Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden, Commander of Naval Surface Forces. US Navy photo.
This story will be updated as new information becomes available.
The Secretary of the Navy has decided the former head of U.S. surface forces will retire as a two-star rear admiral not a three-star vice admiral, according to two sources familiar with the decision. Read More
USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) is loading onto the heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf. US Navy Photo
This post has been corrected to reflect early accountability actions taken on USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) after the collision on Aug. 21 with a merchant tanker. The commander and executive officer were removed from their positions, not the Command Master Chief. The post has also been amended to clarify the definition of negligent homicide under military law.
Criminal charges against crew members involved in the two fatal 2017 surface navy collisions that cost the lives of 17 sailors are likely the last accountability actions to be taken by the service, as the admiral overseeing the process has completed his review, Navy officials told USNI News on Wednesday. Read More
Former USS Fitzgerald commander Cmdr. Bryce Benson (left), Former USS John S. McCain commander Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez (right). USNI News Image
This post has been updated to correct the name of the former commander of USS John S. McCain (DDG-56). The correct name is Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez. This post has also been updated with a statement from the service.
The commanders of the two guided-missile destroyers that were involved in fatal collisions with merchant ships in 2017 will face military criminal charges that include dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel and negligent homicide, USNI News has learned. Read More
Outoging commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Tom Rowden speaks with the crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) on Sept. 17, 2017. US Navy Photo
The head of U.S. naval surface forces will be replaced this week following the results of an independent investigation into the two fatal collisions in the Western Pacific that claimed the lives of 17 sailors, several defense officials confirmed to USNI News this week. Read More
Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden, Commander of Naval Surface Forces. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated to include additional comments from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.
ARLINGTON, VA – The commander of Naval Surface Forces expressed support for the new Naval Surface Group Western Pacific as an important addition that gives voice to training and certification needs in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in Japan, despite some pushback from the secretary of the Navy over the group’s formation. Read More
Rear Adm. Richard Brown, commander of Navy Personnel Command, left, greets Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson during a tour of Navy Personnel Command at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, in Millington, Tenn., in August 2017. U.S. Navy photo.
Rear Adm. Richard Brown was nominated to serve as the next commander of Naval Surface Forces and commander of Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, following the retirement of current SWO Boss Vice Adm. Tom Rowden.
The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) arrives pier side at Changi Naval Base, Republic of Singapore following a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while underway east of the Strait of Malacca. US Navy Photo
This post will be updated throughout the day with additional information from the investigations.
The fatal collisions of the two guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald between merchant ships that killed 17 sailors were rooted in fundamental failures in the crew’s ability to operate their ships effectively, according to a summary of two investigations the Navy released to the public on Wednesday. Read More
CTF 70 commander Rear Adm. Charles Williams, DESRON 15 commander Capt. Jeffrey Bennett. USNI News image
This post has been updated to include replacements for CTF-70 and DESRON 15.
The commander of the Navy’s largest operational battle force and his subordinate in charge of the attached destroyer squadron have been removed from their positions as a result of ongoing investigations into a string of incidents this year that resulted in the death of 17 sailors and hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, USNI News has learned. Read More
Water is drained from a dry dock at U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF JRMC) Yokosuka preparing the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) for a scheduled maintenance availability in July 2015. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated to add the title of Cmdr. Cedric McNeal.
SAN DIEGO – The Navy is projecting a significant increase in ship maintenance and modernization work in the next couple years, and several officials are concerned private industry does not have the capacity to keep up. Read More
Lt. Cmdr. Taylor South, right, assigned to Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC), and Kevin Eppleman, a civilian diver assigned to Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), conduct a propeller inspection on the Ticonderoga class-guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) in Souda Bay, Greece, on July 3, 2017. US Navy photo.
SAN DIEGO – The Navy is looking at several changes to its surface ship maintenance practices to keep costs down and on-time deliveries up, including considering a new contracting model and performing open and inspect work early enough for the results to influence the solicitation to industry. Read More
