Naval Air Forces News

Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific announced Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the recipient of the 2016 Battle "E" award for aircraft carriers home-ported in the Pacific, March 28. The Commander, Naval Air Forces Carrier Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") competition is held annually to recognize the best performing east and west coast aircraft carriers and award them for demonstrating superior performance and readiness. Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific and Rear Adm. Bruce Lindsey, commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic, released a joint message announcing and congratulating the winners of the Battle "E" award. "Congratulations to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Harry S.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will return to its 2016 demonstration schedule July 2-4 in Traverse City, Mich., Commander, Naval Air Forces announced. The Blue Angels temporarily stood down, canceling three weekend shows following a crash on June 2 during a practice in Smyrna, Tenn., in which Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss was killed. The Team will fly a modified five jet demonstration in Traverse City, along with Fat Albert, the Blue Angels C-130. "The Team is proud to resume the Blue Angels mission, representing the pride and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps, and inspiring a culture of excellence. The Blue Angels are looking forward to flying in Traverse City…

Vice Adm. Nora Tyson relieved Vice Adm. Kenny Floyd as commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet during a change of command and retirement ceremony held on Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) while pierside at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego July 24. During the ceremony, Floyd retired from active duty after 35 years of honorable naval service. He assumed command of U.S. 3rd Fleet in May 2013. Under Floyd's strategic vision, 3rd Fleet expanded its influence and contributions across all maritime lines of operations, theater security cooperation, experimentation, disaster relief, and joint operations. At sea, Floyd served in several F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft squadrons…

Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) held a change of command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) at Naval Air Station North Island Jan. 22. During the ceremony, Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker relieved Vice Adm. David H. Buss as CNAF. While serving as the Navy's "Air Boss" since October 2012, Buss ensured the material readiness, administration, and training for all Naval Aviation commands and provided operationally ready squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet. He also led the Naval Aviation Enterprise, a partnership between Navy and Marine Corps aviation organizations that work closely to improve processes for more efficient and effective Naval Aviation forces.

One year ago, Sailors watched an unmanned air vehicle take-off from a nuclear-powered carrier flight deck for the first time in naval aviation history, says Capt. "May 14, 2013 was an extraordinary day for the Navy. The crew from USS George H.W. Bush launched the X-47B that morning off the coast of Virginia. The tailless, autonomous unmanned aircraft took to the skies, while the flight crew on deck celebrated this historic achievement. Our Naval Air Forces Commander Vice Adm. David Buss called it “a watershed event” as he watched from the flight deck. He compared this event to aviation pioneer Eugene Ely’s first-ever landing on the deck of a ship in 1911. In July, the UCAS-D team went back to the ship and took testing one step further.

In a ceremony today at Naval Support Activity Capodichino in Naples, Italy, Capt. Richard Soucie assumed command from Capt. James E. Tranoris of Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa, also called MSCEURAF, MSC’s Naples-based office. MSCEURAF is responsible for MSC ships operating in the European and African theaters and is dual-hatted as Commander, Task Force 63, coordinating and providing transportation and delivery of personnel, equipment, fuel, supplies, repair parts, mail and ammunition via air and surface logistics assets to sustain U.S. forces in the European and African theaters. Soucie reports to MSCEURAF from his most recent duty as director of the Plans and Policy Division in the manpower and personnel directorate at U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Robert F. Willard, issued a final endorsement to the investigation of a fire that occurred aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) on May 22. As directed by Adm. Willard, Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific, Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline, Jr., relieved the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73), Capt. David C. Dykhoff, today due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards. As directed, Kilcline also relieved the George Washington Executive Officer, Capt. David M.

Commander, U.S. Navy officials have nearly completed a comprehensive damage assessment following the shipboard fire aboard George Washington that occurred on May 22 while at sea. The source of the fire has not yet been determined, but the fire was located in a ventilation intake/exhaust trunk that led from the lower decks of the ship to a ventilation port on the ship's outer hull several decks above. In addition to providing a ventilation path for non-critical machinery components that are located below the ship's waterline, the trunk has numerous piping and cabling runs located within it. Damage to USS George Washington is primarily electrical in nature with some associated structural and mechanical repairs required.

Nicholas C. USS Enterprise (CVN 65) (Big E) is currently undergoing one of its most visible rehabilitation efforts during its current extended yard period at the Northrop Grumman Shipyards in Newport News, Va. The crew, as well as civilian contractors, teamed up in September to give Big E's flight deck a face lift. From installing new catapults to completely refacing the surface of the deck with non-skid, which began March 13, the crew is working diligently to complete the evolution. “Non-skid is a non-slipping material that will assure planes won’t slip on the flight deck when they land or take off,” said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) (ABH) 1st Class (AW/SW) Hector M. Arroyo, Crash and Salvage leading petty officer.

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James R. USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) wrapped up two weeks of training and certification with a scheduled port visit to Naval Air Station North Island July 22-24. Lincoln’s crew enjoyed two full days of liberty in the San Diego area while the ship took on personnel and equipment from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 in preparation for the next phase of operations. Prior to the visit, Lincoln spent its first two weeks underway since completing sea trials and a nine-month Dry-dock Planned Incremental Availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. During the time underway, Lincoln completed carrier qualifications for the ship’s flight deck…

Cruising along side-by-side while pumping thousands of gallons of fuel, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) perform a fueling at sea (FAS). U.S. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) earned the 2006 Commander Naval Air Force Carrier Battle Efficiency “E” award for the West Coast, the first Battle "E” ever for the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier. The announcement was made Feb. 26 as the crew enjoyed a five-day port visit to Sasebo, Japan. The highly sought-after Battle “E” is awarded annually to ships that display the maximum condition of readiness in their specific category, and for their capability to perform their wartime responsibilities.

off the Calif. coast on Jan 26. order to determine the cause of the aviation mishap. the same day. families for funeral honors and internment. at sea. will prevent future aviation mishaps.

Invoking millennia of maritime and shipbuilding tradition, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), currently in drydock at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard, stepped its new mast March 6 in a solemn ceremony on the flight deck. The ceremony involved a series of remarks by distinguished guests and culminated in the welding of a commemorative metal plaque to the base of the ship’s new mast. Carl Vinson Commanding Officer Capt. Ted Carter led the ceremony, and introduced its distinguished participants during his opening remarks: Rear Adm. David Architzel, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers; Ken Mahler, vice president for carrier overhauls at Northrop Grumman Newport News; and retired Capt. Richard Martin, Carl Vinson’s first commanding officer. Rear Adm.

During USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) recent maintenance and material management (3M) assessment, which concluded Nov. 14, the ship made history by becoming the first aircraft carrier ever to complete the assessment without a single department receiving an unsatisfactory grade. “We received an overall grade of 96 percent,” said Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate (SW) Frank Miller, Kitty Hawk’s senior 3M coordinator. “We topped the last 3M assessment, for which we received a 95, and none of our 17 departments were graded as unsatisfactory. The assessment, conducted by a team from Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), evaluated Kitty Hawk’s 3M program in several areas, with the ship scoring highest in regards to 3M administration and command involvement in the program.