USS Essex (LHD 2)

SAN DIEGO (Jul 2, 2025) The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) held a change of command ceremony on the flight deck of Essex at Naval Base San Diego, Jul. 2.

SAN DIEGO (April 17, 2024)- Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), participated in the testing of Mariner Skills Training Center, Pacific’s (MSTCPAC) new Bridge Team Trainers and Integrated Navigation Team Trainers.

STUTTGART (February 3, 2023) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Larry Burns, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), was selected to join a team of joint military chefs as an apprentice to participate in the 2024 Culinary Olympics Catering Competition in Stuttgart, Germany, February 3 - 6, 2024.

SAN DIEGO (March 22, 2024) Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), ranked number one for volunteer hours among all ashore and afloat commands in San Diego, totaling 838 hours in 2023.

USS Essex Wins Self-Sufficiency Award

240206-N-AH435-1049 A social media graphic designed to announce amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) winning the Amphib Quarterly Self-Sufficiency Award. (U.S. Navy graphic by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Donita Burks)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Donita Burks

VIRIN: 240417-N-N0831-0001

SAN DIEGO (March 13, 2024) Amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) was recently awarded the Amphib Quarterly Self- Sufficiency Award, recognizing the Engineering Department and calibration laboratory during a docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) for their ability to execute major milestones under difficult circumstances. Essex pressurized the firemain system ahead of undocking and maintained continuous calibration lab operations as Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG-3) field calibration activity.

SAN DIEGO — Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) undocked from the Pride of California Dry Dock at BAE Systems in San Diego, Sept. 8.

SAN DIEGO — The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) held a change of command ceremony below Essex in the Pride of California Dry Dock at BAE Systems in San Diego, Aug. 10.

Sailors Participate in ACF National Convention

NEW ORLEANS, La. (July 17, 2023) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Larry Burns, assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), garnishes a compressed melon salad with micro greens during the 2023 American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention in New Orleans, July 17, 2023. Burns and his team were selected to represent the entire armed forces and compete in the Student Team Chef of the Year event during the ACF. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Richard E. Anglin)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Anglin

VIRIN: 230717-N-AH435-1184

NEW ORLEANS — Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Larry Burns, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), and a team of Navy chefs participated in the 2023 American Culinary Federation Student Team of the Year cooking competition in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 17, 2023.

USS Essex First Ship to Participate in Naval Postgraduate School 3D Printer Research

[220709-N-KF697-1110]PEARL HARBOR (July 9, 2022) A 3D printer conducts a diagnostic run aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), July 9, 2022. Essex is underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Isaak Martinez)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 3rd Class Isaak Martinez

VIRIN: 230717-N-N0831-0003

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) partnered with Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC) in facilitating the installation of a 3D printer on Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Essex is the first ship to participate in the initial testing and evaluation of the 3D printer during underway conditions to determine the printer’s viability when out to sea.

Essex Sailor Receives Engineering Navy League Award

[230614-N-N0850-1001]DALLAS, Texas (June 14, 2023) Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Francisco Cejajimenez (center), assigned assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), receives the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) 2022 Honorable J. William Middendorf II award for engineering excellence during an award ceremony in Dallas, June 14, 2023. Cejajimenez received the award for his outstanding leadership and professional competence required while assigned to a deployed ship. (Photo by Ann Tropea)

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Photo By: Ann Tropea

VIRIN: 230717-N-N0831-0001

A native of Richmond, California, and machinist mate assigned to engineering department aboard amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) received the Navy League of the United States 2022 Honorable J. William Middendorf II award for engineering excellence during an award ceremony in Dallas, Texas June 14, 2023.

USS Essex Sailors Compete at Joint Military Culinary Competition

[230310-N-N0850-1018]FORT LEE, Virginia (March 10, 2023) Culinary Specialist Seaman Jason Burns, center, assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), receives feedback from a master chef, right, during a joint service culinary competition onboard Fort Lee, Virginia, March 10, 2023. The Joint Military Culinary Competition hosted more than 200 U.S. military culinary specialists from around the world to compete for medals and the opportunity to represent the armed forces at a cooking competition against some of the top civilian chefs in the world. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of USS Essex Public Affairs)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 1st Class Omar Dominquez

VIRIN: 230717-N-N0831-0002

Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) brought home two silver and two bronze medals during a Joint Military Culinary Competition in Fort Lee, Virginia, March 1-10, 2023.

Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Coast Guardsmen from several ships, squadrons and military units will be in Los Angeles for the fifth Los Angeles Fleet Week, May 24-30.

SAN DIEGO — The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned to San Diego, marking the end of an eight-month deployment to U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets areas of operation, Feb. 14.

USS O’Kane Returns Home from Deployment

220206-N-OA516-015 SAN DIEGO (Feb. 6, 2022) –The guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) returns to homeport. O’Kane, a part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, returned to Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 6, following an independent deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets in support of national tasking and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin C. Leitner)

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Photo By: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin C. Leitner

VIRIN: 220207-N-N0831-0005

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) returned home to Naval Base San Diego, completing an eight-month independent deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, Feb. 6.

220203-N-MH811-1020

220203-N-MH811-1020 PEARL HARBOR (Feb. 3, 2022) – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returns to homeport. Michael Murphy, a part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, returned to joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 3, after deployment to U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets in support of maritime security operations and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Molly Crawford)

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Photo By: Petty Officer 3rd Class Molly Crawford

VIRIN: 220203-N-MH811-1020

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, following an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of operation, Feb. 3.