USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) conducts routine operations near the Panamanian flagged drill ship, West Capella on May 12, 2020. US Navy Photo
SECDEF Esper: U.S. Will ‘Keep Up the Pace’ of South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operations
Tag Archives: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper
SECDEF Esper Memo on Displaying Flags on U.S. Bases
The following is the July 17, 2020 memo from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Public Display or Depiction of Flags in the Department of Defense. Read More
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
Pentagon Leaders Have Taken Lead in Crafting Future Fleet from Navy
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper meets with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff members during a visit to FEMA. DoD Photo
The Navy has lost much of its power on deciding what its future fleet will look like, with a Pentagon-led effort set to produce secretary of defense directives to the service by the end of the summer on what the fleet’s future plans should include. Read More
House Defense Bill Pushes Hypersonic Weapons for Zumwalt Destroyers, Slows LUSV Procurement
Sailors man the rails aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) as the ship pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on April 2, 2019. US Navy Photo
The House Armed Services Committee may force the Navy to begin integrating hypersonic weapons onto the Zumwalt class of destroyers, something the sea service has talked about but not prioritized in its budget. Read More
Lack of Future Fleet Plans, Public Strategy Hurting Navy’s Bottom Line in Upcoming Defense Bills
NASA Photo
Frustrations are mounting in Congress over the limited insight lawmakers and the public have into the Navy’s future fleet, and the service now faces fiscal consequences in upcoming defense bills. Read More
Report to Congress on Navy Force Structure
The following is the June 3, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Report to Congress on Navy Force Structure
The following is the May 22, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Carrier Theodore Roosevelt COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation Complete, CNO Now Reviewing Report
Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), run on the pier of Naval Base Guam, May 8, 2020. US Navy Photo
An investigation into the circumstances around the March COVID-19 outbreak aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) has been handed over to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday for review, Navy officials told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
Navy Releases New COVID-19 Guidance To Fleet
Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Amy Peterson (left), checks Electronics Technician Seaman James Love’s temperature at a medical screening check point for the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Navy photo
The Navy released a new set of COVID-19 guidelines Wednesday to standardize the fleet’s response to the pandemic and establish a framework for commanders to use as the Pentagon moves toward resuming full operations.
