Michael Wettlaufer News

Austal USA christened its 14th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), USNS Cody, during a ceremony at its manufacturing facility. Cody is the first EPF Flight II as well as the first Navy vessel to honor the city of Cody, Wyo. The ceremony for the Navy’s first Flight II EPF was well attended by Navy leaders and elected officials. Vice Admiral Francis Morley, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition; Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the U.S.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) has today departed the dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyards and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) . The event marked the conclusion of the 9-month dry dock portion of Stennis’ Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) maintenance period. “This milestone is a big win, not just for the Stennis and PSNS & IMF team, but also for the Navy,” said Stennis’ commanding officer, Capt. Michael Wettlaufer. To date, Stennis and PSNS & IMF personnel completed more than 11,000 critical repair jobs including the restoration of Stennis’ multi-ton propellers, shafts and rudders, as well as refurbishing all four aircraft catapults.