CORONADO, CALIFORIA, UNITED STATESThe setting was a warm, sunny day in September 2025. Lt. Sydney Tse, from Bayonne, New Jersey, sat in the audience at the Junior Officer Training Symposium (JOTS) hosted by Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP). As the...

PORT HUENEME, Calif. —Ensigns Patrick Close and Andrew Xie have become the first two junior officers to complete a specialized twelve-month tour at Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron (USVRON) 1. Their success marks a significant milestone for the Navy’s Surface Warfare Officer – Unmanned (SWO-U)...

SAN DIEGO – Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Southern Seas 2026 deployment...

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) March 23, 2026, marking its return to U.S. 7th Fleet after nearly five years in San Diego. The ship was previously forward-deployed to Yokosuka from 2006 to 2021...

SAN DIEGO— Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) held a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Base San Diego, March 13, 2026...

The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) on April 11, 2026, in Norfolk, Virginia...

SAN DIEGO – Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) arrived at its San Diego homeport following eight months of sustained operations at sea, March 4...

CORONADO, Calif. – Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Nine, the second squadron of its kind and the first on the West Coast, was established, Feb. 27...

SAN DIEGO – Cmdr. Lou Mann III was relieved by Cmdr. Tom Hoffman as commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) during a change of command ceremony held onboard Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 27. Capt. James H. Hoey, commodore, Littoral Combat Ship...

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Feb. 28, 2026) — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) held a change of command ceremony aboard the ship in Yokosuka, Japan, Feb. 28, marking the transition of leadership from Capt. Holman R. Agard to Capt. William S. Buford...

OKINAWA, Japan – Capt. John P. Baggett was relieved by Timothy R. Carter as commodore of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 during a change of command ceremony held on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), while in port in White Beach, Okinawa, Japan,...

SAN DIEGO – Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 20...

SAN DIEGO – Capt. Ryan Leary turned over as Commander, Destroyer Squadron Two Three (COMDESRON 23) with Capt. Scott Wilbur during a change of command ceremony held on the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), February 20...

SAN DIEGO – Capt. Ryan Leary turned over as Commander, Destroyer Squadron Two Three (COMDESRON 23) with Capt. Scott Wilbur during a change of command ceremony held on the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), February 20...

SAN DIEGO — Rear Adm. T.J. Zerr, commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), hosted Vice Adm. Sanjay Vatsayan,Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navyat SMWDC headquarters onboard Naval Base San Diego, Feb. 12...

CORONADO, Ca. (Jan. 30, 2026) – Commanders of Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Divisions 31, 32 and 33 assumed their respective commands during a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, Jan. 22...

It is no exaggeration to assert that Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) are among the most vital personnel within the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. SWOs play an integral role in nearly every aspect of shipboard operations. From navigating the vessel and overseeing flight operations to ensuring the safety...

SEATTLE – Cmdr. Robert Toohig was relieved by Cmdr. Kyle Fullerton as commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) during a change of command ceremony held at the Vigor Shipyard, Jan. 23. Capt. James H. Hoey, deputy commodore, Littoral Combat...

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) successfully concluded the 2026 WTI Re-Blue event Friday, marking the end of a weeklong series of advanced surface warfighting discussions and training...

Vice Adm. Brendan McLane, commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivered Status of the Force remarks at the 38th Annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium in Arlington, Va., Jan.13. He focused on the indispensable role of the Sailor and the Navy’s unwavering...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Surface Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) from across the Navy, alongside senior leaders, and industry partners convene today for the annual WTI Re-Blue event, the Navy’s premiere forum for advanced surface warfighting talks. Hosted by the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting...

SAN DIEGO – Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego following a seven-month underway to the U.S. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleet areas of operation, Jan. 6, 2026. While underway, Fitzgerald conducted a wide range of operations,...

SAN DIEGO, CA – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) returned to its homeport of San Diego following a nine-month mission to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations (AOO), Dec. 19...

SAN DIEGO — Dec. 17, 2025 — Rear Admiral T.J. Zerr, Commander of the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), hosted Captain Lene Dømbe, Deputy Commander of the Norwegian Navy Training Establishment, at the SMWDC headquarters this week. The visit underscored the enduring nature...

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) returned home to Naval Station Everett after a nine month mission to the U.S. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleet areas of operations, Dec 12...