U S European Command News

Captain Constance Solina relieved Capt. Jeff Deviney as commander, Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2, during a change of command ceremony on July 7 to become the first woman to commanded an NCG and all Atlantic-based Seabees. (The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion".)Deviney, from Freer, Texas, led 4,500 personnel over the course of two years and oversaw their manning, training, and equipment readiness needs to ensure they deployed on time to five separate combatant commands.

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.

A Russian warship carried out aggressive and erratic maneuvers close to a U.S. Navy ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the second such Cold War-style incident there in a matter of weeks, the U.S. military said on Saturday. The U.S. European Command said the Russian frigate, Yaroslav Mudry, came unnecessarily close to the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto on June 30 and maneuvered in its wake. In a statement, EUCOM said the U.S. ship had not been threatened and it maintained course and speed. There have been several similar incidents - reminiscent of Cold War confrontations between the rival superpowers - at sea and in the air in recent months, with the U.S. and Russian militaries accusing each other of dangerous approaches in international waters and airspace. U.S.

The US Military Sealift Command ship 'MV Cape Ray' has left Portsmouth, Va., to conduct final sea trials in preparation for its upcoming mission to destroy Syrian chemical weapons. During the sea trials, the crew and the Field-Deployable Hydrolysis System operators are evaluating the ship and the system at various sea states. The ship is expected to return shortly for final outfitting before deploying to an as-yet undisclosed location in the Mediterranean Sea sometime late this week or early next week, according to Army Col. Steve Warren , a Pentagon spokesman.

International certification, verification and ship classification company RINA is celebrating its ties with China on its 150th anniversary. It also took the opportunity to celebrate the ties between Italy and China on the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification. Formed in Genoa, Italy, in 1861 as a ship classification society, RINA is today a global multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural company with growing business in China and the surrounding region. Today in Shanghai RINA CEO Ugo Salerno and Vincenzo De Luca…

Maersk Line North America has named Gordon Dorsey as Vice President of Global Contract Execution for U.S. Military and Government Cargo Services effective July 1, 2011. In his new role, he will be responsible for ensuring effective and efficient execution of U.S. Military and Government cargo business throughout the Maersk Line global organization. Mr. Dorsey has been the Regional Manager of North American Inland Operations since 2008. He joined Maersk in 2004 and previously held positions in Corporate Communications and Health, Safety and Environment Compliance for the organization. Prior to joining Maersk, he was a member of the management team at the Exelon Dresden Nuclear Power Station and he completed a career in the U.S. Navy at the rank of Captain.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 arrived to oil terminals located off the coast of Aug. 23 to work on living conditions and improve platform access. Few Seabees have had the opportunity of working on oil terminals, which are huge suppliers of the exported oil. Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) are located in the northern . "It's kind of cool knowing that we are working on something that is so important to the world's economy," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class (SCW) Jason Grubbs. and coalition maritime forces provide assistance to the Iraqi Navy defending 's major oil platforms. These terminals are significant sources of Iraqi government revenue and contribute approximately 80 percent of 's gross domestic product.

Sailors aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) work together to moor their submarine to the pier. Augusta arrived home to Submarine Base New London, Conn., after a routine six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea supporting the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. The Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Augusta (SSN 710) conducted an inactivation ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base New London's Shepherd of the Sea chapel Feb. Augusta lived up to its motto, "protecting the frontier" for more than two decades.

From Commander, U.S. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR)/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa Guidance for 2008 was released Jan. 8, by Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe. Fitzgerald's vision for naval forces in Europe and Africa centers on achieving excellence, continuing to build a creative, diverse and professional team, and making U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) the assignment choice in the U.S. Navy. "(We will) conduct the full range of maritime operations in theater security cooperation in concert with coalition, joint, inter-agency and other partners in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa," he wrote. In the document, Fitzgerald defines his operational objectives and strategic imperatives.

At the request of U.S. partners in West and Central Africa, a Gulf of Guinea maritime safety and security conference is scheduled to be held in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 13-15, to address improving economic, environmental, military, and governance issues in the region. The senior-level ministers, military and civilian officials from 11 countries will meet with a goal of adopting practical, comprehensive and sustainable strategies to address maritime safety and security challenges. The conference, sponsored by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CNE), U.S. European Command, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, and the Department of State, is largely the result of CNE’s work toward a safer and more secure maritime domain.

