As we welcome the fall season, the Navy continues adding new ships to the fleet. On Saturday, the Navy christens littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Kansas City in Mobile, Alabama. Next week, the Navy christens Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Frank E. Peterson JR (DDG 121) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In November, PCU Sioux City (LCS 11) will be commissioned and PCU St. Louis (LCS 19) will be christened. In December, the Navy commissions PCU Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

It should come as no surprise that it takes a lot to deliver a ship to the Fleet: a lot of planning, a lot of resources, a lot of time, and the work of a lot of people. The needs of the Navy determine what ships are built, while funding determines how many. For the most part, new ships follow a chronological numbering system when being built.

But who or what determines the name of a ship?

The short answer is the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), who does so under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Prior to 1925, U.S. law included language explicitly assigning the SECNAV the task of naming new Navy ships. However, today’s code (10 U.S.C. §7292) does not. Nevertheless, given the location of Section 7292 in subtitle C of Title 10, which covers the Navy and Marine Corps, it is implied that the Secretary of the Navy retains authority.

While the assignment of responsibility for naming is very much a legislative matter, the actual name selection process is more a product of evolution and tradition. The names carry with them a heritage that becomes part of the future ships and crews’ identity – giving life to the steel hulls and deckplates that represent sovereign U.S. territory around the world.

Recommended names are forwarded to SECNAV by the Naval Historical Center (NHC) via the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). NHC compiles the list of recommendations from historical research and suggestions submitted from service members, veterans, and the American public. The recommendations follow general working rules for each class of ship:

• Aircraft Carriers (CVN) honor past U.S. Presidents generally. Of the past 14, 10 were named for past U.S. Presidents and two for Members of Congress.
• Destroyers (DDG) honor deceased members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including Secretaries of the Navy.
• Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are named after regionally prominent U.S. cities and communities.
• Amphibious Assault Ships pay homage to epic battles heavily influenced by the U.S. Marines, or famous U.S. Navy ships of the past that were not named for battles.
• San Antonio Class Amphibious Ships honor major U.S. cities and communities, including those attacked on September 11, 2001.
• John Lewis (TAO-205) class oilers honor  people who fought for civil and human rights.
• Lewis and Clark (TAKE-1) class cargo and ammunition ship honor famous American explorers, pioneers and trailblazers.
• Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPFs), previously called Joint High-Speed Vessels (JHSVs), are named after small U.S. cities.
• Expeditionary Transport Docks (ESDs) and Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESBs), previously called Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ships and Afloat Forward Staging Bases (AFSBs), respectively, honor famous people  or places having historical significance to U.S. Marines.

As the Fleet has evolved, so have the rules. “US Navy ship-naming policies, practices, and traditions are not fixed; they evolve constantly over time,” noted a 2012 Navy report to Congress. For example, Cruisers were once named for cities, then later for states, and most recently for battles.

As previously mentioned, Destroyers generally honor famous U.S. naval leaders and distinguished heroes. The Navy, however, recently unveiled a few exceptions to this rule. In 2012, the Navy announced that DDG 116 would be named for a living person, Thomas Hudner, who passed away, Nov. 13, 2017. The Navy announced in 2013 that DDG 117 would also be named for a living person, Paul Ignatius. That same year, the Navy announced DDG 118 would honor an Army hero, the late Senator Daniel Inouye. (insert link to earlier blog about Daniel Inouye) DDG 120 and DDG 124 will honor living people, former Senator Carl Levin, and Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., respectively.

The LCS naming convention varied as well. In 2012, the Navy named LCS 10 in honor of former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. Earlier this year, President Trump announced that an LCS would be named Canberra in honor of the Australian cruiser Canberra (D33) that fought alongside U.S. Navy forces in World War II.

Amphibs are generally named for major U.S. cities and communities. An exception to the rule, however, was made for LPD 26 and LPD 29. They have been named after late Representative John P. Murtha and Navy Captain Richard M. McCool, Jr., respectively.

