Winnefeld News

When it comes to war, the old adage that the best defense is a good offense rings true. Nowhere is this more the case than naval warfare, where initiative can make the difference between victory and defeat. As an integral part of naval warfare, mine warfare – both mine countermeasures and mine laying, or “offensive” mine warfare - will continue to influence naval operations. Yet the latter of these sub disciplines - the “other” mine warfare, as Admiral James Winnefeld, Jr. calls it - has often been missing from mine warfare discussions.

The Navy will christen its newest Freedom variant littoral combat ship, USS Sioux City (LCS 11), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, Jan. 30 in Marinette, Wisconsin. Sioux City, designated LCS 11, honors the city of Sioux City, Iowa. Adm. Michelle Howard, vice chief of Naval Operations, will serve as principal speaker. Mary Winnefeld, wife of retired Adm. James “Sandy” Winnefeld, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Winnefeld breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored Navy tradition. "The christening and launch of LCS 11, the future USS Sioux City, marks an important step toward this great warship's entry into the fleet," said The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy.

The Navy and Lockheed Martin, with Marinette Marine Corp., have held a keel laying ceremony for the future 'USS Sioux City' (LCS 11), the Navy's 11th littoral combat ship (LCS). Ship sponsor Mary Winnefeld, wife of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral James "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., authenticated the keel by having her initials welded into a sheet of the ship's hull. "I'm both honored and delighted to be back in my home state of Wisconsin as the sponsor of Sioux City," said Mrs. Winnefeld.

The Navy welcomed guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) into the fleet during a commissioning ceremony in Mobile, Ala., June 4. The newest Arleigh Burke-class ship, the 60th of its class, is named in honor of the late Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, a highly-decorated Naval aviator and Vietname prisoner of war. Lawrence began his naval career as an academic scholar and athlete at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he later returned to occupy the Chair of Naval Leadership after retiring from active duty, Feb. 1, 1986.

A ceremony held aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) (TR) May 4 recognized the ongoing friendship between Spain and the United States with the joining of a Spanish ship to the TR Carrier Strike Group. Alvaro de Bazan (F 101), a medium-size Spanish frigate, is now officially a part of Carrier Strike Group 2. “We are pleased and honored to welcome Alvaro de Bazan to Norfolk, Va., and into the TR strike group,” said Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 Rear Adm. James A. Winnefeld. “This project was born in 2003 with the highest leaders of the Navy, and the Memorandum of Understanding was signed a week ago. High-ranking officials from the Spanish navy, marine corps, air force and army attended the ceremony along with U.S. officials from Joint Forces Command, Fleet Forces Command and U.S.

Thousands of friends and family members gathered at Naval Station Norfolk for the return of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 11, following a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism. The early morning arrival of Theodore Roosevelt didn’t deter the crowd. Family members waited in the early Saturday morning chill, anticipating the return of their loved ones. “It’s like Christmas all over again,” said Diane Drach, mother of Machinist's Mate Fireman Ashley Drach, who is stationed aboard Theodore Roosevelt. While deployed, Theodore Roosevelt and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 launched 5,412 sorties totaling nearly 19,362 flight hours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).