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Mike Stevens News

28 May 2017

Future USS Washington Delivered

The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Washington (SSN 787), the 14th submarine of the Virginia-class, May 26. Washington is the fourth of eight Virginia-class Block III submarines and the seventh of the class to be delivered to the Navy by Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia. Washington began construction in September 2011 and will be commissioned later this year in Norfolk, Virginia. The submarine's sponsor is Elisabeth Mabus, daughter of the 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "Washington's delivery continues our commitment to deliver Virginia-class submarines within budget and ready to deploy and execute Fleet tasking," said Capt. Washington will be the third U.S.

06 Jul 2016

National Museum of the American Sailor Unveiled

The Great Lakes Naval Museum was officially renamed the National Museum of the American Sailor during a ceremony and sign unveiling at the museum July 4. The Navy's top enlisted Sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens, was joined by retired Rear Adm. Sam Cox, director of Naval History and Heritage Command, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham, Capt. James Hawkins, commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes, Jennifer Searcy, Ph.D., director of the National Museum of the American Sailor, and representatives from the Great Lakes Naval Museum Foundation and National Museum of the American Sailor Foundation to unveil the new sign in front of the museum.

03 Jun 2016

Keel Authenticated For Next US Navy Destroyer

Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias presents a ceremonial keel plate to Ima Black, the sponsor of her husband’s namesake ship, Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). (Photo by Andrew Young/HII)

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) on June 1. The ship, named in honor of the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, will be the 32nd Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyer Ingalls has built for the U.S. Navy. “This ship’s name carries a special meaning,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said at this morning’s keel-laying ceremony. “Destroyers are traditionally named after great men and women in the history of our Navy…

06 Mar 2016

USN's 6th MCPON Passes Away

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) William "Bill" H. Plackett died peacefully the evening of March 4. He was 78. Plackett became the sixth MCPON Oct. 1, 1985. He relieved Billy C. Sanders and held the job for three years before Duane R. Bushey assumed duties in September 1988. Plackett was born in Paxton, Illinois, and joined the Navy at the age of 19 in 1956. He attended radarman "A" school in Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned to the Naval Control of Shipping Office in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. He served tours aboard Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet embarked upon amphibious force command ship USS Mount McKinley (AGC 7), and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy.

25 Feb 2016

CNO, MCPON Engage Norfolk Sailors

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens visited Sailors and toured naval activities in Norfolk, Va. Feb. 24. During a tour of BAE Systems Ship Repair Norfolk, CNO met with company leaders, shipbuilders repair personnel and Sailors repair to discuss current shipyard opportunities and challenges. "The workers who repair our ships, they are the foundation for our readiness," said Richardson. CNO and MCPON also held an all‐hands call with Sailors at Naval Station Norfolk to discuss the Navy's recently released guidance 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,' and to answer Sailors' questions. "I think it's a natural step in the larger program to integrate women into the services," said Richardson.

19 Oct 2015

CNO, MCPON Visit Sailors in U.S. 5th Fleet

The Navy's 31st Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. John Richardson, made his first visit to the U.S. 5th Fleet, accompanied by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Oct. 18. More than 700 Sailors and Marines attended an all-hands call with the CNO and MCPON at the NSA Bahrain gym. "Today marks my first month as CNO," Richardson said. Richardson went on to share that he viewed Sailors' service in the Navy as one of accountability, ingenuity and creativity. "I've had the chance to work at a lot of joint commands and talk to a lot of joint commanders," Richardson said. "Every one of those commanders I've talked to are super grateful when they get a U.S. Navy Sailor on their team.

16 Oct 2015

CNO, MCPON Visit Sailors Aboard USS Ronald Reagan

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Burke/Released)

Press release - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens visited Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), Japan, Oct. 15. CNO held an all-hands call with MCPON to address Sailors as Ronald Reagan made preparations to depart for her first patrol as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier. "Today is a historic day for Ronald Reagan, Japan and the alliance," said Richardson.

15 May 2015

MCPON, CNO Honor Sailors of the Year

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.

01 May 2015

Guided Missile Destroyer John Finn to be Christened

The Navy will christen the newest guided missile destroyer, the future USS John Finn (DDG 113), Saturday, May 2, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The new destroyer honors Lt. John Finn, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the first attack by Japanese airplanes at Pearl Harbor. While under heavy machine gun fire, Finn manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp. Painfully wounded multiple times, he had to be convinced to leave his post. After receiving first aid treatment, he overcame the severe pain of his injuries and returned to the squadron area to supervise the rearming of returning planes.

14 Mar 2015

Navy Names Next Destroyer Delbert D. Black

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.

04 Jul 2013

MCPO Navy: 'Please Remember Our Navy Families' July 4th

MCPO Mike Stevens: Photo credit USN

"As we take time to celebrate 237 years of independence, let us remember to reaffirm our own commitment to liberty and freedom. Let us remember the meaning of the 4th of July, the meaning of the Independence Day. Take a moment to reflect on a portion of the Declaration of Independence . . . "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." 

While many of us enjoy fireworks…

11 Oct 2012

Nine Bells Struck on US Navy's Birthday

Nine-bell Ringing: Photo credit USN

A Pentagon Navy staff celebration to commemorate the Navy's 237th birthday was held on 9, October 2012. A Sailor assigned to USS Constitution rings eight bells, a nautical tradition to render honors with eight being the highest amount of bells bestowed, during a Pentagon Navy staff celebration to commemorate the Navy's 237th birthday. The U.S. Navy has a 237-year heritage of defending freedom and projecting and protecting U.S. interests around the globe. In the picture, from left…

24 Oct 2008

Navy Commissions Submarine New Hampshire

U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg will deliver the ceremony's principal address. The ship's sponsor, Cheryl McGuinness of , , is the widow of Lt. Cmdr. Thomas McGuinness, a veteran Navy pilot and co-pilot of American Airlines Flight 11 which was flown into the of the by terrorists Sept. 11, 2001. The fifth submarine of the Virginia-class, was delivered eight months early thanks to the Navy's on-going cost-reduction initiatives. This will mark the first time since 1996 that the Navy has commissioned two submarines of the same class in the same year. USS North Carolina (SSN 777) was commissioned in May. Through their unique capabilities of stealth and endurance…