Navy Memorial News

“DDG-51 hull form is maxed out in nearly every mission area. Meanwhile, the threat marches on.”Rear Adm. Paul Schlise, director for surface warfareThe U.S. Navy’s highly successful USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) surface combatant program is still going strong and growing in capability. Nearly 40 years later, new ships are still being built. But, the navy said, the ship cannot support the systems of tomorrow needed to meet the future threat.“DDG 51 has been in production for over 40 years with basically the same hull we started with in 1985…

Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), was presented with the United States Navy Memorial's Lone Sailor Award on Thursday during the annual Lone Sailor Awards dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The Lone Sailor Award is given to sea service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective careers during or after their military service. Other recipients this year included retired Adm. James S. Gracey, the 17th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; J.

The Navy's 2014 Sailors of the Year (SOY) were meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer during a ceremony held at the Navy Memorial, May 14. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert served as guest speaker at the pinning ceremony hosted by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens. The four Sailors of the Year honored at the ceremony are: Construction Mechanic 1st Class Jimie Bartholomew, representing U.S. Navy Reserve; Steel Worker 1st Class Brenton Heisserer, representing U.S. Navy Shore; Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Joe Mendoza representing U.S. Fleet Forces; and Logistics Specialist 1st Class Blanca Sanchez, representing U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today during a ceremony held at the Navy Memorial that the next Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, DDG-119, will be named Delbert D. Black. The future USS Delbert D. Black was named in honor of the first master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON). During his time as MCPON, Black served as an advisor to many boards dealing with enlisted personnel issues and as the enlisted representative of the Department of the Navy. He is also credited with the establishment of the command master chief program. Current MCPON Mike Stevens joined Mabus at the ceremony held to honor the legendary deck-plate leader. “It is a great honor to name this ship in remembrance of such a revered sailor,” said Mabus. DDG-119 will be the first ship to bear the name Delbert D.

A senior chief petty officer assigned to Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) received the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in a ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Nov. Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Carl M. Thompson was presented the award by Peter F. Fertig, President of The Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. The annual award was established by the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation in 2013 and is presented to three people who represent the important areas of Feller's life: his major league baseball career, his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (NBHOF) and his service as a Navy chief petty officer.

The American Shipbuilding Suppliers Association (ASSA) recently held discussions at the United States Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center, Washington DC,  between member companies and ADM Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations; Ms. Allison Stiller, DASN Ships; and Mr. John Thackrah, Military Sealift Command, Executive Director. The theme of this meeting, attended by over 100 defense and shipbuilding supplier industry decision makers, was “Federal Budget Impact to American Shipbuilding Suppliers”.

Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell will give a keynote presentation tomorrow at the 5th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminished Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations. Treadwell will highlight the need to plan for safe maritime operations, national security, and the economic impacts of an open Arctic Ocean.   Who: Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell What: Keynote at Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminished Arctic When: Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 am EST Where: Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Recreates faces of two sailors found in ill-fated ship’s gun turret, asks public for help to identify. Nearly 150 years after 16 USS Monitor sailors died when their vessel sank in a New Year’s Eve storm, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has released forensic reconstructions of the faces of two crew members. Officials unveiled the reconstructions and dedicated a plaque in memory of the Monitor crew during a ceremony sponsored by the United States Navy Memorial Foundation at the Navy Memorial in Washington today.

The commander of U.S. Transportation Command honored U.S. merchant mariners, past and present, May 19 during Military Sealift Command's (MSC) annual National Maritime Day memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. National Maritime Day, officially May 22, was established by Congress in 1933 and is observed each year to honor the contributions and sacrifices of U.S. merchant mariners in defense of the nation. These dedicated men and women are frequently considered the unsung heroes of the nation's defense. MSC is the largest employer of U.S. merchant mariners with more than 7,000 civil service and contract mariners deployed worldwide providing critical support to U.S. and allied warfighters around the world.

The Secretary of the Navy announced March 26 that Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge is the winner of the fiscal year 2008 SECNAV Environmental Quality Award in the small ship category. Bridge is one of MSC’s four fast combat support ships that replenish Navy ships at sea with fuel, ammunition, food and other cargo. The 754 ft ship, which has a crew of 170 civil service mariners and currently operates out of San Diego, was cited for the crew’s work in preventing pollution, ensuring readiness in responding to environmental issues, conserving resources and complying with environmental regulations. Bridge advanced to the Secretary of the Navy competition after it was named as one of the Chief of Naval Operations quality small ship award winners in February.

Commander Denise Kruse will relieve Captain Raymond Chartier as Director of the National Ice Center (NIC), Commanding Officer of the Naval Ice Center (NAVICECEN),  and CO-Director of the North American Ice Service (NAIS), Suitland, MD at a ceremony to be held at the U.S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center in Washington, DC on December 16, 2008. Captain Chartier has been Director/Commanding Officer since May 23, 2007. Commander Kruse’s previous assignment was US Naval Central Command /Combined Maritime Force/Fifth Fleet Staff Oceanographer. NIC is a multi-agency operational center operated jointly by the U.S. Navy (through NAVICECEN), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and more than 150 guests paid tribute to some of the unsung heroes of national defense – merchant mariners – at Military Sealift Command’s annual National Maritime Day memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at the . National Maritime Day was established by Congress in 1933 to honor the contributions and sacrifices of merchant mariners in defense of the nation. At the heart of the ceremony was the placing of three wreaths to commemorate the sacrifices that generations of mariners have made in service to the nation. The solemn occasion drew to a close with a 21-gun salute by a seven-person firing party positioned on the waterfront just outside the museum.

