USS Russell (DDG-59), left, and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) transit the Pacific Ocean Jan. 25, 2020. US Navy Photo
The U.S. Pacific Fleet has ordered all ships and afloat units in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility to remain at sea for 14 days between port visits, a quarantining restriction intended to limit transmission and exposure to the coronavirus, a Navy official said Thursday. Read More
Undated photo of Leonard Francis
The Secretary of the Navy administratively punished a senior captain described as a linchpin in a corruption scandal that defrauded the U.S. government of more than $34.8 million and ensnared dozens of commanders and officials in the bribery and fraud investigation, according to letters obtained by USNI News. Read More
Rear Adm. Blake Converse, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), salutes during the COMSUBPAC change of command ceremony aboard the Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN-782) in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Feb. 21, 2019. US Navy Photo
The new leader of the Navy’s Pacific submarine force pledged to keep the command “forward-leaning for combat operations” in an age of fast-moving technological change. Read More
Undated photo of Leonard Francis
This post has been updated to note that USNI News reached out to the Department of Justice for comment prior to publication of this story. Additionally, an attorney representing Leonard Francis provided comment following publication of an earlier version of this story.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The investigation into the web of corruption spun by contractor Leonard Francis has wreaked havoc on the Navy’s ability to fill senior leadership roles, unintentionally stalled hundreds of officers’ careers and thinned out the service’s flag ranks, USNI News has learned. Read More
Seaman Zachary Greco, from Center, Pennsylvania, handles line aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) during a replenishment-at-sea with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) on Sept. 2, 2018. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with a statement from Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.).
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group left Naval Base Kitsap last week for a deployment and an eventual homeport change with no public notice, a U.S. official confirmed to USNI News on Monday. Read More
An undated photo of Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) Tianwangxing (852).
Russia recently concluded the 2018 edition of the massive Vostok exercise series that included Chinese forces for the first time. At Moscow’s invitation, Beijing sent People’s Liberation Army soldiers, helicopters, tanks – and one uninvited Chinese surveillance ship. Read More
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) will rejoin the U.S. Pacific Fleet when it shifts its homeport from Norfolk, Va., to San Diego, Calif. Read More
An undated photo of Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) Tianwangxing (853).
A previous version of this post incorrectly stated a Chinese AGI monitored the RIMPAC exercise in 2016. In fact, the AGI in 2016 belonged to the Russian Navy.
A Chinese surveillance ship is operating off the coast of Hawaii to keep tabs on the U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. Read More
Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), provides U.S. Naval War College students, staff and faculty with an overview of the PACOM theatre during a visit to the college on April 28, 2017. US Navy Photo
THE PENTAGON — The head of U.S. forces in the Pacific has been put forth as the Trump administration’s pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to Australia, The White House announced on Friday. Read More
Adm. Scott H. Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, walks through the side boys during the Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) change of command ceremony aboard the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN-699) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Sept. 11, 2017. US Navy Photo
The head of U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific has requested to retire after being informed he is not the Navy’s choice to take over U.S. Pacific Command, according to a statement provided to USNI News late Monday. Read More
