U.S. Navy News Archives - Page 19 of 19 - Americans for a Stronger Navy

March 1, 2023March 2, 2023

Future USS John H. Dalton

USS Virginia underway in July 2004 Photo courtesy of General Dynamics Electric Boat Public Affairs

The future USS John H. Dalton, a Virginia Attack Boat, SSN-808 will be named after John H. Dalton, the 70th Secretary of the Navy who served on two submarines before pursuing a career in the private sector and government. Secretary Del Toro praised Dalton’s strong and principled stands against sexual assault and harassment during his tenure and oversaw the integration of female Sailors onto combat ships. The attack submarine is designed to carry out various missions such as seeking and destroying enemy submarines and surface ships, supporting battle group operations, and engaging in mine warfare.

The future USS John H. Dalton will honor John H. Dalton, the 70th Secretary of the Navy, who served on two submarines USS Blueback (SS 581) and USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630) before departing active duty to pursue graduate education and a career in the private sector.

“I couldn’t be prouder to name this future submarine after John Dalton,” said Secretary Del Toro. “He served as a proud submariner and as Secretary of the Navy, he took strong and principled stands against sexual assault and harassment and oversaw the integration of female Sailors onto combat ships. The changes he drove almost thirty years ago are evident in all corners of our Navy today, with women serving on, above, and below the sea. A ship bearing his name brings strength to the crew who will undoubtedly operate it with the courage and dignity of John H. Dalton.”
U.S. Navy Secretary Del Toro

March 1, 2023March 1, 2023

Navy and Industry Collaborate – Challenges and Opportunities

Industry executives at the WEST 2023 conference have emphasized the need for earlier involvement in the requirements process in order to overcome challenges faced by industry when delivering capabilities to warfighters. Setting unrealistic expectations for requirements leads to poor communication between industry partners and the military, which can be addressed by involving industry experts in the requirements-setting process. Additionally, industry representatives stressed the importance of a steady demand signal and shared commitment to speed in the contracting process, as well as the need for improved training to ensure successful integration between industry-delivered hardware and software capabilities and the sailors operating them. These comments follow criticism from Navy officials in January about the need for shipbuilders to do more with what they already have.

February 26, 2023February 26, 2023

Navy Academy Renames Building 105 to Carter Hall

On February 17th, the U.S. Naval Academy held a ceremony to officially rename Building 105 after former President Jimmy Carter, the only Naval Academy graduate to become president. The renaming was a result of the Naming Commission recommending that all Department of Defense assets named for individuals who served in the Confederacy be renamed. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro gave remarks on Carter’s career, which included his time in the Navy, during which he had several noteworthy experiences. Despite his short time in the Navy, there is reason to believe that he would have had a successful career had he stayed.

February 24, 2023February 25, 2023

US Navy learns costly lessons

The U.S. Navy appears to have learned its lesson after rushing new technology onto warships and speeding them into production, resulting in costly mistakes. In an article by David Sharp for ABC News, it was reported that the Navy is taking a more deliberate approach in the design and purchase of its next-generation destroyers to ensure new technologies, such as powerful lasers and hypersonic missiles, are mature before pressing ahead on construction.

Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, acknowledged that the Navy has learned that when it moves too fast, big mistakes can be made. He stated, “Let’s be deliberate. Let’s not have our eyes become bigger than our stomach and get too far ahead of ourselves.”

The Navy is reducing risk by conducting more land tests and borrowing the radar and targeting system from the latest destroyers that’ll soon join the fleet. It’s also working with shipbuilders and designers to refine the ship’s blueprint, cost estimates, and workforce and supply forecasts.

While the Navy still plans to field new technologies on the destroyer, it’s balancing the best technology that’s reliable, affordable, and attainable. Matt Caris, a defense analyst with Avascent, said, “The Navy is trying to thread the needle with some potentially revolutionary capabilities in as low-risk and evolutionary process as possible. This was a lesson learned by the Navy’s laundry list of shameful acquisition programs.”

The Navy is trying to avoid repeating past shipbuilding mistakes, which have resulted in costly errors and early retirements of combat ships beset by problems. It’s juggling its priorities as it seeks not just a new destroyer but also a new attack submarine and a replacement for the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. The Navy is in a difficult spot because the Biden administration is not interested in dramatically increasing the military budget.

In conclusion, the Navy’s new approach to shipbuilding is a promising step towards avoiding past mistakes and ensuring new technologies are mature before construction. It shows a willingness to learn from costly errors and take a more deliberate approach to ensure the best possible outcome. Thank you David Sharp at ABC News for reporting on this important story.

