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William Hilarides News

21 Sep 2021

Australian Documents Showed French Submarine Project was at Risk for Years

(File photo: Royal Australian Navy)

France should not have been surprised that Australia cancelled a submarine contract, as major concerns about delays, cost overruns and suitability had been aired officially and publicly for years, Australian politicians said.Paris has recalled its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington, saying it was blindsided by Canberra's decision to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain rather than stick with its contract for French diesel submarines.Yet as early as September 2018, an independent oversight board led by a former U.S.

17 Dec 2016

Ten Appointments to Australian Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the appointment of 10 Board Members to the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board, chaired by Professor Donald Winter. “The establishment of the Advisory Board is an important milestone in the Government’s naval shipbuilding strategy, ensuring expert, independent advice to Government on all aspects of this historical national endeavour,” Minister Pyne said. Mr Martin Bean, CBE – Vice Chancellor and President of RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia and former Vice Chancellor of The Open University in the United Kingdom. Mr Mike Burgess – After leaving the position of Chief Information Security Officer for Telstra, he is now a Strategic Cyber Security Adviser and Consultant.

29 Sep 2015

USS Cowpens Holds Cruiser Modernization Induction

The guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) was inducted as the first ship to undergo a modernization effort that will significantly upgrade its capabilities in multiple mission areas, Sept. 25, at Naval Base San Diego. The CG Phased Modernization Program is designed to balance the Navy's long-term requirement for a carrier strike group air defense commander (ADC) platform and its future shipbuilding requirements. "We are saving money, preserving force structure, and generating options for leadership," said Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. As part of the ceremony, Cowpens was transferred from the authority of Rowden to Vice Adm. William Hilarides, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

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.

21 May 2015

Historic Warship Docked for Restoration

USS Constitution enters Dry Dock 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard to commence a multi-year planned restoration period. This is Constitution's first time in dry dock since its 1992-1996 restoration. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew R. Fairchild/Released)

One of the world's oldest commissioned warships has entered dry dock for a planned multiyear restoration, the U.S. Navy reports. On May 19, USS Constitution eased into Dry Dock 1 at Charlestown Navy Yard Boston National Historical Park with the help and coordination of a large team of stakeholders including the ship's crew, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Naval History and Heritage Command's Maintenance Detachment Boston, USS Constitution Museum and the National Park Service. "We couldn't…

25 Nov 2014

Newport News Lays Keel for Virginia-Class Sub

Newport News Shipbuilding employee and Washington state native Dustin Utecht welds Elisabeth Mabus’ initials onto a steel plate that will be permanently affixed to the submarine Washington (SSN 787). Photo by Chris Oxley/HII

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), hosted a keel-laying ceremony Saturday for the future USS Washington (SSN 787), a Virginia-class submarine named for the Evergreen State. The submarine’s sponsor is Elisabeth Mabus, daughter of Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Acting as the keel authenticator, during the ceremony she chalked her initials onto a metal plate. Her initials were then welded onto the plate, which will be permanently affixed to the submarine as a symbol of her relationship with the ship, its shipbuilders and crew.

29 Sep 2014

VADM Hilarides Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command

Vice Adm. William Hilarides Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command

Vice Adm. William Hilarides, the commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), recently spoke to a small group of reporters about his vision for NAVSEA and the challenges and opportunities he faces. A decline in the number of skilled Sailors able to conduct repairs onboard their ships; an aging civilian workforce; balancing capability with affordability and achieving commonality are priority issues for Hilarides and his staff. To reduce the total lifecycle cost of its ships, the Navy eliminated some sea duty positions for Sailors on ships in the late 1990s.

07 Sep 2014

Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath Change of Command Held

Capt. Michael Taylor relieved Capt. Robert Crowe as commanding officer, Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP), Bath, during a ceremony at Bath Waterfront Park on Sept. As the 30th commanding officer, Taylor reports to SUPSHIP Bath after serving most recently as the test and evaluation director for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program Office. Over the course of his 21-year career, he also served assignments with the Programming Division of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N80), the Arleigh Burke-class Program Office, and the Personnel Exchange Program in Ottawa, Canada. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, he has also served aboard USS Anzio (CG 68).

13 Jul 2014

Ingalls Shipbuilding Celebrates Apprentice Graduation

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) informs that it has held a graduation ceremony for graduates of Ingalls Shipbuilding's Apprentice School. The ceremony, held at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center, celebrated the accomplishments of 72 students representing various crafts at Ingalls. This is the first graduating class that had students who attended classes in the new Haley Reeves Barbour Maritime Training Academy. Through the academy, Ingalls is entering into a new phase of partnership with the Mississippi Community College System that offers a path into bachelor's degree programs. Currently, more than 60 faculty and staff deliver 14 different programs and over 120 course offerings that enable apprentices to gain not only the skills…

