SAN DIEGO — The future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) will join the active fleet with a commissioning ceremony at Eastport, Maine on September 30.

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES — Rear Adm. Yvette Davids relieved Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener as acting Commander, Naval Surface Forces and acting Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony Aug. 18 at Naval Base San Diego, pier 2 with USS Princeton (CG 59) in

SAN DIEGO — Cmdr. Lauren Johnson relieved Cmdr. Justin Bummara as commanding officer of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) during a pier side change of command ceremony aboard Stockdale at Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 12.

SYDNEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA — Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) commissioned at the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia, July 22.

Capt. Wilson Marks assumed command of Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) at a change of command ceremony at SMWDC’s headquarters in San Diego, Wednesday, May 17.

The engineering, medical, and supply departments aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) were recognized during an evaluation period for excellence in their primary functional areas.

Cmdr. Kevin M. Dore relieved Cmdr. David Y. Haile as commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Cmdr. John “Nick” Van Wagoner relieved Cmdr. Derek Jaskowiak, a native of St. Louis, Mo., as commanding officer of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) Blue crew during a ceremony pier side at Naval Base San Diego aboard USS Kansas City (LCS 22), May 4.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Barry (DDG 52), arrived at its new homeport Naval Station Everett, following six years of forward-deployed service in the Indo-Pacific region, March 17.

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) are conducting integrated expeditionary strike force (ESF) operations in the South China Sea Feb. 11.

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan concluded a visit to Otaru in the northern Japanese island prefecture of Hokkaido Feb. 10.

ARLINGTON, VA — Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander, Naval Surface Forces, emphasized readiness and maintaining the Surface Force Competitive Edge during his keynote remarks at the 35th Annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Arlington, Va., Jan. 10.

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Singapore to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) with the Republic of

Cmdr. Christopher Polnaszek became the first commanding officer of future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) Blue crew during an assumption of command ceremony on Naval Base San Diego, Dec. 13.

Amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD 27) retrieved the Artemis I Orion spacecraft in coordination with multiple organizations including NASA, U.S. Space Command, fellow U.S. Navy ship Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 23),

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard began their joint patrol in the Western Pacific under the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) to reduce and eliminate illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing, combat transnational crimes, and enhance regional security, March 20.

Mariner Skills Training Center Pacific (MSTCPAC) hosted a graduation of 155 Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC) students at Naval Base San Diego’s Theater, October 28.

Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet visited Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) and Sasebo (CFAS) to engage with forward-deployed Sailors and their communities and connect with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) partners, Oct. 16-20.

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES — Cmdr. Alfonza White relieved Cmdr. Jeremiah Petersen as the commanding officer of Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) during a change of command ceremony aboard the ship, Oct. 14.

PACIFIC OCEAN — Cmdr. Edison Rush III relieved Capt. Dustin Lonero as the commanding officer of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) during a change of command ceremony at sea, Oct. 14.

Cmdr. Jenna Van Zeyl became the first Gold crew commanding officer of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) during an assumption of command ceremony aboard the ship, Oct. 7.

Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) directed two Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercises – one on each coast, simultaneously – from SMWDC’s exercise control center (ECC), September 2022.

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) was decommissioned in San Diego, Sept. 14.

Forces from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy, U.S Missile Defense Agency, and U.S Navy successfully conducted Pacific Dragon 2022 (PD22), a recurring biennial multinational air and missile defense exercise, from August 5-15,

SAN DIEGO — The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), returned to Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 11, following a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 to U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets.