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Randy Forbes News

18 Dec 2015

Pentagon to U.S. Navy: Buy fewer LCS Ships, More Planes

Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the U.S. Navy in a sharply worded memo this week to buy 12 fewer small littoral combat ships (LCS) and more fighter jets, electronic warfare equipment and other weapons in the upcoming budget year instead. If approved by Congress, the changes would have a huge impact on many big weapons makers, including Lockheed Martin Corp and Australia's Austal Ltd, which would have to compete to build eight remaining LCS ships in fiscal 2019. The Navy had been buying ships in recent years "at the expense of critically-needed investments in areas where our adversaries are not standing still, such as strike, ship survivability, electronic warfare and other capabilities," Carter said. A copy of the memo, first reported by Defense News, was seen by Reuters.

26 Aug 2015

Keel Laid for US’ Next Aircraft Carrier

Leon Walston, a Newport News Shipbuilding welder from Massachusetts, displays the welded initials of Caroline Kennedy, the sponsor of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Also pictured (left to right) are Rear Adm. Earl Yates, the first commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin; Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe; and Rep. Joseph Kennedy. (Photo by Chris Oxley/HII)

Newport News Shipbuilding celebrates the keel-laying of aircraft carrier John F. Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), celebrated the keel laying of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second ship of the Gerald R. Ford class. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the ship's namesake, the 35th President of the United States, is the ship's sponsor. She declared the keel "truly and fairly laid" via video to signify the ceremonial start of construction. "The aircraft carrier came of age in a time of conflict," Caroline said.

15 Apr 2015

Navy League Honors Retired Ingalls President

Irwin F. Edenzon (center) accepts the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award from Rep. Randy Forbes (left) and James H. Offutt, national president of the Navy League of the United States, Tuesday night in National Harbor, Maryland. Photo courtesy of the Navy League of the United States

Irwin F. Edenzon, the retired president of Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, accepted the Navy League of the United States' Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award last night. The Navy League presented the award at the annual Sea-Air-Space Black Tie Reception and Banquet at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The Nimitz award honors an industry leader who has made a major contribution to the nation's maritime strength or enhanced national security.

07 Sep 2014

Virginia Statesmen Visit Newport News Shipbuilding

Huntington Ingalls Industries informs it hosted U.S. Reps. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas; Bobby Scott, D-Va.; Randy Forbes, R-Va.; Rob Wittman, R-Va.; and Scott Rigell, R-Va., for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The tour gave the Virginia statesmen the opportunity to introduce Thornberry to their shipbuilding constituents and get a behind-the-scenes look at the defense industrial base. Accompanied by Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin, the congressmen got an in-depth look at aircraft carrier and submarine construction, including a tour of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and a look at ROVR (rapid operational virtual reality), a tool used to increase construction efficiencies.

15 Apr 2013

Forbes Receives SCA's Maritime Leadership Award

Randy Forbes. Photo: forbes.house.gov

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) presented its inaugural “SCA Maritime Leadership Award” to shipbuilding and repair advocate, Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R) from Virginia’s Fourth District. The award was presented Thursday, April 11, during SCA’s annual general membership dinner at the Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City. "Congressman Forbes has been a tireless advocate for a stronger shipbuilding and repair industry and a friend to the Shipbuilders Council of America. As past…

29 Oct 2012

Newport News Shipbuilding Christens 10th VA-Class Submarine

Ship's Sponsor Ellen Roughead performs the traditional honor of breaking a bottle of American sparkling wine across the hull of the submarine Minnesota (SSN 783). Also pictured (left to right) are Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin and Cmdr. John Fancher, the ship's prospective commanding officer.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) christened the 10th Virginia-class submarine, Minnesota (SSN 783), at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. The ship's sponsor, Ellen Roughead, performed the traditional honor of breaking a bottle of American sparkling wine across the submarine's hull. Roughead, a Minnesota native, is the wife of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. "Minnesota is the sum of all her parts," Mrs. Roughead said. "Everything and everyone who has contributed will be an ingredient in the spirit and the force that makes Minnesota.

27 Apr 2012

Ships Slated for Retirement Should be Retained – House Republicans

Ticonderoga-class 'USS Cowpens': Photo credit USN

The Navy will have to upgrade and keep three of four Ticonderoga-class cruisers the service planned to retire in 2013, according to proposed legislation released by House Republicans. The proposal by House Armed Services readiness subcommittee chairman Randy Forbes, R-Va., would keep the Cowpens, Anzio and Vicksburg in the fleet by authorizing needed upgrades. The Navy had planned to retire all three, along with the Port Royal, on March 31, 2013, and three more the following year to meet congressionally mandated budget cuts and to save an expected $4.1 billion.

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 Feb 2002

SECNAV Emphasizes Timely, Skilled Ship Maintenance

"We will continue to utilize our shipyards-both public and private-to maintain our ships in a readiness position," the Honorable Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy said in an interview recently in Norfolk. England noted that some vessels might not return from deployment on schedule, particularly in wartime, disrupting planned repairs. funding, he added should keep public and private yards busy. particularly on submarines, along with work on carriers. "The U.S. them to sea more quickly," said Secretary England. being done by shipyard personnel. repair facilities and visited the USS Harry S. currently undergoing a Planned Incremental Availability, (PIA). interview with the Secretary of the Navy. accounts. we're doing the maintenance that we need," Congressman Forbes said.

20 Jul 2007

Ship System and Component Manufacturers Discuss Past and Future

The Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus (CSC) co-chaired by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), met with ship component manufacturers on the impact that low rates of naval shipbuilding have had on their companies and the challenges confronting the ship manufacturing industrial base. The ship manufacturers that met with the Caucus included: Mr. Craig Hansen of BWXT/ Babcock and Wilcox in Mount Vernon, IN; Mr. Walter Herr of Fairbanks Morse Engine in Beloit, WI; Mr. Roy Arnold of IMECO, Inc. in Iron Mountain, MI; Mr. Michael Stobbart of Lister Chain and Forge, Inc. in Blaine, WA; and Mr. Terry Sterling of Nelson Stud Welding in Elyria, OH.