SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Navy has approved the commissioning date for the future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), the commander of Naval Surface Forces announced July 17. The littoral combat ship will be commissioned Oct. 26 in Burns Harbor, Indiana….
Defense Secretary Nominee Supports Modernization of Nuclear Deterrent
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense said he supports modernization of the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent. “Clearly, modernization of the [strategic nuclear] triad is top priority,” Mark T. Esper said June 16 during his confirmation hearing before…
Esper Nominated as Defense Secretary, Spencer Steps Into Acting Role
WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer has become acting defense secretary, as the Senate has received the packet nominating Mark T. Esper to be the confirmed secretary of defense. Eric Chewning, the chief of staff to the defense secretary,…
State Department Approves Possible Sale of MH-60R Helicopters to Greece
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of MH-60R helicopters to the Hellenic navy at the request of the Greek government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a July 12 release. The sale,…
Coast Guard Repatriates 14 Migrants to the Dominican Republic
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon (WPC-1113) repatriated 14 Dominican migrants to a Dominican navy patrol vessel Saturday near Samaná, Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of an illegal migrant voyage June 11 off the coast…
Vice President Participates in $569 Million Drug Offload in San Diego
SAN DIEGO — Vice President Mike Pence attended a U.S. Coast Guard drug offload July 11 in San Diego, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a release. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Munro offloaded more than 39,000…
Huntington Ingalls Completes Flight Deck on Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The final piece of the John F. Kennedy’s (CVN-79) flight deck, the upper bow section, was installed July 10 on the future aircraft carrier, Huntington Ingalls Industries announced in a release. The addition of the upper…
Three-Star Vice Adm. Gilday is Choice for CNO Following Moran’s Sudden Retirement
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated as of July 18, 2019, to reflect Gilday’s formal nomination. ARLINGTON, Va. — For the first time since the 1970s, a three-star admiral is the nominee for chief of naval operations. Vice Adm….
Berger Takes Over From Neller as Marine Corps Commandant
Gen. David H. Berger relieved Gen. Robert B. Neller on July 11 to become the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps in a ceremony at Marine Corps Barracks, Washington. Acting Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said of Berger: “In this…
Cutter Escanaba Returns to Boston After Caribbean Sea Patrol, Change of Command
BOSTON — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba returned to Boston on July 11 following a three-month patrol conducting drug and migrant interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea, the Coast Guard 1st District said in a release. Throughout the…