While U.S. authorities in Cyprus are expecting to evacuate at least 5,000 Americans from Lebanon, they are preparing for any contingency, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said July 18. Vice Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, who also commands the U.S. 5th Fleet, briefed Pentagon reporters from his headquarters in Bahrain. Nine U.S. Navy ships are converging on Lebanon from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and from U.S. European Command. The European Command ships are arriving in the "joint operating area" already, Walsh said. The CENTCOM ships are expected over the next few days. DoD also has contracted with the Greek-flagged Orient Queen to evacuate Americans from the Lebanese capital.

The Department of Defense announced May 15 that it would cease operations at RAF Eastcote and reduce operations at RAF West Ruislip, United Kingdom. Due to U.S. European Command force structure realignment and transformation, and the subsequent reduction in installation and personnel support requirements that have occurred during the past several years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe has identified these facilities as excess to the Navy’s needs. Consequently, Navy operations at RAF Eascote will cease by June 30, 2006 and will begin the process of returning facilities to the host nation by Oct. 1, 2006. This action is expected to save $400,000 annually in facility costs, with additional personnel savings to be realized by 2009. It will affect 70 U.S.

As part of a larger U.S. interagency effort towards greater stability in Africa, approximately 1,400 Sailors and Marines aboard USS Emory S. Land (ESL) (AS 39) are deploying to the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region in late February 2006. Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. J. Boomer Stufflebeem says the deployment is part of a comprehensive theater security cooperation strategy benefiting all involved. “U. S. European Command and CNE-C6F (Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet) efforts in Africa, and specifically in the Gulf of Guinea, focus on strengthening partnerships and improving overall maritime security. By deploying Emory S.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in the Black Sea in early February to train with the Ukrainian and Romanian navies. As part of a strategic focus to the south and east, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE/C6F) have increased engagement in the Black Sea in an effort to increase cooperation with regional partners. “This is my second time in the Black Sea in the past nine months and the third time we have had ships operating here,” said Capt. Tom Rowden, commander of Task Force 65 and the senior embarked officer aboard Porter. “The Ukrainian and Romanian navies are both emerging partners in the U.S. European Command theater and I have seen significant progress in our ability to operate with them.

Stratos Global Corporation announced that Sir Robert Walmsley and Mr. Michael Bayer were elected as new members of the Corporation's Board of Directors at its annual general meeting held May 11, 2006. Sir Robert Walmsley was Chief of Defence Procurement at the UK Ministry of Defense ("MoD") from 1996 until his retirement from public service in 2003. Prior to his MoD appointment, Sir Robert was a career officer in the Royal Navy, where he rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in 1994 and served for two years as Controller of the Navy. Sir Robert is also currently on the Board of Directors of British Energy Group plc., Cohort plc, EDO Corporation and General Dynamics Corporation.

The Coast Guard Cutter Bainbridge Island, homeported in Sandy Hook, N.J., arrived in Norfolk, Va., on June 11 from Rota, Spain, after their trans-Atlantic journey home following their efforts as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. One of four patrol boats assigned to the Mediterranean, the Bainbridge Island was deployed to be used in case a northern front opened in Turkey. Although that front never happened, the patrol boat crews were trained and ready to assist the operational commander as needed. While there, crews worked with Command Sixth Fleet operational personnel, other U.S. Navy teams and SEAL members to develop a training plan for Marine Interdiction Operations (MIO). The return home marks the first time 110-ft. patrol boats have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

United States Coast Guard forces assigned to the Mediterranean region departed Rota, Spain Thursday on their trans-Atlantic journey home following their efforts as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 378-ft. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, homeported in Charleston, S.C., and four patrol boats; the CGCs Pea Island and Knight Island homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.; the CGC Bainbridge Island homeported in Sandy Hook, N.J. and the CGC Grand Isle from Gloucester, Mass., will make several port calls during their transit home before arriving in Norfolk, Va., June 11. The return transit marks the first time 110-ft. patrol boats have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. To get to the Mediterranean, the patrol boats were carried aboard a commercial freight ship.