Category Archives: Military Personnel

Senators Grill Navy Under Secretary Nominee Rooney during Confirmation Hearing

Senators Grill Navy Under Secretary Nominee Rooney during Confirmation Hearing

Jo Ann Rooney, the Obama administration nominee for Under Secretary of the Navy.

Jo Ann Rooney, the Obama administration nominee for Under Secretary of the Navy.

Jo Ann Rooney — the Obama administration’s nominee for Under Secretary of the Navy — faced tough questions during her Thursday confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC).

Rooney first faced stiff questioning from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., over the status of Navy audits, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program and exactly how many employees and contractors the department employed. At one point, McCain said, “If you don’t know the answer [about the audits], you are not qualified for the job yet.” Read More

Remembrance: Adm. David E. Jeremiah

Remembrance: Adm. David E. Jeremiah

Adm. David E. Jeremiah

Adm. David E. Jeremiah

Adm. David E. Jeremiah, who passed away Oct. 7, was a tremendous naval leader and national treasure. President George H. W. Bush commented on his passing that, “During the course of his distinguished Navy career, Dave answered the call to serve our country in so many ways—and he always fulfilled his many assignments with commitment, courage, and thorough professionalism. As vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Gen. [Colin] Powell, moreover, Dave was a key member of the military team that ejected Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and restored the rule of international law. He was a good man, and we will miss him very much.” Read More

Japan's Amphibious Buildup

Japan’s Amphibious Buildup

Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force put on camouflage face paint before conducting a beach landing exercise with Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Feb. 10, 2012. US Navy Photo

Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force put on camouflage face paint before conducting a beach landing exercise with Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Feb. 10, 2012. US Navy Photo

Japan recently has been in the news as a result of several high-profile territorial incidents with its neighbor China. The incidents involve what Japanese call the Senkaku islands—the Diaoyu islands to the Chinese. Japan has legal ownership of the islands, which China disputes. The incidents have involved non-government activists and the coast guards of both nations, with many fearing an escalation could lead to some form of armed conflict. Read More

Proceedings: Naval Institute at 140

Proceedings: Naval Institute at 140

U.S. Naval Institute contributors clockwise from top right: W.S. Sims, William F. Halsey, Hyman Rickover, Ernest J. King and Alfred Thayer Mahan. Illustration by Tom W. Freeman

U.S. Naval Institute contributors clockwise from top right: W.S. Sims, William F. Halsey, Hyman Rickover, Ernest J. King and Alfred Thayer Mahan. Illustration by Tom W. Freeman

Sometimes in the throes of the monthly and bimonthly Proceedings and Naval History deadlines we lose sight of just how much bigger the U.S. Naval Institute is than any or all of us. And the 15 founding members who convened on the evening of 9 October 1873 by the light of oil lamps in the U.S. Naval Academy’s Department of Physics and Chemistry building probably had no idea that the organization would ever be as influential and relevant as it is today. Read More

Shutdown: Impact on Navy Operations is Still Unclear

Shutdown: Impact on Navy Operations is Still Unclear

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG-61), USS Barry (DDG-52) and USS Stout (DDG-55) conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195) on Sept. 27. US Navy Photo

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG-61), USS Barry (DDG-52) and USS Stout (DDG-55) conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO-195) on Sept. 27. US Navy Photo

Even with most of the Navy’s civilian workforce returning to their jobs on Monday, there are still lingering questions on how the government shutdown on the Navy’s ships and aircraft. Read More

U.S. Confirms Involvement in Friday's Somalia Raid

U.S. Confirms Involvement in Friday’s Somalia Raid

U.S. Navy SEALs jump out of an SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter during a combat rescue swimmer course in MayUS Navy Photo

U.S. Navy SEALs jump out of an SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter during a combat rescue swimmer course in May. US Navy Photo

Pentagon officials confirmed Friday’s raid on a Somalia compound alleged to shelter members of Al Shabab to capture an enigmatic leader known as Ikrimah. Read More

Shutdown: Adm. Gortney's Message to Fleet

Shutdown: Adm. Gortney’s Message to Fleet

From the Oct. 4 message from Fleet Forces commander Adm. Bill Gortney to the fleet.

During the current government shutdown, the Fleet will continue to provide ready forces to safeguard national security. In the meantime, we must remember that war fighting is first, and we will continue to provide the best possible support to those engaged in that fight. Concurrently, we will continue to protect the lives and property of our Nation’s citizens. We have historically demonstrated good judgment and scrutiny of our operations and expenditures, and I expect even greater scrutiny in the current environment. Read More

Shutdown: Most Pentagon Civilians Return to Work Today

Shutdown: Most Pentagon Civilians Return to Work Today

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks during the Department of Defense National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 20, 2013. DoD Photo

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks during the Department of Defense National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 20, 2013. DoD Photo

The Pentagon today will be bringing back most of the 350,000 civilian employees who were put on furlough last week in the wake of a congressional deadlock over spending bills for this fiscal year, Department of Defense officials announced Saturday. Read More

Navy's Environment Chief on Small Business and Disaster Relief

Navy’s Environment Chief on Small Business and Disaster Relief

Then-Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, left, speaks with panelist retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn in 2009. US Navy Photo

Then-Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, left, speaks with panelist retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn in 2009. US Navy Photo

The advice the newly confirmed assistant secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment offered to the dozens of small innovative businesses trying to win defense contracts—such as KSI Video and Solar Cookers International—was stark: consider selling 30 percent of the business to a larger contractor, one that knows the ins and out of the labyrinth of government buying. Read More