Gidget Fuentes

About Gidget Fuentes

Gidget Fuentes is a freelance writer based in San Diego, Calif. She has spent more than 20 years reporting extensively on the Marine Corps and the Navy, including West Coast commands and Pacific regional issues, and most recently was a senior writer and the San Diego bureau chief for Marine Corps Times and Navy Times.

Recent Posts By the Author


WEST: Marines Expanding Sea Control Laboratory to Test Command and Control Concepts, Gear

WEST: Marines Expanding Sea Control Laboratory to Test Command and Control Concepts, Gear

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The landing force operations center maintained by Marine Corps Tactical System Support Activity on Camp Pendleton, Calif., replicates sea-based systems normally seen on U. S. Navy ships, allowing Marines to improve their understanding command and control mediums by testing them in a simulated environment. US Marine Corps

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Marines are expanding its shore-based, sea control test lab to help ensure sea-going Marines’ command and control systems will work once they get aboard ship. Read More →

WEST: SPAWAR Systems Centers Rebranded as Naval Information Warfare Centers

WEST: SPAWAR Systems Centers Rebranded as Naval Information Warfare Centers

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Lauren Burnette, from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific, explains the Battlespace Exploitation of Mixed Reality (BEMR) Lab demo to a visitor at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) exhibit during the 2016 Sea-Air-Space Exposition. US Navy photo.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — In a nod to the rising role of technology and growing importance of information warfare in the battlespace, the Navy will rename Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s (SPAWAR) Systems Centers this month, officials announced Wednesday. Read More →

VIDEO: Japan Certifies First Regimental Landing Team in Exercise with U.S. Marines

VIDEO: Japan Certifies First Regimental Landing Team in Exercise with U.S. Marines

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Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers depart an MV-22B Osprey, assigned to the “Greyhawks” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161, on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD-25) on Jan. 31, 2019. US Navy Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – In the morning chill, Marine Corps and Japanese military officers watched a platoon of Japanese amphibious assault vehicles swim ashore in choppy, storm-driven seas, landing with a Marine Corps AAV trailing at the rear. Read More →

VIDEO: Navy Commissions Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor

VIDEO: Navy Commissions Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor

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The crew of the Navy’s newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony on Jan. 26, 2019. US Navy Photo

The Navy commissioned its newest warship, a sleek, high-tech destroyer bearing the name of a fallen Navy SEAL who gave his life to save others when their team came under attack during fighting in Iraq. Read More →

Marine Task Force, USNS Stockham Team Up For Training, Engagements in Indo-Pacific

Marine Task Force, USNS Stockham Team Up For Training, Engagements in Indo-Pacific

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U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) conducts a night live fire exercise during the TF KM Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. on July 19, 2018. US Marine Corps Photo

A task force of Marines and sailors recently deployed to islands in Oceania, assisted by a Navy maritime prepositioning cargo ship that added to the growing list of places where the Marine Corps stretched its global reach in 2018. Read More →

Marines Flex Expeditionary Construction Skills by Rebuilding the 'Airport in the Sky'

Marines Flex Expeditionary Construction Skills by Rebuilding the ‘Airport in the Sky’

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Catalina Runway 4/22, with the runway mostly cleared of the old asphalt. The existing taxiway (right) will be used as the temporary runway for limited flights until mid-April, when the new concrete runway built by Marines is expected to receive its first flight. Runway Photo by Glen Gustafson, courtesy of the Catalina Island Conservancy

This post has been updated to clarify comments from Cynthia Fogg on the role of the Navy’s Seabees in the process of rebuilding the runway.

Marines will deploy soon for a unique expeditionary mission: Three months on rugged Santa Catalina Island, off California’s coast, building a concrete runway at a small, cliff-top airport. Read More →

Retired Flag Officer Who 'Abused His Position to Benefit Himself' Censured in Fat Leonard Scandal

Retired Flag Officer Who ‘Abused His Position to Benefit Himself’ Censured in Fat Leonard Scandal

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Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery, U.S. Pacific Command Director of Operations, gives his remarks during his Aug. 18, 2017, retirement ceremony aboard the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) Memorial. Montgomery is retiring after 32 years of naval service. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated with a redacted copy of the letter of censure.

Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer censured a now-retired rear admiral for his involvement nearly a decade ago with a defense contractor indicted in a bribery and fraud investigation that’s netted several dozen officials, including flag and commanding officers. Read More →