Ship names are normally announced after the ship has either been authorized or appropriated by Congress, but before its keel laying or christening. SECNAV records the decision with a formal naming announcement.

Congress has the ability to petition and influence the naming of ships but the responsibility ultimately lies with the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President. It would not be unprecedented for ship naming conventions to continue to evolve as new ships continue to be built and the focus of the Navy continues to evolve in order to provide maritime power and power projection required by the Nation, now and into the future.

Sgt. Peralta was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States as an adolescent. Following graduation from high school in 1997, he attended San Diego City College. Peralta wanted to become a U.S. Marine, but was unable to enlist until he received his green card. Instead, he served in the California Conservation Corps while attending San Diego City College.

Upon becoming a permanent resident of the United States in 2000, he immediately joined the Marine Corps and attended bootcamp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. While serving as a Marine, he earned U.S. citizenship.

During a combat tour supporting Operation Al Fajr in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, he was shot and mortally wounded. As his squad fired at the insurgents around him, an enemy grenade was thrown into their midst; it came to rest near Peralta’s head.

The official citation for the Navy Cross award read:

“Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, SGT Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away. SGT Peralta succumbed to his wounds. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, SGT Peralta reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

In addition to the Navy Cross, Peralta was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon for his actions.

Peralta is remembered as a “Marine’s Marine.” His bedroom walls were decorated with his boot camp graduation certificate, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. The night before he died, Peralta wrote a letter to his younger brother, saying “Be proud of me, bro…and be proud of being an American.” He served with enthusiasm and patriotism, and his legend continues to inspire Sailors and Marines to this day.

On July 29, 2017, the U.S. Navy commissioned USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. At the ceremony, Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Neller honored Peralta’s memory.

“This [commissioning] marks the commemoration of a life and the immortality of a hero. Sgt. Peralta’s legacy will forever be part of this ship. All he ever wanted to be as an American, to serve his country,” said Neller.

Peralta’s legacy – as a young man who immigrated to the United States as a teenager, and then enlisted to serve his adopted country on the day he got his green card – epitomizes the journey of many of the Hispanic members of our Armed Forces.

Honoring their Hispanic heritage, during the commissioning ceremony Peralta’s mother gave the ship’s crew the order to “man our ship and bring her to life” first in Spanish, and then in English. The ship’s motto, FORTIS AD FINEM, which translates to “courageous to the end,” stands as a testament to Peralta’s dedication to his country and his fellow Marines. Peralta’s Navy Cross was donated by his mother and resides aboard the ship.

Since commissioning, the Rafael Peralta has participated in numerous sea trials, combat systems and engineering testing, and will ultimately deploy with a Carrier Strike Group. Along with other ships on the San Diego waterfront, Rafael Peralta participated in the filming of the television show “The Last Ship.” She is currently assigned to Destroyer Squadron 1 and is homeported in San Diego, where she will uphold and honor the legacy of Sgt. Rafael Peralta.

For more information on USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), visit http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg115/ 

For more information on Hispanic Heritage Month, visit www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov 

Last week our nation eulogized late Arizona senator John McCain as a steadfast friend, reluctant hero, and unwavering patriot. As our Navy’s newest Chief Petty Officers (CPO) prepare to don their anchors of gold at ceremonies across the fleet on September 14, it is prudent for them and the collective Chief’s Mess to briefly pause and consider how the CPO brand of leadership can have a positive and lasting effect.

During a 2008 U.S. presidential debate, Senator John McCain said, “Everything I ever learned about leadership, I learned from a Chief Petty Officer.”

I’d like to put that quote into perspective.  Before recently losing his battle with brain cancer, John McCain was a six-term U.S. Senator who chaired the Armed Services Committee.  He was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, a former Navy fighter pilot, and Vietnam prisoner of war. He practically came from U.S. Navy royalty – both his father and grandfather were four-star admirals – also U.S. Naval Academy graduates who have a U.S. warship named for them.

