Kauffman Saves Stranded Mariners — The guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) rescued six stranded fishermen set adrift in the western Caribbean Sea when their ship experienced engine trouble on Feb. 21.
NAVFAC EXWC Tests New RO System for Littoral Combat Ships — The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) completed tests on a prototype reverse osmosis (RO) system for the Navy's littoral combat ships (LCS) in February. The Littoral Combat Ship Program Office (PMS 501) will move forward with funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for development of a hardened Reverse Osmosis Unit with a media filter and cartridge filter pretreatment capable of producing 4,000 gallons of water per day.
Head of Language, Regional Expertise and Culture Receives Award — The National Security Education Program (NSEP) recognized a senior Navy civilian with their 2015 Spirit of Service Award for advancing their core mission of strengthening foreign language skills and international expertise in the national security community, Feb. 25. Lee Johnson, head of Navy's Language, Regional Expertise and Culture (LREC) office, is being recognized by the Boren Forum for his role in "ensuring that Asia Pacific regional expertise is codified and valued within the United States Navy, through the development of a new additional qualification designator (AQD)," wrote the forum's president Yenal Kucuker in a recent letter. The award was presented during the Boren Forum open house reception at the Hillyer Gallery in Washington, D.C.
High Seas Must Remain Open to All, Navy Leader Says — The world's ocean trade routes must remain open to all to maintain global commerce, the vice chief of naval operations said Feb. 24. "The world [economy] depends on those high seas staying free," Navy Adm. Michelle J. Howard told CNN's Jim Sciutto during the NewAmerica Future of War Project conference.
AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System Tracks, Simulates Engagements of Three Short-Range Ballistic Missiles — The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), and USS Barry (DDG 52) successfully completed a flight test involving the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system on Feb. 26.
USS San Diego Returns Home to San Diego Following Maiden Deployment — The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego Feb. 25 following completion of the ship's maiden deployment. The only ship in the U.S. Navy stationed in its namesake city departed for the seven-month, 40,000 nautical mile deployment, as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on July 25.
Fleet Beldo Talks National African-American History — Fleet Master Chief April Beldo reflects on the legacy of African Americans in the U.S. Navy and shares her own inspirational career story with All Hands Magazine.
NHHC Archaeologist Assists Florida Community with Search for Clues into World War II Bomber Crash Site — Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Archaeologist Dr. George Schwarz was joined by more than 45 volunteers from nearly a dozen organizations wading through dense vegetation and sifting through Florida sand Feb. 18-20 in the hopes of finding more clues to a Navy aircraft crash that happened more than seven decades ago.
NHHC Historian Describes Century of Changes for Black Americans — Dr. Regina Akers, an historian with the Naval History and Heritage Command and an expert on diversity issues in naval history, was the keynote speaker at an event in honor of Black History Month Feb. 23 at the Pentagon. During the hour-long discussion, Dr. Akers presented highlights of African Americans' military participation as it pertains to this year's theme "A Century of Black Life, History and Culture." She discussed the gradual and progressive changes in acceptance during the World Wars up through today. She also gave a look ahead and how everyone has a role in mentoring others to grow.
An Image for the Ages — The story behind the iconic World War II photo of Old Glory being raised at Iwo Jima.
These stories originally published by Navy News Service during Feb. 23-27, 2015. For more Navy news, go to: www.navy.mil/.