Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Office Of The Secretary News

22 Dec 2022

Japan 'Industry Day' Highlights Global Defense Partnerships

Rahm Emanuel, United States Ambassador to Japan, speaking at 'Industry Day' in Japan earlier this year. Image courtesy JSMEA

Earlier this year, a high-level defense event simply dubbed 'Industry Day' was held in Japan, an event aimed at strengthening the supply chain to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces equipment and strengthening Asia-Pacific Security and the Defense Industries.The event was significant in that the Japanese government has signaled its intention to increase defense spending, particularly with heightened tensions in the region from both China and North Korea. Also significant was the inclusion of U.S.

24 Mar 2022

Wicker Probes US Navy Shipbuilding Needs In Committee Hearing

(Photo: office of U.S. Senator Roger Wicker)

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday to consider pending nominations for the Department of Defense.At the hearing, Wicker discussed the importance of growing the capability and capacity of the U.S. Navy’s fleet with Erik Raven, nominee for Under Secretary of the Navy, and William LaPlante, nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.In one exchange…

29 Nov 2021

US Federal Maritime Commission Hires New Secretary

(Image: Federal Maritime Commission)

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei today announced the hiring of William “Bill” Cody to serve as the agency’s Secretary.Cody has more than 20 years of extensive legal and administrative experience at the federal and state government levels as well as in the private sector. He most recently worked as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Energy. Earlier in his career, he held positions in the Louisiana state government, the U.S. House of Representatives, and worked as an attorney in private practice.“I am pleased to be able to make this personnel announcement. Mr.

14 Jun 2021

Biden to Nominate Carlos del Toro for SECNAV

Carlos del Toro (Photo: SBG Technology Solutions, Inc.)

U.S. President Joe Biden intends to nominate Carlos del Toro for secretary of the Navy, the White House announced on Friday.Del Toro is a retired U.S. Navy commander with nearly 40 years’ experience in national security and naval operations, budgeting and acquisition.Over the course of a 22-year career in the U.S. Navy, Del Toro held a series of critical appointments, including Senior Executive Assistant to the Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense…

05 Oct 2020

DOD Taps Sea Machines for Autonomous Replenishment Vessels

(Image: Sea Machines)

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and control systems for surface vessels, said it has been awarded a multi-year Other Transaction (OT) agreement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to initiate a prototype that will enable commercial ocean-service barges as autonomous Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) units for an Amphibious Maritime Projection Platform (AMPP).Under this OT agreement, Sea Machines will engineer…

09 Jun 2020

Freight Planning… What About Offshore Wind…?

© 3plusx/AdobeStock

At the end of 2019 – December 27, to be exact – the US Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary – filed a request for information regarding the development of a National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP), required by the multi-year federal transportation bill, passed in 2015, called the FAST Act – “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation.”By the close of the public comment period (Feb. 10) DOT had received 82 comments. Importantly, for the maritime industry, maritime businesses and trade groups…

17 Mar 2020

Naval Shipyards Recruiting Robots

(U.S. Navy photo by Amanda R. Gray)

Inspecting fuel and ballast tanks. Sand-blasting old paint coatings and applying new ones. Removing corrosion on ships, submarines, aircraft and other vehicles.These are some of the unpleasant jobs in naval shipyards and maintenance facilities that could be made safer by pairing human workers with robots. Experts say this could improve the speed and efficiency with which the U.S. Navy sustains its assets—and expand the career paths of current workers (and create new jobs) by teaching them to operate…

20 Aug 2019

New Jersey to Create WIND Institute

New Jersey's Governor Phil Murphy has signed an executive order to establish a Council for the Wind Innovation and New Development (WIND) Institute.The institute will develop and implement a plan to create a regional hub for New Jersey’s offshore wind industry and will build upon the Murphy Administration’s commitment to making the state a national leader in offshore wind.“From job creation to workforce development to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, the WIND Institute and the council tasked with its development make good on our commitment to building a New Jersey economy fit for the 21st century,” said Governor Murphy.“Centralizing…

27 Dec 2018

FMC Offices Closed due Partial Federal Shutdown

The Federal Maritime Commission is closed effective Wednesday, December 26, 2018 as part of the partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations. The Commission will resume normal operations when appropriations legislation is enacted and the federal government reopens.With the exceptions of Acting Chairman Michael A. Khouri and Commissioner Rebecca Dye, who are Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed officials, all Commission employees have been placed on furlough and are prohibited by law from performing any duties during the shutdown.