So how is it that the power of Chief Petty Officer anchors influenced a man who in his own right was extremely powerful and influential?

Because a Chief Petty Officer somewhere many decades ago, took a young Ensign McCain under his wing.

Through personal example, good management, and moral responsibility – the Chief made his mark and influenced a life.

I can only guess that Senator McCain’s Chief was sincere, enthusiastic, and squared away in both deed and appearance.

Perhaps he was an HONORABLE man of unsurpassed integrity – one who led with his beliefs – and McCain followed him because of HIS actions.  I am confident he held himself and his team 100% accountable and to the highest of standards.

My guess is that this Chief was a COURAGEOUS man – not absent of fear, but not afraid to make difficult decisions.  His courage was likely born of mental, physical, and ethical strength. The Chief was fair but tough, because that’s what his leaders and subordinates wanted and expected of him.

I would be willing to bet my paycheck that McCain’s Chief was COMMITTED – he had a spirit of determination that pushed him to don his anchors everyday and work to make a difference.  Understanding that his success was measured by the efforts of his Sailors and junior officers, McCain’s Chief likely didn’t take a “time out” from his commitment – and I am sure he didn’t force it either.

I’d like to believe this Chief’s CORE VALUES defined his thoughts, actions, and leadership. He put them on display everyday, leading by example and practicing what he preached. Through mentorship, motivation, and humility he earned the respect and trust of his team. They followed him not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

During that debate, Senator McCain didn’t say who that Chief was, but it could’ve been any one of us soon to be pinned, current or retired Chiefs.  We train, guide, and develop junior officers and Sailors into future leaders. The men and women who will be pinned next week and truly know the honor, weight, and burden of CPO leadership were selected to join the CPO fraternity not only for what they have accomplished, but what they will do on September 15 and beyond – after initiation is finished and they are the “Chief.”

Whether it is advocacy, tradition or trust, thanks to this year’s initiation season, our new Chiefs have more tools in their toolbox to do what the CPO Mess does best: provide leadership on the deckplates.

As our new Chiefs are pinned, I am confident that my active-duty brothers and sisters in the Mess will rededicate themselves to their craft and ensure that its newest members will put their initiation experience and lessons learned to good use.

I’d like to leave you with a quote from the late Steve Prefontaine, one of America’s greatest distance runners:

“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

Wearing the anchors of a Chief Petty Officer truly is a gift – one that must be payed forward every day.

Leading the panel were Vice Adm. Mary Jackson, Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, and Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids. Jackson serves as Commander, Naval Installation Command. Franchetti currently serves as Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, and Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa. Rear Adm. Davids is the Senior Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs.

During the panel, the flag officers offered insight into work-family balance, their motivation to continue serving, and what their experiences were like as trail blazers as women – and in some cases, as ethnic minorities as well.

With regard to work-family balance, all panel members agreed that a successful career in the Navy required upfront communication with one’s spouse or partner, as well as with the detailer.

“I think talking about it is really important, and you’d be surprised how many different options there are to kind of re-wicker and re-navigate [so] you’re on track,” said Jackson. She also added that since she entered the Navy, she’s seen the culture shift from one where it was taboo to speak about family planning to detailers, to one where that sort of discussion is welcomed.

The group continued the conversation into what the flag officers’ considered the motivation to continue serving. For most, the decision to stay in was a constant analysis through the years. Inputs were taken from family members, friends, coworkers, and their commands. It was about being mindful of the balance between what was best for them and what was best for their family. Nearly all women admitted that at some point in their career, they seriously considered leaving the service to pursue other opportunities, but ultimately found they were happiest when serving.

The dialogue led into a discussion about how to successfully navigate a career path in the Navy while still being a mother and a spouse.

