thank the residents of Bengkulu for their hospitality. I have found that they are some of the most engaging and friendly people I have ever met," said Capt. David Bretz, PP18 mission commander. While in Bengkulu, service members and partner nations aboard Mercy, Indonesian military members, and civilians participated in a series of community relations events interacting with the local community at eight different events, with the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band conducting 12 concerts at locations such as local elementary and junior high schools, universities, and receptions.

The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) returned to its Naval Station Norfolk homeport Dec. 23, completing a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. The ship departed May 23, to support anti-submarine exercises and operations in the North and Norwegian seas, as well as maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf. The ship and crew of more than 300 Sailors, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 22, also conducted presence operations and goodwill activities with partner nations. "I am extremely proud of this crew," said Cmdr. Allen Siegrist, the ship's commanding officer. "These Sailors performed exceptionally well in a multitude of missions and across all theaters.

The U.S. Navy began the 8th Annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with the Vietnam People's Navy, July 5, with the arrival of USS Coronado (LCS 4) and USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52) at Cam Ranh International Port. This five-day collaboration will focus on events and skills exchanges in diving and salvage and undersea medicine. A brief at-sea phase will allow ships from both navies to practice the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), ship handling, and medical evacuations. Subject matter expert exchanges ashore will focus on shipboard damage control, shipboard medicine, and law. NEA will also feature formal office calls, band concerts, community relations events, and team sports.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in Zhanjiang, China, June 12, 2017, for a scheduled port visit. Sterett's visit is the first U.S. Navy visit to Zhanjiang since 2015 and the first U.S. Navy visit to mainland China in 2017. "This visit is an exciting opportunity to promote maritime cooperation and reinforce a navy-to-navy relationship with our People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N) counterparts," said Cmdr. Claudine Caluori, Sterett's commanding officer. During the course of the port visit, Sailors will conduct sporting events, ship tours, and a community relations event, along with leadership office calls and receptions with the PLA(N).

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton held a salute to the participating ships of 2017 Fleet Week New York (FWNY) during the official Parade of Ships kickoff May 24. Amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) rendered a seven-gun salute with U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, with Fort Hamilton providing a 15-gun salute in return. "New York has always had a close relationship with the military," said Anthony Giovinco, U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran and chief of staff and secretary of the United Military Veterans of Kings County Memorial Day Parade. "The Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are treated very well here. This is a tradition that is important to me.

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) arrived in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK) for a scheduled port visit, March 15. The Carl Vinson Strike Group completed two weeks of routine operations in the South China Sea and will continue on their regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment after departing Busan. Assets from the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and other United States forces will conduct bi-lateral exercises with forces from the ROK Navy in the waters around the Korean peninsula during the annual Foal Eagle exercise.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Adm. Mark Ferguson announced the 2015 CNE-CNA Shore Sailor, Sea Sailor and Junior Sailor of the Year in a ceremony held at Naval Support Activity, Naples, Capodichino, Jan 29, 2016. Operations Specialist 1st Class Amparo Balderas, from Commander, Task Force 68 in Rota, Spain was named Sea Sailor of the Year. Legalman 1st Class Stephani Pavoni, from CNE-CNA in Naples, Italy was named Shore Sailor of the Year. Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Dawn Weston, from Commander, Task Force 69 in Naples, Italy was named Junior Sailor of the Year. Balderas will advance to compete next month at the Navy Sea Sailor of the Year competition at Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Pacific Partnership 2017 made its initial mission stop in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, March 7, with the arrival of Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4). This marked the first mission to Sri Lanka in the 12-year history of the annual civil-military operation, and the Pacific Partnership mission in Sri Lanka continues through March 18 and will make follow-on mission stops in Malaysia and Vietnam. Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, and aims to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.

Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations May 24 in support of Pacific Partnership 2016. Now in its 11th year, Pacific Partnership is a multilateral, disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. "Partner nations, who invited Pacific Partnership 2016 to visit, refined our mission's focus this year," said Capt. Tom Williams, U.S. Navy, Pacific Partnership 2016 mission commander. Pacific Partnership 2016 will conduct stops in Timor Leste, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Palau, with partners from around the Pacific -- including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

As the maritime industry continues to evolve, the need for developing well-trained, knowledgeable and tech-savvy port leaders of the future has never been greater. Last April, the Port of Los Angeles announced its first-ever Fellows Program, an educational initiative focused on developing the next generation of maritime and port leadership. The one-year, on-the-job experience for graduate students officially kicked off in June with the selection of three fellows from some of the region’s top universities. “What students learn from a book or in their classes is just one part of the equation,” said Doane Liu, deputy executive director at the Port of Los Angeles.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) hosted a group of 9th and 10th grade students from the International School of Vlore, Albania for a career day and cultural learning event Sept. 26, 2015. The community relations (COMREL) event was intended to strengthen relationships with the nation of Albania and give the Sailors and students an opportunity to interact and learn more about each other’s cultures. Sailors, all of who volunteered their time to provide service, led the students on a tour of the ship, displayed different gear and uniform items, answered questions from the students and talked about daily life on a U.S. Navy ship and the different jobs in the Navy.