12 Feb 2014

NAVSEA Releases Fire Safety Manual

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) released a new fire safety and prevention manual for all ship repair and construction activities, Feb. The manual integrates existing shipboard fire safety requirements with lessons learned from the major fire that occurred on board USS Miami (SSN 755) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2012. It was developed and reviewed by industrial and fire safety experts across the Navy and provides a single source requirements document to improve shipboard fire safety during industrial work. It applies to all public and private ship construction and repair activities, and to all ship availabilities. "Navy leadership recognized a clear need to raise our standards and capabilities…

06 Jul 2010

Submarine Missouri Completes First Voyage

The nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, (SSN-780), returned to the Electric Boat shipyard following the successful completion of its first voyage in open seas. is the seventh ship of the Virginia Class. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). 's alpha sea trials included a range of submarine and propulsion-plant operations, submerging for the first time, and high-speed runs on and below the surface to demonstrate that the ship's propulsion plant is fully mission-capable. The sea trials were directed by U.S. Navy Adm. Kirkland Donald, director – Naval Nuclear Propulsion. Also participating in the sea trials were Rear Adm. William Hilarides, program executive officer – Submarines; Rear Adm.

29 Dec 2008

Navy Signs 3rd Virginia-Class Contract

The Navy signed a five-year, $14b Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) contract for eight Virginia-class submarines Dec. 22. The contract, the third, or Block III, for the Virginia-class, calls for one ship per year in fiscal years (FY) 2009 and 2010 and two per year in FY 2011, 2012, and 2013. The contract also meets the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) and Virginia Class Program's mandate to reduce acquisition costs by approximately 20 percent for the FY 2012 ships. "This contract is a prime example of what you can do when you provide motivated people with a task and a deadline…

03 Oct 2008

New Submarine Rescue Asset Joins Fleet

The Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System's (SRDRS) Rescue Capable System (RCS) replaced the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Mystic (DSRV-1) as the U.S. Navy's deep-submergence submarine rescue asset on Sept. 30. Mystic and the DSRV program began deactivation on Oct. SRDRS is a rapidly deployable rescue asset that can be delivered by air or ground, installed on pre-screened military or commercial vessels of opportunity (VOO) via a ship interface template, and mated to a distressed submarine within a 72-hour time to first rescue period. Mystic is a small rescue submarine capable of deploying via air or ground to a port where it is mated to a specially-configured submarine which serves as the host platform for the voyage to the disabled submarine.

05 Sep 2008

Navy's New Sub Class Conducts First Cruise Missile Launches

The Navy conducted multiple launches of Tomahawk cruise missiles from USS Virginia (SSN 774) in August in the as part of the program's developmental and operational testing efforts. The test launches, the first ever for a Virginia-class submarine, included the launch and extended flight of multiple missiles to demonstrate the 's launch capabilities. “Completing the Tomahawk flight tests is an important milestone in proving the class design and brings us a significant step closer to the program's full rate production decision in 2009,” said Rear Adm. (sel.) David Johnson, Virginia Class program manager. “The Virginia Class was conceived and designed as a multi-purpose warship and these flight tests are another indication of the significant capabilities a submarine brings to the fight…

22 Feb 2008

Navy Takes Delivery of Submarine North Carolina

The Navy took delivery of its newest attack submarine, PCU North Carolina (SSN 777), from Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) Feb. 21. North Carolina is the fourth Virginia-class submarine and the second delivered by NGNN. “Eighteen months ago I estimated that North Carolina would deliver six months late, but thanks to the hard work of a lot of people at both NGNN and GDEB [General Dynamics Electric Boat] we were able to deliver only about seven weeks late to the original schedule – a 10-month improvement when compared to NGNN’s first Virginia-class submarine, USS Texas (SSN 775),” said Capt. Dave Johnson, Virginia-class program manager. The Virginia-class is the Navy’s first major combatant designed and delivered specifically for the post-Cold War security environment.

20 Dec 2007

USS Georgia (SSGN 729) Delivered

The Ohio class guided missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) rests pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. Georgia made a brief stop at NS Norfolk while conducting sea trials after leaving Norfolk Naval Shipyards November 29, 2007, following the ship's conversion from a ballistic missile to a guided missile submarine. Georgia is the last of four submarines to be converted to SSGN. U.S. submarines (SSGN), successfully completed sea trials Dec. 11. rejoined the fleet yesterday. (SSBNs). full set of sea trials," said SSGN Program Manager Capt. Mark Bock.

23 Dec 2005

USS Ohio Successfully Completes Sea Trials

submarine, took a significant step towards rejoining the fleet on Dec. sweep of its initial sea trials. The Ohio's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. with the ship's performance and noted its great potential. demonstrating the tremendous capability this ship brings to the fleet. options in the Navy," said Rear. Adm. Officer for Submarines. converted into SSGNs. USS Georgia (SSGN 729), are all slated to rejoin the fleet by 2007. Trident Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles. cruise missiles, for a maximum load of 154 missiles per boat. (SOF) lock-in/lock-out chambers. up to 66 SOF operators for an extended period of time. ranges for use by the operators. the lock-in/lock-out chambers as their docking sites. of missions," said Capt. David Norris, SSGN Program Manager (PMS 398).