Category Archives: Education Legislation

'Valkyrie' Blood Transfusion System Hopes to Give Marines, Sailors Fighting Chance on the Battlefield

‘Valkyrie’ Blood Transfusion System Hopes to Give Marines, Sailors Fighting Chance on the Battlefield

U.S. Navy Corpsmen with I Marine Expeditionary Force inspect the intravenous blood transfusion equipment and attend to a simulated patient during Valkyrie Emergency Whole Blood Transfusion Training program at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on May 14, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

Front-line expeditionary forces are getting a new capability that officials say will save lives by enabling small units to have an emergency, on-demand, fresh blood supply to treat battlefield casualties. Read More

Geurts: Navy Modernization At Risk Without COVID-19 Acquisition Relief Funds

Geurts: Navy Modernization At Risk Without COVID-19 Acquisition Relief Funds

USS Detroit (LCS-7) receives regularly scheduled maintenance and upkeep during a scheduled dry-dock maintenance availability phase at BAE Systems shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla., March 29, 2019. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated with additional context on the Pentagon’s COVID-19 acquisition memo.

The Navy may have to sacrifice modernization efforts if it does not receive adequate relief funding to cover acquisition costs sustained due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a top service official. Read More

Petters: Virginia-Class Subs Facing Most COVID-19 Delays at Newport News Shipbuilding

Petters: Virginia-Class Subs Facing Most COVID-19 Delays at Newport News Shipbuilding

Virginia-class submarine Delaware (SSN 791) was moved out of a construction facility into a floating dry dock using a transfer car system in 2018. HII Photo

Newport News Shipbuilding has seen a disproportionate amount of its COVID-19-related delays and inefficiencies hit its Virginia-class attack submarine production line, as the yard has prioritized its available workforce on supporting maintenance for in-service submarines and aircraft carriers, the company’s CEO told investors today. Read More

Columbia SSBN Program Doing Land-Based Testing to Avoid Past Shipbuilding Mistakes

Columbia SSBN Program Doing Land-Based Testing to Avoid Past Shipbuilding Mistakes

Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite tours the General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) Quonset Point Facility with EB Manager of Operations Walter Taft on July 8, 2020. US Navy Photo

Past ship design and acquisition mistakes, such as those with the Ford-class carrier and Littoral Combat Ship programs, are leading to some extra steps in today’s shipbuilding programs to ensure no time or money is wasted again, two speakers said at a virtual naval engineering symposium this week. Read More

Senate Passes FY 2021 Defense Authorization Bill by Large Margin

Senate Passes FY 2021 Defense Authorization Bill by Large Margin

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) departs Pearl Harbor on May 10, 2020, after completing a scheduled extended dry-docking selected restricted availability (EDSRA). Missouri’s routine maintenance and modernization work was completed five days ahead of schedule after successful sea trials and certification. US Navy photo

The Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act with an 86 to 14 vote, following the House passing its version of the bill on Tuesday. Read More

SECDEF Esper: U.S. Will ‘Keep Up the Pace’ of South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operations

SECDEF Esper: U.S. Will ‘Keep Up the Pace’ of South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operations

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) conducts routine operations near the Panamanian flagged drill ship, West Capella on May 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR – The U.S. will continue to keep up the pace of freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, which hit an all-time high in 2019, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Tuesday. Read More

HASC Chair Smith: Troops 'Not Ready to Fight' Without Resource-Informed Strategy

HASC Chair Smith: Troops ‘Not Ready to Fight’ Without Resource-Informed Strategy

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, is briefed on the capabilities of the F-35A Lightning II during his visit at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 10, 2019. The congressman learned about several aspects of the 56th Fighter Wing F-35 pilot training and how the wing works to enhance lethality and readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jensen Stidham)

The House Armed Services Committee chairman praised an ongoing review of the combatant commanders’ force posture, saying he worried the military was “flailing” as its resources didn’t align with COCOM requests or the National Defense Strategy. Read More

House Appropriations Bill Includes Funding for Second Virginia-Class Submarine

House Appropriations Bill Includes Funding for Second Virginia-Class Submarine

Sailors aboard to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Delaware (SSN-791) on Nov. 5, 2019. US Navy Photo

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee today released its draft Fiscal Year 2021 defense funding bill that would buy nine Navy ships, including the second Virginia-class attack submarine that the House Armed Services Committee is fighting to include in next year’s ship-buying plans. Read More

House Armed Services Committee Adds Money for EPF, Footstomps Need for Second Virginia SSN

House Armed Services Committee Adds Money for EPF, Footstomps Need for Second Virginia SSN

Moon over U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13, 2016. NASA Photo

This post has been updated to note the markup ended and the bill will next be heading to a House floor vote. 

The House Armed Services Committee reiterated its support for Navy shipbuilding today in an all-day markup of its annual defense bill, voting to include money for an additional Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) and issuing an opening argument to the Senate for an additional Virginia-class attack submarine. Read More