“You need a support network. You have to figure out who your allies are and what your support network is,” said Jackson, before emphasizing, “You’re going to have allies and they’re not going to look like you, and they’re may not behave like you, and you’ll kind of figure that out over time. So embrace that, and work together.”

She went on to recommend the Women’s Leadership Symposium and Women’s Lean In Circles; two examples of women-specific support networking opportunities currently in place in the Navy.

“Sometimes as minorities, we kind of delete ourselves, or we subtract ourselves from the table sometimes. We don’t step up, because we think we’re different, and we think everyone’s looking at us differently. But in reality, they’re not necessarily looking at us differently,” said Franchetti. She went on to say, “Like Admiral Davids said, if you’re striving for excellence, you’re doing your best, you learn everything you can to do your job, you’re being a team player – that’s what we do in the Navy.”

The Female Forum provided approximately 100 women, serving in sea and shore billets at almost every paygrade, the opportunity to directly interact with some of the Navy’s most senior female leadership. This forum took place in the week leading to Women’s Equality Day, Sunday Aug. 26., which commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, when women across America were granted the equal right to vote.

Many women holding senior positions in the U.S. Navy today joined at a time when the environment for women to serve was a very different thing. In the 1970s, a series of naval policy changes allowed women to fill a significantly wider array of job assignments and paved the way for female trailblazers to shape today’s diversity across the Fleet. As the leaders of Female Forum noted, women have come far in the last century with regards to integrating into nearly all the billets in the Navy.

Thank you to all the women who have committed so much time and effort into serving the United States of America and the Navy, and through their service, made a truly significant impact on the lives of all Sailors.

Starting the week off with the Retired Surface Warfare Flag Officer Training Symposium (RSWFOTS) and leading into the active duty Surface Warfare Flag Officer Training Symposium (SWFOTS), flag officers from the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) down met to discuss the latest in Surface Warfare training improvements and guidance. These training symposiums are annual leadership mentoring and training events that provide flag officers from the surface community a venue to discuss the Navy’s current and future needs so that naval assets can better support the maritime strategy. More than 60 Surface Flag Officers met in San Diego with a list of objectives – one of which was how to continue to improve current and future readiness, while making an impact at the deckplate Sailor level. The highlight of this two day event was the time that the Flag Officers were able to spend interacting with our Surface Warriors.

Later in the week, the CNO visited the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), and Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Vice Adm. Brown addressed the San Diego waterfront during the keynote speech at the Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Symposium. Brown referenced the CNO’s remarks on high velocity learning, recalling his own command philosophy of good stewardship, professional development, and safety.

“A crew that is well trained, well qualified, and educated is a crew that knows their ship, knows their ship’s missions, and will be able to take that ship into battle, fight, and win,” said Brown.

He also added, “The biggest risk is the balance between this insatiable need to go do things, and the requirement to build readiness, capability, and competency. You can’t generate readiness for readiness’ sake. You generate readiness, and then turn that readiness into lethality.”

To ensure that standard is met, the Surface Force is addressing the concern of organizational drift into failure by meeting it with data-based analysis, addressing the identified six traits of a mishap, and integrating solutions into the Surface Force that directly mitigate the occurrence of those six traits.

The six traits are:

• Someone decided not to or did not perform a specific required action or protocol that they had been trained, qualified, and certified to perform.
• The ship, crew, or watch team had a previous near miss in often similar circumstances, but no explicit action was taken to correct potential causes.
• Poor log keeping for the entire duration of the period examined by investigators.
• Ineffective risk identification and mitigation in operational and daily planning.
• Lack of watch team coordination.
• Mishap ships were generally regarded as above average performers prior to the mishap.

In addition to addressing the root causes of these six traits, the Surface Force is working to improve the SWO career path to enhance leadership at sea. Changing the SWO qualification process and introducing a mariner’s logbook, similar in concept to an aviation logbook, are just some of the ways the Surface community is adapting. Many of these new policies are introduced and explained in depth during conferences such as SWFOTS and SNA West.

