Karl O Thomas News

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Escort Flotilla 4 Battle Group, participated in bilateral training Aug. 31 while underway in the South China Sea.During the training, units from the two maritime forces sailed in formation, participated in replenishment-at-sea training, exchanged Naval Liaison Officers and practiced maneuvering procedures.Additionally, Rear Adm. Karl O. Thomas, Commander, Task Force 70, and CTF 70 personnel visited JS Kaga to speak with JMSDF Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda, Commander, Escort Flotilla 4, about JMSDF and U.S. Navy interoperability and maritime unit cohesion."The teamwork and…

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), marked a major milestone this week in the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The shipyard installed the final section of the ship's main mast: the 38-foot upper mast section. A brief mast-stepping ceremony was held Tuesday for Lincoln shipbuilders and the crew on the flight deck of the ship to commemorate the milestone. Mast-stepping ceremonies are a common tradition dating back to ancient Rome and symbolize good luck.

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Robert F. Willard, issued a final endorsement to the investigation of a fire that occurred aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) on May 22. As directed by Adm. Willard, Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific, Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline, Jr., relieved the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73), Capt. David C. Dykhoff, today due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards. As directed, Kilcline also relieved the George Washington Executive Officer, Capt. David M.