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. Mallory Shelbourne is a USNI News staff writer.

Recent Posts By the Author


Path to Install Hypersonic Weapons on Arleigh Burke Destroyers Unclear

Path to Install Hypersonic Weapons on Arleigh Burke Destroyers Unclear

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A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) launches from Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time on March 19, 2020. US Navy Photo

In order to accommodate the equivalent of an intermediate-range ballistic missile aboard the Navy’s current crop of destroyers, the service would need to undertake complex modifications to both the Zumwalt and Arleigh Burke classes of ships to install a long-range hypersonic strike weapon on DDGs, as the national security advisor called for this week.
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Super Hornet Crashes Near China Lake, Pilot in Stable Condition

Super Hornet Crashes Near China Lake, Pilot in Stable Condition

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An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Sidewinders of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on July 8, 2019. US Navy Photo

This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

A Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed near Naval Air Station China Lake, Calif., on Tuesday, Naval Air Forces Cmdr. Zach Harrell told USNI News. Read More →

Carrier Reagan Back in the South China Sea, U.S. Destroyer Makes Taiwan Strait Transit

Carrier Reagan Back in the South China Sea, U.S. Destroyer Makes Taiwan Strait Transit

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From left, USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10), USS Comstock (LSD-45), USS Shiloh (CG-67), USS New Orleans (LPD-18), USS Chicago (SSN-721), USS America (LHA-6), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USNS John Ericsson (T-AO-194), USS Antietam (CG-54), USS Germantown (LSD-42) and USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE-2) steam in formation while E/A-18G Growlers and FA-18E Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, a P-8 Poseidon from Commander Task Force 72, and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and a B-1B Bomber fly over the formation in support of Valiant Shield 2020 on Sept. 25, 2020. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Regan Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the South China Sea for the third time as part of its current underway period. Meanwhile, a destroyer made a transit of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. Read More →

7 Joint Chiefs, 2 Senior Leaders in Quarantine After Meetings with COVID-19-Positive USCG Flag

7 Joint Chiefs, 2 Senior Leaders in Quarantine After Meetings with COVID-19-Positive USCG Flag

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First row (left to right): Gen. Mark Milley chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the U.S. Army
Second row: Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations of the U.S. Navy
Gen. Charles Brown, chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force
Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force
Third row: Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of National Guard Bureau
Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security AgencyGen. Gary Thomas, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps

Seven members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including chairman Gen. Mark Milley and vicechair Gen. John Hyten, plus two other senior U.S. military commanders are in quarantine after coming in contact with a Coast Guard flag officer who tested positive for COIVD-19, USNI News has learned. Read More →

Pentagon ‘Very Concerned’ With Military Suicide Trends; Effect of Pandemic on 2020 Rates Unclear

Pentagon ‘Very Concerned’ With Military Suicide Trends; Effect of Pandemic on 2020 Rates Unclear

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Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sing the Navy Hymn during a memorial service for Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Robert “Bobby” John Bartulewicz III on July 14, 2019. US Navy Photo

Pentagon leaders are expressing new concern regarding the rate of suicide in active-duty service members, as the Department of Defense has seen a steady rise in cases over the last five years. Read More →