These events afford the opportunity for flag leadership across the Fleet to meet together and discuss efforts to improve the Surface Force, as the community continues to maintain and improve its warfighting readiness, emphasizing safety and effective risk management.

This year also carried a deep military significance: the centennial celebration of the United States victory in World War I. To honor this important anniversary, this year’s SLW theme was “Celebrating 100 years of Sea Supremacy” since our very own ships played a pivotal role in securing an Allied victory back in 1918.

The competition included professional skills challenges such as welding, shiphandling, valve packing, marksmanship, and various culinary competitions, while the athletic events included softball, volleyball, powerlifting, crossfit events, a 5K race, and much more. Events such as these are essential to the morale of each individual command, but also to the Surface Warfare community overall.

The athletic events provided healthy competition and a chance for all of the current and former athletes to show off their skills. The team sports helped build camaraderie among coworkers, while other athletic events allowed individuals to display their dedication to their fitness, an extremely important tenet of our Navy values.

The professional events delivered a public opportunity for competitors to showcase what they learned and perfected throughout their careers. For example, the Damage Control Olympics allowed Sailors to troubleshoot and fix a problem, such as a hole in a pipe, in an efficient and timely manner. In the context of the competition, no lives were in danger; however, the skills put to the test in this event preserve and enhance the crew’s ability to carry out their mission and save their fellow crew members’ lives.

“This is a very special event. 30 ships across 40 something events is a pretty spectacular competition,” said Capt. Chris Engdahl, Chief of Staff, Naval Surface Force Pacific. “You get professional, tactical, and training-wise better and better, and are surrounded by folks who have met milestones that we all want to meet and want to achieve.”

SLW allows all Surface Warriors across the San Diego waterfront an opportunity to compete with their current shipmates, against former shipmates. It also gives the entire community a chance to come together and celebrate all of their diligent and dedicated work over the preceding year.

“We are here to close out two weeks of hard fought competition, sports events, professional development events, and just to build camaraderie amongst different commands and personnel. We are celebrating some of the awards today,” said Yeoman First Class Darrell Lamber, the Master of Ceremonies at the awards ceremony today.

Some of the more unique events included a cake decorating competition and a Navy heritage tattoo competition. The cake decorating competition was open to anyone, including those not within the Culinary Specialist rate; however, rules mandated that the cake had to be baked and decorated within the command’s very own galley. All cakes were encouraged to reflect Navy colors and Navy pride themes.

The tattoo competition was for those who had already formalized their Navy pride by way of permanent ink. Sailors were not encouraged to go out and add any tattoos to their bodies. Acceptable entries included any tattoos of Navy style anchors, King Neptune, ships, pigs, roosters, or nautical stars with the intent of upholding the longstanding tradition of nautical tattoos that is part of our Navy’s heritage and identity.

These two weeks of competition brought out the Navy pride and spirit in all of the competitors and their supporters. All commands gave a valiant effort in this year’s competition. To see photos, videos, and a list of the individual winners, head over to the Surface Line Week Facebook page. Overall winners will be announced next week at the Surface Warfare Ball. 

Great job to all who participated and we look forward to next year’s event!

Torpedoes meant something different in the 1860s, referring to submerged mines rather than today’s rocket-shaped self-propelled bombs typically associated with submarines. In the Confederate-controlled port of Mobile Bay, Ala., these torpedoes were strategically placed to deter and slow down the invading Yankee fleet. Since the port of New Orleans was lost in 1862, Mobile Bay was the last remaining port that blockade runners could access to support the Confederate Army. Farragut’s forces intended to interrupt the flow of these supplies.