The Secretary of the Navy recently presented the Energy Conservation (ENCON) award winners for FY2002 in ceremonies conducted at the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. USS Essex (LHD 2) was among these prestigious award winners. These Navy and Marine Corps activities were singled out for executing comprehensive conservation programs based on senior-level command involvement, well-staffed and trained energy teams, aggressive awareness campaigns, investigation and execution of innovative energy conservation measures, and consistent reduction in energy consumption. The award winners represent Navy activities, ships and Marine Corps bases. USS Essex won the top performance award in the large ship category.

As part of the celebration of National Maritime Day, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today honored the men and women of the U.S. merchant marine who risk their lives on wartime seas. This year’s ceremony at Navy Memorial Auditorium paid special tribute to the action of mariners during World War II. Following the presentation of the colors and a moment of silence, Secretary Mineta spoke of WWII merchant mariners who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. "They traveled unarmed, often into dangerous waters, to support our Armed Forces overseas. Merchant mariners crewed the Liberty ships, the Victory ships, and thousands of other ships that carried troops and many tons of materiel for the Allied cause in World War II. Nearly 215,000 people served in the U.S.

Pictured is U.S. Representative Gene Taylor of Mississippi. More than 200 guests attended Military Sealift Command's annual National Maritime Day ceremony at Willard Park on the Anacostia River at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., to honor some unsung heroes of our nation's defense -- America's merchant mariners. Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, commander, MSC, hosted the ceremony that was attended by former Maryland congresswoman Helen Bentley as well as current and former members of the maritime service and military.

Three Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) teams and an assistant project manager were among the winners of the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Award for fiscal year 2001. The Lewis and Clark (T-AKE) class ship acquisition program at NAVSEA headquarters in Washington D.C. was the winner in the Environmental Excellence in Weapons System Acquisition category. program's assistant project manager, Cmdr. Steve Markle won an individual award in the Environmental Quality category. Center, Newport (R.I.) was runner-up in the Natural Resources category. The three NAVSEA winners will next compete in the Department of Defense FY2001 Environmental Awards program. All winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony on April 30 at the Navy Memorial in Washington D.C.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) is expanding its traditional National Maritime Day ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 22, to honor living maritime heroes as well as merchant mariners who lost their lives in service to the nation. Since 1971, MARAD has held an annual U.S. Merchant Marine Memorial Service to honor American seafarers who have lost their lives in wartime service. During World War II alone, 733 American vessels were sunk, and nearly 6,000 merchant seamen and officers died as a result of enemy action and war-related causes. Their sacrifices often are overlooked during Memorial Day ceremonies.

The Secretary of the Navy announced the Energy Conservation (ENCON) ship award winners for FY2003. These award winners represent Navy ships who have been singled out for outstanding execution of energy conservation measures and consistent reduction in energy consumption. Energy conservation awards were also announced for Navy shore activities and Marine Corps bases. During FY 2003, Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPAC) and Commander, Atlantic Fleet (COMLANT) ships, even during this high level operational era, avoided the consumption of many thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity. Using energy education, the Fleet was able to reallocate over 1,160,000 barrels of fuel, to high OPTEMPO ships.

The Secretary of the Navy has presented the Energy Conservation (ENCON) Awards for FY2003 in ceremonies conducted at the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. These award winners represent Navy ships that have been singled out for outstanding execution of innovative energy conservation measures, and consistent reduction in energy consumption. Energy conservation awards were also presented to Navy shore activities and Marine Corps bases. Using Incentivized ENCON Energy Awareness, the fleet was able to reallocate over 1,160,000 barrels of fuel, to high OPTEMPO ships. In ship operating terms, this is equivalent to 22 “ship years” of underway steaming using energy conservation initiatives provided by NAVSEA’s ENCON Team.

Commander Master Chief Mark Davidson becomes the U.S. Navy's “Old Tar,” symbolic of the senior Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. The award was presented by Surface navy Association executive director, Capt. Bill Erickson, USN (Ret.), at the USS Constitution in Boston. For Master Chief Mark Davidson, becoming the “Old Tar” doesn’t mean he’s old, it signifies he’s a seasoned and experienced Surface Warrior, just like the USS Constitution. Davidson, the command master chief at Navy Recruiting District St. Louis, recently was presented with the “Old Tar” award from the Surface Navy Association (SNA), signifying that he has the earliest qualification date as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) among all Sailors in the U.S.

The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Awards were presented June 7 in two different ceremonies at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center here. The annual CNO Environmental Awards program recognizes Navy people, ships and installations for their exceptional environmental stewardship. The CNO Environmental Award winners then move up to compete for the SECNAV Environmental Awards which recognize Navy and Marine Corps individuals, teams, ships and installations for their exceptional environmental stewardship. Competition categories include natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, environmental quality, pollution prevention and environmental restoration. Vice Adm. Michael K.

On June 12, there will be an observance at the United States Navy Memorial honoring members of the United States Merchant Marine who sacrificed their lives, and to honor all who rallied to defend the cause of liberty and human dignity. The United States Navy Memorial honors all men and women in all sea services.

Secretary of the Navy, Dr. Donald C. Winter presents the Department of the Navy 2006 Safety Excellence Award for Marine Corps ground safety to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune at the Navy Memorial. During the ceremony, Winter discussed the importance of personal responsibility in regard to safety, and he stressed the need for the Navy and Marine Corps to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents. Sixteen Safety Excellence Awards were presented to the top Navy and Marine Corps commands that demonstrated extraordinary excellence by sustained mission success with simultaneous exemplary safety performance. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandan W.