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023

US Navy Can’t Keep Up says Carlos Del Toro

According to CNN, the head of the US Navy, Carlos Del Toro, has stated that China has a significant advantage over the US navy in terms of shipbuilding capacity and fleet size, which they are using to project their power across oceans. He added that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy could be fielding up to 400 ships in the coming years, compared to the US fleet, which currently sits at under 300 ships. Del Toro said that the US needs a larger and more modern fleet to meet the threat, but US naval shipyards cannot match the output of Chinese ones. Furthermore, he claimed that China has a numerical advantage in terms of workers due to the country being free of the restrictions, regulations, and economic pressures that affect labor in the US, and added that China uses slave labor in building their ships, which gives them a significant advantage. However, analysts express doubt about such a claim, as China has a large pool of available manpower and would not resort to using slave labor in a high-tech sector vital to its national security. Despite these challenges, Del Toro noted that the US still has an inherent advantage over China, which is its people, whom he believes are better-trained and have the ability to think more critically. The US Navy has taken steps to address the gap with China, including assigning more of its fleet to the Pacific and using newer and more capable ships in Pacific roles, according to a US Congressional Research Service report from November said CNN.

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023

American Presidents in the Navy – Honoring Presidents Day

As America celebrates Presidents Day today February 20, 2023, the editors and staff for the Americans for a Stronger Navy salutes those that have served our country with honor and distinction.

The United States Navy has a long and storied history, dating back to the American Revolution. Over the years, many Americans have answered the call to serve in the Navy, including several who would go on to become President of the United States. In this article, we will explore some of the U.S. Presidents who have served in the Navy.

John F. Kennedy
Perhaps the most famous Navy veteran to become President, John F. Kennedy served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was commanding officer of PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat, when it was struck by a Japanese destroyer in the Pacific. Despite suffering injuries himself, Kennedy was able to lead his surviving crew to safety. This experience helped shape his leadership style and informed his foreign policy decisions during his presidency.

Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson also served in the Navy during World War II, where he was assigned to the South Pacific as a lieutenant commander. Johnson was part of a team responsible for planning and executing bombing missions against Japanese targets in the region. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery during a mission in which he flew as an observer on a B-26 bomber.

Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon served in the Navy during World War II as well, though his experience was somewhat different from Kennedy’s and Johnson’s. Nixon was initially rejected by the Army and Navy due to a knee injury, but he persisted and was eventually accepted into the Navy. He served as a supply officer in the South Pacific, where he earned the rank of lieutenant commander.

Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford served in the Navy during World War II and was a decorated veteran. He was commissioned as an ensign and served on the aircraft carrier USS Monterey in the Pacific. Ford was present at several major battles, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and was awarded several medals for his service.

Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter graduated with distinction from the Naval Academy in 1946 and served on the USS Wyoming before applying for submarine duty. He then served on the submarine SSK-1 as executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer. He was selected by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to join the program to create nuclear-powered submarines and served on temporary duty with the Naval Reactors Branch in 1952-1953 to assist in the design and development of nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels. Carter was promoted to lieutenant during this time.

George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush is perhaps the most distinguished Navy veteran to become President. He enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday and became the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II and was shot down over the Pacific. He was rescued by a U.S. submarine and went on to serve as a Navy pilot during the Korean War. Bush went on to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Vice President before being elected President in 1988.

In conclusion, the U.S. Navy has played an important role in shaping the lives and careers of many Americans, including several who went on to become President of the United States. From John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush, these Navy veterans brought their leadership skills and military experience to the highest office in the land. Their service to their country in the Navy undoubtedly helped prepare them for the challenges they would face as President.

February 19, 2023

One man finds closure after long-lost WWII US submarine found off Japanese coast

William Bower II, a retired aerospace engineer, has finally found closure after the discovery of the wreck of the USS Albacore, a US submarine that sank during World War II off the coast of Japan in 1944. Bower’s father, Lt. William Walter Bower, was among at least 85 sailors who were lost at sea when the submarine sank. The discovery of the wreck was confirmed by the Naval History and Heritage Command, and Bower was notified of the news on Thursday. The discovery of the USS Albacore is significant as it sheds light on the events of the war and provides closure to families of those who were lost at sea.

February 17, 2023February 17, 2023

US Naval Academy Renames Maury Hall to Carter Hall in Honor of Former President Jimmy Carter

The US Naval Academy’s Maury Hall has been renamed Carter Hall in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who served in the Navy before entering politics. The decision was made as part of the Naming Commission’s recommendation to rename military assets with Confederate ties. During a renaming ceremony, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said the new names should inspire generations of service members to defend democracy and the Constitution. Carter is the only Naval Academy graduate to have served as president of the US. Maury Hall, named after Confederate Navy officer Matthew Fontaine Maury, was built in the early 1900s.

February 7, 2023

US Navy Visits ROK Shipbuilders

Rear Adm. Anderson of the U.S. Navy visited shipbuilders in the Republic of Korea and praised their work. He will lead an international shipbuilding panel at the upcoming Sea-Air-Space Navy League Maritime Exposition on April 3, 2023. The panel includes representatives from shipbuilding organizations in Denmark, the UK, and the US. PEO Ships, one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, is responsible for procuring all types of ships for the U.S. Navy.