On the morning of August 5, 154 years ago, Farragut’s 18-ship force steamed into the mouth of Mobile Bay, Ala., and was immediately met with fire from the Confederate forces. The iron-hulled monitor, USS Tecumseh, sank, and the fleet fell into confusion. It was then that Adm. Farragut’s rallying cry of “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” regrouped the ships. (It is worth mentioning that the authenticity of this quote has been debated by historians, but the quote has nevertheless maintained its infamy in Naval lore.) The Yankee fleet made quick work of the smaller Confederate ships in the bay, and after the ironclad CSS Tennessee sustained heavy damages and Confederate flag officer Adm. Franklin Buchanan surrendered, the battle for the bay was over. Although the city of Mobile was still in the hands of the Confederacy, the port of Mobile Bay belonged to the Yankee force and was no longer available to blockade runners. Nearly three weeks later, the Yankee forces took control of the two forts in Mobile.

The Battle of Mobile Bay lifted the morale of the North, and in the spring of the following year, the Civil War came to a conclusion.

Today, the legacy of the brave Sailors that fought at the Battle of Mobile Bay continues on in the hands of the crew of USS Mobile Bay. Primarily an air-defense ship, Mobile Bay also has mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare capabilities that make it a lethal, highly adaptable platform. Last year, Mobile Bay successfully completed a missile exercise testing the updated AEGIS Baseline 9 weapons system in preparation for its upcoming 2018 deployment.

Lieutenant Erick Samayoa, the training officer onboard Mobile Bay, said in an interview with KUSI News, “we’re ready to answer any calls the the country wants us to take.”

“The crew of Mobile Bay are resilient, hardworking Sailors who embody our motto ‘Damn The Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead.’ We are ready to complete the tasks our nation asks of us, and uphold the traditions of the Sailors who, centuries before us, completed their mission successfully amidst the numerous challenges facing them,” said Captain James Storm, commanding officer of USS Mobile Bay.

Hooyah, Sailors of Mobile Bay!

But some of the at-sea phraseology is less about heritage and more about practicality. When you’re navigating at sea, precision and clarity are critical. You’ll never hear someone on the bridge say “let’s turn left” or “let’s head over there.” Instead you’ll hear something more like, “Left standard rudder, steady on course 180.” What’s that translate to? Turn the helm to the left until the rudder is 15 degrees off center and keep that turn until the ship is pointed due south and then straighten out on that course. It might sound like a foreign language, but it’s brevity and clarity that everyone in the pilot house knows.

Whether for heritage or practicality, nearly everything at sea has a different name or way of speaking than it does on land, and it can sometimes be a bit much for a “landlubber,” or a non-seagoing person. Making sense of the way Sailors speak requires an understanding of ship life in general, and sometimes even Sailors use memory aids to help learn the equipment. That’s where the animals come in.

Animals on a warship, you say? For the boatswain’s mates of the ship (those who handle all deck-related tasks aboard), the ship is a menagerie of different animals. Let’s take a look at some of the slang used to describe their equipment.

Wildcat

Pelican Hook

Frog’s Feet

Mousing

Bull Nose

Monkey’s Fist

Turtle Back and Gator Back

Elephant Feet

Bird’s Nest

This year is the 26th occurrence of the world’s largest naval exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which provides opportunities for twenty-five nations to come together as partners, to build capability, and integrate as a flexible, adaptive force to maintain sea lines of communication and security of the oceans. RIMPAC is based in Hawaii. However, the Southern California (SOCAL) portion of RIMPAC is a critical component to the exercise.  RIMPAC SOCAL provides a venue for the U.S. and partner nations to conduct mine clearance operations in sea lanes, international waterways, and in ports in a complex and challenging operational environment.

During RIMPAC in the SOCAL operations area, I served as Commander, Task Force (CTF) 177, the RIMPAC Mine Warfare Commander (MIWC). The task force was comprised of service members from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Navy, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, Royal Netherlands Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and the United States.

