Sam LaGrone

ABOARD FLEET OILER USNS KANAWHA — In a ceremony overseen by the highest-ranking admiral in Norfolk, the crew members of a 35-year-old fleet oiler were honored for excelling at a mission they were never supposed to be on. U.S. Fleet Forces commander Adm. Karl Thomas presented the Presidential Unit Citation to the USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196)’s crew on Friday for supporting the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)’s carrier strike group’s dash from the Caribbean to the Red Sea on the eve of Operation Epic Fury. Kanawha and cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) are the first ships in the history

The new organization that will oversee surface shipbuilding for the U.S. Navy and one Coast Guard program has reached its initial operational capability overseeing major surface ship and aircraft carrier construction, according to a July 16 memo obtained by USNI News. Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime, led by civilian Chris Miller, will encompass amphibious warship construction, aircraft carriers, surface combatants, auxiliaries and ship readiness and sustainment with five deputy PAEs reporting to Miller, according to an organizational chart reviewed by USNI News. In turn, the head of PAE Maritime will report to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development &

The Office of Management and Budget wants Congress to allow the Navy to start work on the Trump-class battleship program, buy more on critical munitions and fund long lead materials for future aircraft carrier William J. Clinton (CVN-82) in response to a House Continuing Resolution proposal to keep the government funded through the midterm elections, according to a summary of the anomalies reviewed by USNI News. At the moment, the $1.5 trillion-dollar Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act is blocked by Senate Democrats as a protest to the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. Likewise, the House version

The Office of Management and Budget wants Congress to allow the Navy to start work on the Trump-class battleship program, buy more on critical munitions and fund long lead materials for future aircraf

A trio of Republican senators have introduced a bill to create Secretary of the Coast Guard and Undersecretary positions as the civilian head of the 43,000-member service, USNI News has learned. According to the draft ‘‘Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act’’ obtained by USNI News, the new Secretary of the Coast Guard position would report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and takeover many of the interactions the service had with the Pentagon, according to the bill text. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and was introduced Wednesday. “The

The White House is pushing back against a congressional proposal to restrict buying warships and auxiliaries from foreign shipyards, according to a memo released this week by the Office of Management and Budget. OMB opposed a section of the House’s version of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would block the purchase of “battle force” ships from foreign shipyards. The Navy defines battle force ships as both warships and auxiliaries that are part of the combat logistics fleet. The prohibition in the House bill that passed earlier this week “is inconsistent with the Administration’s priority legislative proposal,

Scrapping “Big E” is costing big bucks. Recycling the Navy’s first nuclear aircraft carrier has cost the branch about $1.3 billion since the former USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was removed from active service in 2012. Earlier this month, NorthStar Maritime Dismantlement Services was awarded a $418.5 million contract for the disposal of the former 95,000-ton aircraft carrier. NorthStar Maritime will tow the hulk from Pier 2 at Newport News Shipbuilding to Mobile, Ala., for the final dismantling near the hulk of the famed ocean liner S.S. United States. The NorthStar contract follows $902 million for the initial activation for Enterprise and

The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $76.6 billion contract on Wednesday for the next batch of attack and ballistic missile submarines after a nearly three-year delay. The award is split between $42.1 billion for nine Block VI of the Virginia-class attack boats and material for a tenth boat, $29.5 billion for five Build II Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines that will recapitalize the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad and $5 billion for workforce improvements between EB and HII, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday. “The Block VI award includes previously announced material awards (including

Two warships have ended their service with the Navy this week, a 42-year-old nuclear guided-missile submarine and one of the first Littoral Combat Ships, the service announced. USS Georgia (SSGN-729) returned Monday from its final deployment to Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., and is set to leave the fleet on Friday. Georgia is one of four Ohio-class guided-missile nuclear submarines — former nuclear ballistic missile submarines retrofitted to field 154 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and special operations. USS Ohio (SSGN-726), USS Michigan (SSGN-727), USS Florida (SSGN-728) and Georgia were converted into the guided-missile configuration from 2002-07 and have been key

ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS NIMITZ — Four hundred former USS Nimitz (CVN-68) sailors and their families streamed off buses on Pier 14 at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and up the brow of the oldest carrier in the Navy for a final goodbye. The guest of honor was the first commander of the carrier, 94-year-old Rear Adm. Bryan Compton. An A-4E Skyhawk pilot, Compton was awarded the Navy Cross for leading a strike against a North Vietnamese power plant in 1967 while commanding the “The Saints” of Attack Squadron (VA) 163. Following his squadron command, Compton entered the carrier command pipeline,