03 Sep 2016

New Senior Staff Appointments at FMC

The retirement of veteran Federal Maritime Commission senior executive Mr. Vern W. Hill, who has served as the Managing Director of the agency since 2013, has set in motion staff changes in three key offices. In consultation with his fellow Commissioners, Chairman Mario Cordero has appointed Ms. Karen V. Gregory to serve as the Commission’s Managing Director and Mr. Peter J. King to serve as the Deputy Managing Director. In their most immediate previous positions Ms. Gregory was the Secretary of the Federal Maritime Commission, while Mr. King was the Director of the Bureau of Enforcement. Both are members of the Senior Executive Service. Ms. Gregory and Mr. King begin their new roles today, September 1, 2016.

22 Aug 2016

Austal Hosts Christening of YUMA (EPF 8)

Austal celebrated the christening of the Expeditionary Fast Transport ship USNS Yuma (EPF 8) with a ceremony at its state-of-the-art shipyard here, this morning. The ship’s sponsor, former Secretary of Homeland Security and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, headlined the group of Austal officials, naval guests, civic leaders, community members and Austal employees who attended the ceremony beneath the hull of the ship in Austal’s final assembly bay. “As a former governor of Arizona, I am especially pleased to sponsor a ship that bears the name of a city whose history is synonymous with the arc of American history,” said Napolitano, who currently serves as the president of the University of California.

03 Dec 2015

USN Installation Excellence Award Winners

The Navy's annual Installation Excellence Award winners were announced today by Commander, Navy Installations Command. This installation excellence award program recognizes the Navy's top three large and small installations, and rewards installation performance consistent with the command's strategic goals and Office of the Secretary of Defense criteria for the DoD-wide Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Awards. 1st Place: Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island (led by Capt. M. K. 2nd Place: NAS Lemoore (led by Capt. M. G. 3rd Place: Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (led by Capt. J. W. 1st Place: NAS Whiting Field (led by Capt. 2nd Place: Naval Air Facility El Centro (led by Capt. W. C. 3rd Place: Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg (led by Capt.

11 May 2015

Austal Christens USNS Brunswick

Austal celebrated the christening of USNS Brunswick (JHSV 6) with a ceremony this morning at its shipyard in Mobile, Ala. USNS Brunswick is the sixth of 10 Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) that Austal has under contract with the U.S. Navy as part of an overall 10-ship block-buy contract worth over $1.6 billion. JHSV 6, a 338-foot shallow draft aluminum catamaran, is a multi-mission, non-combatant transport vessel characterized by its high volume, high speed, and flexibility. It is the fourth ship to be named Brunswick after the seaport city located on the southeast coast of Georgia. The city of Brunswick played an important role during World War II as the site of a 435-acre shipyard that employed up to 16,000 workers at its peak. The yard produced 99 Liberty ships by the end of the war.

18 Feb 2015

Insights: Rear Admiral Paul F. Thomas

Rear Admiral Paul Thomas is the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing three Coast Guard directorates: Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transportation Systems, and Commercial Regulations and Standards. The programs include waterways management, navigation and boating safety, ports and facilities, merchant mariner credentialing, vessel documentation, marine casualty investigation, commercial vessel inspections, and port state control. A longtime specialist in Marine Safety…

14 Jan 2015

US Navy to Display Electromagnetic Railgun

One of the two electromagnetic railgun prototypes on display aboard the joint high speed vessel USS Millinocket (JHSV 3) in port at Naval Base San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Kristopher Kirsop)

The U.S. The Electromagnetic Railgun – a weapon that the U.S. Navy says will play a significant role in its future – will be on display to the public for the first time on the East Coast Feb. 4-5 at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology (S&T) EXPO in Washington, D.C., officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced. With Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert set as the event's keynote speaker on Feb. 4, the EXPO promises to be a window into the future of the U.S. Navy, showcasing the latest advances in power projection and force protection.