Twenty-six units and approximately 1,100 personnel conducted advanced mine warfare operations including mine countermeasures throughout the exercise. Units that were part of CTF 177 included: Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 3, Mine Countermeasures Division (MCMDIV) 31, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team – West (MSRT-W), the Australian Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Squadron, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705), HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706), and USS Ardent (MCM 12).

This year also marked a few notable firsts. It was the first time the RNZN served as the undersea mine countermeasures commander (UMCMC), the first employment of the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) in a Fleet exercise, and the first time the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team – West (MSRT-W) participated in the SOCAL area of operations during RIMPAC. 

Our team’s responsibility within the RIMPAC exercise construct was to work together as partners to maintain open sea lines of communication to provide security and free trade in an area challenged by a belligerent state actor. In the history of naval warfare, this isn’t a new concept. Sea Power and Sea Control have, and will remain, core tenets of both national and international power.

This is why our ability to maintain free and open common areas on the world’s waterways with our partners is critical to ensuring we meet the objectives of our National Defense Strategy and our Navy’s mission.

As Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), I am responsible for leading our command in its mission to increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force across all domains. Further, our team is also engaged in the maintenance of sea lines of communication in my responsibility as the Navy’s Global Mine Warfare Commander. This responsibility stems from the CNO and Fleet Forces Commanders’ guidance for our team to maintain an on call MIW Battle Staff to support the Navy’s numbered fleet commanders.

Maintaining MIW capability is a task that requires a great deal of training, planning, and resources both within the U.S. Navy, and in close coordination with our international partners. SMWDC’s MIW Division provides advanced tactical training to mine countermeasures (MCM) ships, as well as advanced training to Sailors in the MIW community. For instance, SMWDC leads MCM Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercises to keep our teams ready around the globe. We also ensure our staff stays sharp through exercises like this year’s Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) where we led a 16-nation MIW force.

In the face of increasing challenges posed by our adversaries in the maritime domain, we must “Own the Fight” as our senior leaders have tasked us to do. As part of that effort, SMWDC will expand its Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) program to include MIW WTIs who will be the young, tactical experts in the Surface Warfare community, and future of the MIW force.

As our National Defense Strategy provides us guidance to strengthen and attract alliances, I can think of no better position to be in than as the Navy’s Global Mine Warfare Commander. With operational touch points across the globe, my team is integrated into the fabric of the Navy wherever and whenever we are called upon to be.

In a challenging security environment, however, there is nothing more important than the trust we build with our partners through exercises like RIMPAC. You cannot surge trust – it has to be built already when you need it.

I am immensely proud of the work our RIMPAC Mine Warfare Task Force completed during the exercise to achieve national and international training objectives, and I am confident that the strong partnerships and increased capability we developed will ensure our mutual security and prosperity.

For more information about RIMPAC 2018, check out these stories:

RIMPAC Mine Warfare Operations Underway

USS Pearl Harbor Hosts MCM Dive Operations

Royal New Zealand Navy Divers Conducting Pouncer Operations

USS Harpers Ferry Conducts Operations To Support Rim of the Pacific Exercise

USS Sentry (MCM 3) Completes Advanced Tactical Training Exercise in 5th Fleet

Maritime Security Response Team–West, Canadian EOD Train to Mitigate Threats

Commander, Task Force 177 visits Undersea Mine Countermeasures Commander

Navy’s Mine Warfare Battle Staff Leads 16-Nation MIW Force in BALTOPS 2018

2018 National Defense Strategy

The Constitution of the United States of America

Secretary of the Navy Vision

Chief of Naval Operations: The Future Navy

Readying The Fleet To Own The Fight

Spaniard Sebastian Viscaino led an expedition into the bay in 1602 and named it San Diego after Saint Didacus of Alcalá, the saint with the celebrated feast date closest to the day of their arrival in California. After establishing their presence in San Diego, the Spanish went on to build missionaries across California. Franciscan Friars, alongside Spanish military members, undertook the mission of converting Native Americans living in the region to Christianity in an attempt to secure them as loyal subjects of the Spanish crown. These land-based expeditions proceeded with difficulty; initially, more than half of the missionaries and military died from scurvy and infection. However, the arrival of more Spanish ships brought more supplies, more military personnel, and more hope for survival and success. When it was said and done, it took the Spanish more than a century to establish a solid presence in California.

