Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

BATH, Maine (NNS) -- The future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) was launched Dec. 9 at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard.

Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, joins, from left to right, Capt. Frank X. Castellano, Commanding Officer, Center for Surface Combat Systems, Rear Adm. David A. Welch, Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Rear Adm. Ronald A. Boxall, Director, Surface Warfare (N96), Capt. Samuel E. Pennington, Surface Training Program Manager (PMS 339), during the Combined Integrated Air and Missile Trainer (CIAT) opening ceremony Dec. 6. CIAT is a state-of-the-art trainer that creates a culture of excellence within the Surface Force by Simulating high-end tactical training needed to build lethality, warfighting and tactical proficiency. This training will enhance warfighting skills and readiness across the waterfront.

Rear Adm. Dave Welch, commander of the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), speaks with Anti-Submarine Warfare/ Surface Warfare (ASW/SUW) Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course students during the graduation ceremony. SMWDC is one of the Navy's five Warfighting Development Centers and its mission is to increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the surface force across all domains.

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181) conducted a cooperative deployment while operating in the Philippine Sea from Nov. 28, to Dec. 5.

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO – Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks with crewmembers, government employees and civilian contractors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) during a ship visit, Dec. 4. During the visit, Brown also met with Capt. Kurt Sellerberg, Bunker Hill’s commanding officer, toured the ship, and inspected progress of repairs and upgrades to the ship following a recent deployment.

SAN DIEGO, CA – On December 04 2018, the crew of USS MOMSEN (DDG 92) stood in formation on the flight deck to hold the change of command ceremony while pier side at Naval Base San Diego.

Rear Adm. Brad Skillman, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, poses for a group photo with Amphibious Warfare (AMW) Warfare Tactics Instructor course graduates onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) is headquartered in San Diego and has four divisions located in California and Virginia focused on Integrated Air and Missile Defense, AMW, Surface Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Mine Warfare.

Mineman 3rd Class Latron Jolly, from Hayward, California, removes safety lines in preparation to launch a mine neutralization vehicle aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Chief (MCM 14) during Mine Warfare Exercise 3JA. The U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy are participating in the exercise to increase proficiency in mine countermeasure operations.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) is pulled towards a pier after departing from a dry dock at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Barry is departing the dock after an extensive maintenance period in order to sustain the ship’s ability to serve as a forward-deployed asset in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

In support of U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise Initiative, amphiibous transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) and guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer will conduct interoperability and partnership exercises in Ecuador, Peru and Chile.

Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) conducted a fisheries patrol exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard and Ecuadorian naval assets in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 22.

USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) achieved a major milestone this week as it successfully launched from dry dock and moored pierside at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Nov. 27.

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) - Electrician’s Mate Fireman Samuel Guidroz was more than 4,500 miles away from home when he was awakened by a sharp pain in his abdomen on the morning of Nov. 27, 2018.

Cryptologic Technicians (Technical) Sailors from USS Hopper (DDG 70) Electronic Warfare (EW) Module attended the 7th annual Association of Old Crows (AOC) Pacific Conference to be recognized as the Association’s 2017 Outstanding Unit, Navy (Surface).

Sailors from the Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit Michael Monsoor successfully completed crew certification phase two prior to departing Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Bath, Maine Nov. 9, certifying the crew ready for sea.

Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving meal underway, November 22.

Two of the world’s most technologically sophisticated warships, the future USS Michael Monsoor and the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, conducted a photo exercise with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen

Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, Commander Task Force 73, along with members from the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF), flew a Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopter during maritime exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2018 at Rimba Air Base, Brunei, Nov. 14.

Sailors underway aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) are staying connected with family through the United Through Reading program.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland departed the waters near Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands after assisting Task Force-West with Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local authorities, Nov. 20.

The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) had an addition to their team during a recent underway, as they sailed from Pearl Harbor back to their homeport of San Diego.

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) hosted a change of command ceremony Nov. 27 at Naval Station San Diego. Capt. Andrew Carlson relieved Capt. Scott Tait and assumed duties as the third commanding officer of USS Zumwalt in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, family, friends and crew.

The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 24.

