Terry Etnyre News

The fourth ship in the Navy's history named in honor of Rear Adm. William T. Sampson, USS Sampson (DDG 102), was commissioned Nov. 3 at Massport's Black Falcon Cruise Ship Terminal with more than a thousand spectators in attendance braving the wind and rain. The new Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, built at the Bath Iron Works in Maine, was the first ship in five years commissioned in Boston. Sampson's last assignment in the Navy was commander of the Boston Navy Yard, and all four destroyers named in his honor have been commissioned in this historic harbor. Sampson's commissioning officially began with the traditional 19-gun salute by the oldest field artillery regiment in the nation, 1-101st Field Artillery Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard.

In addition to managing his regular duties, the executive officer (XO) of the USS Guardian (MCM 5) is preparing to be the first surface warfare officer to "fleet-up" to commanding officer (CO). Lt. Ted Essenfeld, who arrived at the ship in January 2007, will lead the way in what will be a Navywide standard for surface warfare officers in line to become commanding officers. Under the fleet-up plan, officially set in motion in December 2005, XO’s serve 18 months and then transition to CO, for their command tour on the same ship. For Guardian, which is an O-4 command ship, it will only be 15 months for Essenfeld before he becomes commanding officer.

The Navy announced today that the first four Littoral Combat Ships LCS) will be homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif. scale. efficiencies are developed. Quadrennial Defense Review. establish synergy between the ships and with local commands," said Vice Adm. Terry Etnyre, commander, Naval Surface Forces, based in Coronado, Calif. innovative and tailored mission modules. unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, and mission-manning detachments. warfighting missions. warship designed to provide assured access for our joint forces. carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups or surface strike groups. The innovative concepts in LCS do not end with its modularity. maintenance, logistics, training and administration. Independence (LCS 2), on Jan. 19, 2006.

Two hundred and seventy-four midshipmen selected the surface ships they will serve on after graduation at the U.S. Naval Academy's “Ship Selection” night, Feb. 23. Vice Adm. Terry Etnyre, commander, Naval Surface Forces, welcomed them to the surface warfare community and said, “This is an important moment in your careers. Each midshipman who was assigned surface warfare as their career path awaited their turn in Memorial Hall to pick placards with ship names off large boards categorized by homeport. Each selecting midshipman’s name, ship and homeport were announced to the midshipmen, officers, friends and family present. Etnyre, Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm.