Heather Mongilio

About Heather Mongilio

Heather Mongilio is a reporter with USNI News. She has a master’s degree in science journalism and has covered local courts, crime, health, military affairs and the Naval Academy.


Recent Posts By the Author


China Protests U.S. South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operation

China Protests U.S. South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operation

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, March 24. Milius is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Navy Photo

A U.S. warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, near the Parcel Islands, the day after China claimed it chased away the ship from its territorial waters, U.S. 7th Fleet announced Friday. Read More

White House Nominates New N7, Air Boss, NAVSEA Commander

White House Nominates New N7, Air Boss, NAVSEA Commander

(l to r) Vice Adm. Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, Rear Adm. Daniel Cheever, Rear Adm. James Downey. USNI News graphic

The White House has nominated the next admiral to oversee shipbuilding and repair, the next Air Boss and the next admiral in charge of naval education, the Department of Defense announced this week. Read More

U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain

U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain

Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69) steams alongside the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) during an underway replenishment while operating in the Philippine Sea, March 16. US Navy Photo

- This post has been updated to indicate USS Milius had not been conducting a freedom of navigation operation at the time of the incident. 

The Navy denied that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile illegally entered China’s maritime territory and was chased off by People’s Liberation Army forces, contradicting claims by China’s Southern Theatre Command. Read More

Pentagon: Red Hill Defueling on Track, Joint Task Force Starting Environmental Assessment

Pentagon: Red Hill Defueling on Track, Joint Task Force Starting Environmental Assessment

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Pearl Harbor employees uses tools to relocate contaminated soil onto a wheelbarrow as part of NAVFAC Public Works Department and Joint Task Force-Red Hill’s (JTF-RH) hazard material spill recovery operation at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Halawa, Hawaii, Dec. 1, 2022. US Army Photo

This story has been updated to clarify that the Joint Task Force is responsible for defueling the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. 

The Joint Task Force – Red Hill is on target to meet the July 2024 deadline to defuel the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, the Department of Defense said Thursday. Read More

UPDATED: U.S. MQ-9 Drone Crashes in Black Sea After Collision with Russian Fighter; Recovery Options Unclear

UPDATED: U.S. MQ-9 Drone Crashes in Black Sea After Collision with Russian Fighter; Recovery Options Unclear

MQ-9 Reaper UAV. US Air Force Photo

This story has been updated to add comments from Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, as well as information on recovery efforts.

The Pentagon is not yet saying whether the U.S. will try to recover an unmanned MQ-9 Reaper aircraft that ditched into international waters Tuesday after a Russian Su-27 aircraft collided with it midair over the Black Sea.
Read More

Tom Cruise Buzzes USS George H.W. Bush, Carrier Could Play Role in New 'Mission Impossible' Movie

Tom Cruise Buzzes USS George H.W. Bush, Carrier Could Play Role in New ‘Mission Impossible’ Movie

Cmdr. Karrie Lang, Combat Systems Officer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), takes a selfie with Tom Cruise during a visit to the ship, on March 3, 2023. US Navy Photo

If the Navy chooses to accept it, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) could get its big screen debut in Tom Cruise’s next “Mission Impossible” movie. Read More

7th Fleet Commander Thomas Nominated to Serve as Director of Naval Intelligence

7th Fleet Commander Thomas Nominated to Serve as Director of Naval Intelligence

Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, speaks to the crew of mine countermeasures ship USS Pioneer (MCM-9) over the ship’s 1MC during a tour, June 9, 2022. US Navy Photo

Current U.S. 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Karl Thomas was tapped to be the next deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare (OPNAV N2/N6) and director of naval intelligence, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. Read More