14 Jan 2015

USN Railgun at Future Force EXPO

The Electromagnetic Railgun-a weapon that will play a significant role in the future of the U.S. Navy-will be on display to the public for the first time on the East Coast Feb. 4-5 at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology (S&T) EXPO in Washington, D.C., officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced Jan. 13. With Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert set as the event's keynote speaker on Feb. 4, the EXPO promises to be a window into the future of the U.S. Navy, showcasing the latest advances in power projection and force protection. "This year's Expo will showcase the naval portfolio of innovative breakthrough technologies that are shaping our warfighting tactics today and changing the way our Sailors and Marines will operate in the future…

23 Sep 2014

Today in U.S. Naval History: September 23

USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort (U.S. Navy photo)

Today in U.S. 1779 - Capt. John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - Lt. Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.

19 Aug 2014

FMC Forum to Address US Port Congestion

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Mario Cordero will hold a forum titled, "U.S. Port Congestion: Examining Causes, Impact on Stakeholders and Exploring Possible Solutions" Monday, September 15, 2014, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port of Los Angeles. According to the FMC, the forum’s goal is to promote dialogue on the causes and implications of congestion at U.S. ports. Topics covered will include factors causing port congestion, truck turn times, impact on stakeholders, use of technology to reduce congestion and related fees and PierPass.

03 Jun 2014

US Military Program Targets Transitioning Technologies

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) on May 28, 2014 seeking proposals under the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) program to transition innovative technologies that resolve operational challenges or save costs into existing acquisition programs. The RIF Program is a Congressionally-mandated program, currently authorized from FY11 – FY15 and managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). RIF facilitates innovative technologies that show a clear transition path to fielding the technology into existing defense acquisition programs. There is a two-step selection process. The BAA will list the technology areas of interest for each participating component, instructions for submission of white papers, and source selection criteria.

02 Jan 2014

Fort Schuyler Alumni Preserve Maritime Education

In 1912, following several financially difficult years for the New York Nautical School, America’s first Maritime Academy, founded 1874, the New York City Board of Education, the school's steward since its inception, had had enough and decided to throw in the towel. The Board of Education moved to petition the New York State Government for permission to abandon its unusual school and return the training ship, the auxiliary sailing gunboat, USS Newport, to the Navy. Consequently, at the beginning of 1913, the school’s Alumni Association, which had been in existence for ten years, stepped in. A coalition of interests supporting the school was assembled by the Alumni Association.

23 Sep 2013

Today in U.S. Naval History: September 23

Captain John Paul Jones (photo: Naval History and Heritage Command)

Today in U.S. 1779 - Captain John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - Lt. Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

29 Mar 2012

SeeByte Selected by U.S. for Foreign Comparative Testing

Edinburgh, Scotland - SeeByte, the global leader in creating smart software technology for unmanned systems, has been selected by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Comparative Test Office, to participate in a Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program in support of a U.S. Navy Program of Record managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command, EOD Program Office. The FCT is designed to test selected foreign technologies, as evaluated by U.S. Military Operators, with a view to future procurement. SeeByte will integrate existing autonomy software into the Common Operator Interface for Navy EOD (COIN). These autonomy modules constitute an adaptive mission planner for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).

17 Feb 2012

Marad Seeks USMMA Superintendent

Applications will be accepted from all groups of qualified U.S. Citizens. The Superintendent is the senior official responsible for providing vision, leadership, management, and direction for all United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) activities. Maintaining strong financial and operational controls that demonstrate prudent use of the resources. The Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is responsible for overseeing the development of scholastic standards which encourage the intellectual, professional growth and physical well-being of midshipmen, and effective and economical operation of the Academy's facilities.