Michael G Mullen News

"Ships like Pinckney will allow our nation and our sailors to continue to do the work in fighting for freedom, ensuring that fear and terror will never prevail against liberty and freedom," U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi said here today during the christening of the new Aegis guided missile destroyer built by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector. "The United States Navy is second-to-none in sea power and in the capability and know-how to preserve freedom and project power for defeating terrorism and protecting the citizens of the United States of America," Sen. Cochran said. Class William Pinckney, (1915-1975), recipient of the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crewmember onboard the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942. Sen.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi will be the principal speaker for a ceremony here June 29 honoring the selfless heroism of a U.S. Navy cook when the Navy's newest Aegis-guided missile destroyer is christened at Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector. The new ship, designated DDG 91, will be officially christened with the name Pinckney to honor Navy Cook Third Class William Pinckney, (1915-1975), recipient of the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crewmember onboard the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Santa Cruz in 1942. Pinckney's widow, Mrs. Henrietta Middleton Pinckney, of Beaufort, S.C., has been…

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen and Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Gen. James E. Cartwright greet Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. John Warner prior to their confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee for appointment to Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Hart Senate Office Building. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. The Senate confirmed Adm. Michael G. Mullen and Marine Corps Gen. James E. “Hoss” Cartwright as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, respectively, Aug. Mullen will assume the top U.S. military post, held by Marine Gen. Peter Pace since September 2005. Pace is slated to retire Oct. Cartwright assumes the No. 2 military post held by Navy Adm.

By Bob Fehringer (contractor), U.S. United States Transportation Command hosted a Battle of Midway observance June 6 to commemorate the World War II confrontation which changed the war’s direction in favor of the United States and the Allies. A musical prelude by the Navy Band, Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., opened the event and was followed by video remarks from Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chief of naval operations. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USTRANSCOM commander, and Rear Adm. Mark D. Harnitchek, USTRANSCOM director of strategy, policy, programs, and logistics, also spoke. Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau, USTRANSCOM deputy commander and the top Naval officer in the command, was the keynote speaker.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen visits with side boys after being piped aboard USS Monterey (CG 61) at Naval Station Norfolk. Mullen was joined by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa Jr. Together, they visited USS Wasp (LHD 1) and held two all hands calls at the base theater. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Michael G. Mullen, accompanied by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr., addressed approximately 350 Sailors aboard USS Monterey (CG 61) on May 1. Monterey recently returned to Norfolk after six months of operating in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

The US Navy has again sought berthing and access facilities at Indian ports, a top US commander said yesterday. US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael G. Mullen also expressed happiness over the very supportive response to his concept of a thousand ship navy collaboration between seafaring nations. At a press conference he pointed to the threat posed by the naval wing of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers and expressed concern at the growing clout of the Chinese navy. Source: GulfNews

Michael G. Mullen, chief of naval operations, for a discussion of the U.S. challenges of the twenty- first century. In his almost forty years of service, Adm. transformation of U.S. principal agent of change. discussion.

History was made on September 23 when the nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS-1) – the inaugural ship in an entirely new class of U.S. Navy surface warships – was christened and launched at the Marinette Marine shipyard. The agile 377-ft. Freedom -- designed and built by a team led by Lockheed Martin -- will help the Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battlespace. Displacing 3,000 metric tons and with a capability of reaching speeds well over 40 knots, Freedom will be a fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant with operational flexibility to execute focused missions, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief.

The Daily Press has reported that Capt. Richard Berkey will lead the Portsmouth, Va., yard as Capt. Joseph Campbell heads to the Pentagon. Navy Capt. Richard D. Berkey assumed command of Norfolk Naval Shipyard on Friday, taking the helm from Capt. Joseph F. Campbell. The nuclear-capable shipyard, based in Portsmouth, performs maintenance jobs on both aircraft carriers and submarines. With about 7,700 employees, it is the second-largest shipyard in Hampton Roads behind Northrop Grumman Newport News, and the oldest federal shipbuilding site anywhere. In a ceremony at the shipyard's Trophy Park, Berkey became the shipyard's 102nd commander since its inception as Gosport Navy Yard in 1767.

On Friday, June 23, 2006, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME); Jack Reed (D-RI); Trent Lott (R-MS); Jim Talent (R-MO); Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Christopher Dodd (D-CT); Lincoln Chafee (R-RI); Mike Dewine (R-OH); Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Daniel Akaka (D-HI), David Vitter (R-LA); Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); Bill Nelson (D-FL); Joe Leiberman (D-CT); Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and; Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumseld, asking him to increase the Navy’s top line budget for the purpose of increasing the ship procurement budget in fiscal year 2008. The request comes on the heels of a letter sent by members of the House of Representatives Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus urging support for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Michael C.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Michael G. Mullen, announced the construction of USS Stockdale (DDG 106) at the Western Conference and Exposition (West 2006) at the San Diego Conference Center January 12 in the presence of Mrs. Sybil Stockdale, widow of Navy and Vietnam War hero, Vice Adm. James B. Stockdale. “You and James are examples to all of us,” said Mullen to Stockdale. “Vice Adm. Mullen went on to say that it was the first ship he’s named as CNO and that it was only fitting to name it after James Stockdale. “I can’t even put it into words what this means to me,” said Dr. James B. Stockdale, Jr., son of the vice admiral. “I feel very proud. Stockdale is considered by many to be one of the greatest heroes in U.S. history. He was the highest-ranking POW in the Vietnam War.

The Naval Safety Center reported, Dec. 27, that the Navy has exceeded its targeted limit of 29 mishaps for the entire fiscal year (FY)—a critical statistic because nine months remain in the fiscal year. Two PMV mishaps late last week put the Navy over the number that would have allowed it to stay on track to reduce mishaps 75 percent by FY '08. “We are shocked at the numbers,” said Capt. Bill Glenn, Director of Shore Safety Programs at the Naval Safety Center. “A lot of dedicated people around the fleet have done an enormous amount of work to prevent traffic-related mishaps and deaths. Fiscal year 2006 started off poorly with a series of motorcycle and PMV mishaps in October. After a short decline, mishaps continued their climb to the highest limit in 17 years.

The Daily Press reports that a new Navy shipbuilding plan envisions a future fleet with one fewer aircraft carrier and six fewer attack submarines than exist today, posing a threat to jobs at Northrop Grumman Newport News in the next decade. The draft plan, which was obtained by the Daily Press but won't be released until February, calls for a total combat force of 313 ships, a significant increase from today's fleet of about 281 ships. But that total masks a proposed decline in the large - and costly - ships that sustain major shipyards like Newport News. The overall increase in fleet size can be explained by the Navy's plan to buy 55 Littoral Combat Ships - small, fast attack boats that can patrol waters close to shore. None of those ships exist today.

A new proposal to revive Navy shipbuilding and add more than 30 vessels to today’s fleet of about 280 depends on the service’s ability to control construction costs and keep other expenses – including the war on terror – from eating into shipbuilding budgets, according to a Virginian-Pilot report. Though Navy leaders remained publicly silent on their proposal, the service apparently began briefing key lawmakers on a long-range shipbuilding program conceived by Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who took over in July as chief of naval operations. According to the report, Mullen envisions a fleet of 313 ships by 2020. To get it, he wants the service to spend an average of $13.4 billion annually on ship construction beginning in 2007.