USS Makin Island (LHD 8)

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Five Navy Chaplain Candidate Program Officers (CCPOs) embarked the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), July 8-24, 2025.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Capt. Jose Arana assumed command of USS Makin Island (LHD 8) from Capt. Andria Slough during a ceremony held aboard amphibious assault ship October 17.

SAN DIEGO – The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) was recently announced as one of the recipients of the 2024 Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Maintenance Award for the field-level, large category.

The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) was formally recognized for its outstanding contributions to increasing suicide prevention awareness and engagement.

SAN DIEGO — The 39th Surface Line Week (SLW) Pacific 2023 came to an end with an award ceremony where Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) was announced as the overall winner, Oct. 13.

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, led by commander, Amphibious Squadron 7 and comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport docks USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, returns to San Diego this week following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations.

U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM – The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departed Guam following a routine port visit, May 15.

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.

PHILIPPINES — The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) completed Exercise Balikatan 2023 (BK23), April 28 with a closing ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Philippines.

Capt. Andria Slough assumed command of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) from Capt. Tony Chavez during a ceremony held aboard Makin Island, April 28.

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) finished conducting operations while transiting with guided-missile destroyer USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93) and landing helicopter assault ship USS America (LHA 6), in the Luzon Strait, March 17.

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) and embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) finished operation Cobra Gold 2023 while ported in Thailand, March 10.

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.

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) of Carrier Strike Group 11 (CSG 11), conducted integrated medical operations Feb. 11, 2023, in the South China Sea.

Sailors aboard amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and Marines with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), participated in several community relations events during their visit in Singapore, Feb. 1-9, 2023.