Father Junípero Serra formally established Mission San Diego on July 16, 1769, on a site overlooking the bay. Five years later, the mission was moved east, to the site now known as Mission Valley. San Diego would become another military campsite a few years later – this time home to the United States Navy.

In a bid for statehood, Texas launched the Mexican-American War and brought the first US warship into San Diego harbor. On July 29, 1846, USS Cyane sailed into the bay and flew the Stars and Stripes over San Diego, officially marking that day as the defining moment of San Diego’s transition from Spanish and Mexican rule to that of the United States.

In the years following California becoming part of the United States (1848), the city of San Diego began a long-term plan to get the U.S. Navy to build infrastructure in the area that would lead to a permanent major naval base.

By 1904, city leadership convinced the Navy officials to place a coal depot in San Diego Bay to service the small but growing number of warships on the West Coast. Two years later, they were able to get a wireless radio station built on Point Loma.

In 1908, the President Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet visited San Diego during its historic circumnavigation of the globe.

This same year, the city began dredging the shallow harbor to enable larger ships to enter San Diego Bay.

In 1910, Glenn Curtiss opened a flying school on North Island. By 1911, he had successfully hoisted his hydroplane on and off the cruiser Pennsylvania. Thus San Diego’s designation as the birthplace of naval aviation.

In 1914, the Navy renamed the cruiser USS California (ACR 6) as USS San Diego (CA 6). The warship served as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, raising San Diego’s visibility.

In 1915, San Diego officials let the visiting Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, know that the Navy could obtain lots of land with little or no cost to expand.

In 1919, Congress approved the plan for a naval training station, a naval hospital, a naval repair base, and a fleet landing in San Diego. The Navy began almost immediately began transferring destroyers to San Diego because of concerns about Japan’s expansionism.

In 1922, the Navy formally created the U.S. Destroyer Base at 32nd Street.

Since the renaming of the cruiser California as San Diego in 1914, there have been three other ships that bear the name San Diego.

The first armored cruiser bearing the city’s name suffered an explosion to the port side On the July 19, 1918 while steaming northeast of the Fire Island Lightship in New York. The ship sank in 28 minutes and reports later suggested that it had been sunk by a mine laid by a German U-boat.

For more than a decade following the incident, the Navy did not have a ship bearing the name San Diego. Then, in 1942, the second USS San Diego (CL 53) was commissioned. The ship supported the first American offensive of World War II: the invasion of the Solomon Islands at Guadalcanal. San Diego became one of the most decorated U.S. ships of the war, being awarded 18 battle stars. After the ship’s stalwart service, she was decommissioned in 1946 during the post-war era in which the Navy significantly reduced the number of ships in the fleet.

The third USS San Diego (AFS 6) was commissioned as a Mars-class combat stores ship in 1968. She served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet until 1993, when she was decommissioned and redesignated as a United States Naval Ship and assigned to Military Sealift Command. She served as USNS San Diego (T-AFS 6) until 1997.

In 2012, the most recent USS San Diego (LPD 22) was commissioned as a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock in her namesake city. This ship is markedly different than its predecessors, with mission capabilities tailored to amphibious operations. San Diego can carry 14 Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles, 699 troops, and launch and recover four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters or two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft. San Diego can reach speeds in excess of 22 knots, and carries up to 360 Sailors as part of her crew. In 2014, the ship operated with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group in the Fifth Fleet area of operations.

In the future years, we should expect that the Navy will continually demonstrate honor toward and gratitude for the great partnership with the city by having a USS San Diego in the fleet proudly representing the name around the world.