CORONADO – Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force (CNSF), approved the new Surface Warfare Watchstander Proficiency Requirements Instruction, Nov. 13. The purpose of the instruction is to establish minimum requirements for individuals to maintain proficiency in the Tactical Action Officer (TAO), Officer of the Deck (OOD), Combat Information Center Watch Officer (CICWO), Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW), Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD), Conning Officer (CONN), and Combat Systems Officer of the Watch (CSOOW) watchstations.

NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE CORONADO, Calif. – Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet hosted the 2018 Command Senior Enlisted Leadership Symposium at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado Nov. 5-8. The symposium afforded Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith and more than 120 command senior enlisted leaders the opportunity to collaborate and share their experiences and concerns with regard to better meeting the needs of the fleet. As well, the event allowed MCPON to hear feedback directly from the senior enlisted leaders serving on the deckplates; each used their invaluable experiences to raise the collective operational knowledge for the group.

EVERETT – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Everett, Washington, November 21.

The Independence variant littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Tulsa (LCS 16) arrived at Naval Base San Diego, Nov. 21, after completing the ship’s maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

The U.S. Navy’s Surface Fleet is more capable, ready, and lethal here today as surface combatants from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group (ABESG) completed the Navy’s first East Coast Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Cruiser-Destroyer (CRUDES) Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise.

CAIRNS, Australia (Nov. 21, 2018) - Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) pulled into Cairns, Australia for a port visit, November 21.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis D. Wilbur (DDG 54) anchored in Hong Kong Harbor on Nov. 21.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) departed the waters near Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) after assisting Task Force-West with Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local authorities November 20.

Rear Adm. Cedric E. Pringle, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE, has returned to his headquarters at Naval Base San Diego following the completion of a successful ROTC and Recruiting Engagement Effort (R2E2) tour throughout the southeast United States. Between Nov. 12 and Nov. 16, 2018

YOKOSUKA, Japan – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) re-opened her mess decks Nov. 19.

The Navy and Marine Corps team on the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed Port Moresby Nov. 19 after supporting security efforts during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fellows from the Hoover Institute visited the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) for a ship tour and round-table discussion , Oct. 8.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Nov. 17, 2018) Over 5000 people attended the commissioning ceremony of USS Sioux City (LCS 11). Sioux City is the thirteenth littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the sixth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named for Sioux City, the fourth-largest city in Iowa.

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) held a change of command ceremony on the ship’s main deck Nov. 16.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team on amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) prepared to support security efforts during the APEC conference in Port Moresby Thursday.

PHILIPPINE SEA — Capt. Jon Duffy, commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106), Nov. 14.

The U.S. Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) are scheduled to begin Mine Warfare Exercise 3JA 2018 off the coast of southern Japan, November 17.

USS Green Bay (LPD 20) arrived in Port Moresby today marking second time a U.S. ship has visited Papua New Guinea in two months.

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 conducted a landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) interoperability exchange with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Sasebo, Japan on November 8.

Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), participated in the 13th annual Honoring Our Heroes Veterans Day Parade hosted by Veterans Elementary School, Nov. 2.

Amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) with embarked Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 31 arrived in vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to provide Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and civil and local officials as part of the FEMA-supported Typhoon Yutu recovery effort Nov. 3.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) departed Naval Base Norfolk Friday, Nov. 2, to participate in the Navy’s first East Coast Carrier Strike Group (CSG) cruiser-destroyer (CRUDES) Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise.

Rear Adm. Cedric Pringle, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3, will visit Naval ROTC units in South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, Nov. 12-16.

SANTA RITA, Guam (Nov. 5, 2018) -- Commander, Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific (CTF) 75 is executing crisis-response with Task Force West in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) efforts to rapidly assist residents of Tinian and Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, recover from Super Typhoon Yutu.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS John Finn (DDG-113) successfully conducted an intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target with a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile during a flight test off the west coast of Hawaii.

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group finished exercise Keen Sword 2019 with units from the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on November 8th.

The sound of wind passes by him with his cranial helmet on as he opens a compartment on the helicopter. His hands work quickly and skillfully to fix the small electrical problem.