Robert Willard News

The commander of Submarine Force, U.S Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC) announced on Dec. 4 that USS Hawaii (SSN 776) will be the first Virginia-class submarine to be homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor this summer. "SUBPAC is thrilled to be welcoming the most technologically advanced submarine in the U.S. inventory to our ohana," said Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny, commander, Submarine Force U.S. Commissioned May 5, 2007, Hawaii was the third Virginia-class attack submarine constructed and the first submarine to be named after the island state.

Navy officials said they are optimistic that a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Nov. 13 ordered a lower court to rewrite restrictions on the Navy's use of sonar in certain Southern California exercises. That ruling was part of a lawsuit challenging the Navy's ability to train Sailors before they deploy to potential hotspots. The Navy had asked the appeals court to overturn a preliminary injunction that was granted by a U.S. district judge on Aug. 6, 2007, that bars the Navy from using active sonar in certain multi-ship exercises off Southern California through January 2009. That injunction was granted in a lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental and animal protection groups.

Commander Pacific Fleet Adm. Robert Willard discussed the Navy’s evolving maritime strategy and the shift of emphasis from the Atlantic to the Pacific Fleet during a breakfast meeting in San Diego on June 21. During the morning address to local military and civilian leaders, Willard discussed the changing approach of the U.S. Navy in regard to its maritime strategy. The strategy is one that strikes a balance between what he called “high-end warfare” and “low-end warfare” that is playing out in the Pacific area of responsibility that includes Iraq, Afghanistan and the southern Philippines. He characterized “high end” by acknowledging the deterrent and dissuasion effect the Navy has with its forward forces in the Pacific…