This week on April 4, 1776, the Continental Navy frigate Columbus captured HM Tender Hawke, marking the first American capture of British armed vessel. For more naval history, check out the Naval History and Heritage Command website at www.history.navy.mil/.
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) brings the future to the here and now. Check out All Hands magazine’s website dedicated to the futuristic vessel.
April 1 marked the 122nd birthday of Chief Petty Officers. MCPON Mike Stevens shares a special birthday message here.
Silent Professionals: History of the Rank of Chief Petty Officer — “Ask the Chief” — a look at the history of the Navy’s Chief Petty Officer.
CNO Stresses Versatility of Independence Class LCS — Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) stressed the versatility of the Independence-Class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) April 1 at a press conference on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. After touring the USS Independence (LCS 2) with the congressman, the CNO highlighted the value of the LCS's ability to be repackaged for multiple missions. The ship has been testing its new anti-mine warfare technology in the Gulf of Mexico since Feb. 20, and will be docking between sorties at NAS Pensacola throughout its training operation.
Chief of Naval Research Talks Naval STEM Workforce at Upcoming Expo — Students from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., will have an opportunity to engage in all things STEM - short for science, technology, engineering and math - at the Naval STEM Exposition, at the Gaylord Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on April 12, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in advance of the 50th annual Sea-Air-Space Exposition. The expo, co-sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Navy League STEM Institute, is free and geared to students in grades six through twelve. It will provide middle and high school students an introduction to naval STEM careers and applications through guest speakers and hands-on activities. Rear Adm. Mat Winter, chief of naval research and the naval STEM executive, will address the audience at 11 a.m.
The 'Iron Nickel' is Decommissioned After 34 Years of Service — Hundreds of current and former crew members, 10 previous commanding officers, and their family members crowded onto the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) to bid farewell to the "Iron Nickel" during the ship's decommissioning ceremony at Naval Base San Diego, March 31. Peleliu was named after the Battle of Peleliu which took place from Sept. 15 to Nov. 27, 1944 in which 1,256 Marines gave their lives to take the island which was being held by the Imperial Japanese Army. Rear Adm. Marcus A. Hitchcock, the current director of Fleet and Joint Training at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, was the ship's 18th commanding officer from March 2008 to September 2009 and served as the guest speaker for the ceremony.
USS Hopper Celebrates Women's Contributions — U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Master Chief Marco Ramirez and PACFLT Staff Command Master Chief Terri Carroll-Gillis spoke with crew members during their Women's History Month celebration, aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) March 30. The theme for this year's event was "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives." Carroll-Gillis praised the progression the military has made and the diversity seen in today's Navy. USS Hopper was named after the late Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, a pioneer in the field of computer programming and co-inventor of COBOL.
USS Constitution Commencing Final Preparations for Dry Dock Entry — After delays brought on by Boston's snowiest winter on record, USS Constitution is scheduled to enter Dry Dock 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard in the early hours of May 19, 2015. Old Ironsides' move into dry dock, originally slated for March 20, will now commence at approximately 12 a.m. on May 19. The docking evolution was selected for a midnight start due to favorable predicted tidal conditions in Boston Harbor. Following a year of repairs to ready Dry Dock 1 (the second-oldest operational dry dock in the United States — repaired especially for Constitution's impending arrival), the dock is now ready to be flooded and tested starting this week.
Made for Men, Run by Women — To sail on a frigate, you’ve got to be tough. As the last guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) heads toward decommissioning, women discuss their unique experience aboard the rough and tumble vessel.
These stories originally published by Navy News Service during Mar. 30-April 3, 2015. For more Navy news, go to: www.navy.mil/.