Sam LaGrone

About Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.


Recent Posts By the Author


Continuing Resolution Includes Funds for New Columbia-class Submarine

Continuing Resolution Includes Funds for New Columbia-class Submarine

An undated artist’s rendering of the planned Columbia-class submarine. Naval Sea Systems Command Image

The last-second funding measure that will fund the government until mid-November secures $621 million to ensure the start of construction for the second Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine but leaves several other programs in limbo. Read More

Iranian Forces Harass Marine Attack Helo with Laser in Persian Gulf

Iranian Forces Harass Marine Attack Helo with Laser in Persian Gulf

Marine AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to land aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) during exercise Steel Knight 23, Dec. 5, 2022. US Marine Corps Photo

A Marine attack helicopter was harassed by sectarian Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf, a U.S. 5th Fleet official told USNI News on Thursday. Read More

2 A-10 Warthogs Drill with U.S. Destroyer in Middle East Maritime Exercise

2 A-10 Warthogs Drill with U.S. Destroyer in Middle East Maritime Exercise

An A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to Combined Forces Air Component Commander flies past guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG-63) during air operations in maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Persian Gulf, Sept. 23, 2023. US Navy Photo

A pair of U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs ­– better known as Warthogs – drilled with U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman in a maritime exercise, the Navy announced Monday. Read More

2 Navy Ghost Fleet Unmanned Ships Now in the Western Pacific

2 Navy Ghost Fleet Unmanned Ships Now in the Western Pacific

The unmanned surface vessel Ranger transits the Pacific Ocean during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, Sep. 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

Two of the Navy’s Ghost Fleet unmanned surface vessel prototypes pulled into Yokosuka, Japan, this week as part of a Pacific road show to introduce the fleet to the possibility of USVs, service officials said on Thursday. Read More

Chinese Expansion Prompts Other Navies to Work Closer Together, Modernize Fleets

Chinese Expansion Prompts Other Navies to Work Closer Together, Modernize Fleets

Philippine Coast Guard Capt. Jaybom J. Calica, commanding officer of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) talks to crewmembers from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, the Philippine Coast Guard Vessel BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and the Japan Coast Guard Vessel Akitsushima (PLH 32) during a hotwash upon the conclusion of combined operations between the Japan, Philippine and U.S. Coast Guards in the South China Sea, June 7, 2023. US Coast Guard Photo

NEWPORT, R.I. ­­– The growing military and economic pressure from China in the Western Pacific and beyond is pushing international navies to seek new partnerships and accelerate modernization, U.S. naval leaders told USNI News at the International Seapower Symposium on Wednesday. Read More

Crashed F-35B Found in Rural South Carolina, Marines Order Aviation Safety Standdown

Crashed F-35B Found in Rural South Carolina, Marines Order Aviation Safety Standdown

Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), takes off during an airshow demonstration practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, Aug. 21, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo

Marine aviation is taking a two-day safety break as the service found a crashed F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter that went missing on Sunday, the service announced today. Read More

VIDEO: Navy Commissions LCS USS Marinette, 4 Freedom-Class to Decommission This Year

VIDEO: Navy Commissions LCS USS Marinette, 4 Freedom-Class to Decommission This Year

Menominee, Michigan (Sept. 16, 2023) –The crew of the Navy’s USS Marinette (LCS 25), bring the ship to life during her commissioning ceremony in Menominee, Mich., on Sept. 16, 2023. US Navy Photo

The 13th Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Marinette (LCS-25) commissioned in a Michigan ceremony on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Navy has decommissioned two Freedom-class LCS this year and is set to shed two more by the end of the month, USNI News has learned. Read More