ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard commissioned the 48th Sentinel-class fast response cutter Pablo Valent (WPC 1148) into service at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, May 11, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release. 

Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, commanding officer of the Coast Guard 7th District, presided over the ceremony. Ms. Cecilia Guillot, Valent’s great-niece, is the ship’s sponsor.  

The cutter’s namesake Pablo Valent was originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912. In September 1919, Valent helped rescue the crew of the hurricane-damaged schooner Cape Horn off the coast of Texas. For his heroic efforts, Valent received the Silver Lifesaving Medal and the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor Society. Valent was one of the first Hispanic Americans to receive these honors.  

The Valent is the 48th FRC and is the first to be homeported in St. Petersburg with missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, coastal security, and living marine resources. There are 12 other FRCs in Florida, which operate throughout the Caribbean Sea. 

Each cutter is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the Coast Guard’s overall fleet modernization initiative. 

FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew. The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range Coast Guard assets such as the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutters. 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Ocean Craft Marine, a rigid-hull inflatable boat builder and maritime solution provider, will invest more than a quarter billion dollars over the next 10 years establishing the industry’s first independent maritime innovation laboratory, the company announced in a May 22 release. The goal of the laboratory, called the Accelerator for Innovation in the Maritime Ecosystem or AIME, will be to enable ideation, collaboration, cross-pollination and integration among and between maritime industry peers in order to accelerate industry innovation especially within, but not limited to, the professional and military segments. The announcement was made at the MARSEC/RBX Conference.  

“AIME may be the single most important development in the maritime industry since sails gave way to steam engines,” said Roy Nourha, Ocean Craft Marine CEO. “Not only will it help us explore and define the future of the maritime industry, it will change the way the industry operates, speeding the process significantly because we will all be choosing collaboration over siloed work, transparency over secrecy and partnership over competition.”  

“We have long been dedicated to being a solution provider for our professional, military and recreational users,” said Todd Salus, vice president of operations at Ocean Craft Marine. “This initiative is just the latest way we are driving that mission forward. We are accelerating the innovation process by giving everyone a place to experiment, learn and grow together faster than anyone could do on their own, including the U.S. military.”  

Ocean Craft Marine is inviting any and all maritime companies, including its existing partners, associates and peers, to collaborate in AIME. Ocean Craft Marine also seeks players from other industries who see a maritime application for their product.  

Nourha added, “We work in a collaborative environment, and we’re inviting anyone who wants to come play in our sandbox to do so. Innovation has been moving at a slow pace. If you make a maritime solution and you’re interested in driving the industry forward, we hope you will partner with us to accelerate innovation.”  

The AIME Lab is part of Ocean Craft Marine’s larger initiative to provide thought leadership to the global professional and military maritime community. Now with AIME, Ocean Craft Marine is available for all professional and military maritime consulting opportunities.  

WASHINGTON — U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday met with the Italian Chief of Defense Staff Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone at the Pentagon May 10, the CNO’s Public Affairs Office said in a release.

Gilday and Cavo Dragone discussed the long-lasting and vital maritime partnership between Italy and the United States, as well as the importance of global security.

“The very nature of our operating environment requires common values and a collective alliance,” said Gilday. “You have been a strong partner and gracious host to U.S. naval forces and our joint efforts in Europe. Working together is critical to regional security and stability.”

“We are ready to make further commitments in all domains, in what we consider an important portion of allied areas of responsibility, namely the wider Mediterranean region,” said Cavo Dragone.

Gilday and Cavo Dragone also spoke about strategic competition, China and Russia.

They both affirmed the close relationship of the U.S. and Italian navies and expressed appreciation for their partnership as NATO allies and as friends.

The U.S. and the Italian navy regularly operate together around the globe. In addition to conducting real-world tri-carrier operations, earlier this year the two navies also participated in exercises and activities such as Neptune Strike 2022, Obangame Express, and assorted bilateral drills. These exercises highlight NATO’s ability to integrate high-end maritime warfare capabilities to support the defense of the alliance.

Italy hosts American Sailors at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella and NSA Naples Detachment Gaeta.

Gilday previously met with Cavo Dragone in February 2020 and October 2021, when he served as the chief of the Italian navy.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier and Caribbean Corridor Strike Force agents offloaded 626 pounds of seized cocaine Monday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a May 10 release. 

The offload of contraband resulted from a go-fast vessel interdiction April 28, 2022, in Mona Passage waters near the Dominican Republic. 

The interdiction is the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. The seized cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $5.6 million dollars. 

During the morning of April 28, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-27J Spartan aircraft detected a suspect vessel north of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Joseph Napier that arrived on scene with the suspect vessel. Upon detecting the presence of the Coast Guard cutter, the occupants of the suspect vessel were observed jettisoning multiple bales of suspected contraband into the water and attempting to flee the area toward Dominican Republic territorial waters. Once in Dominican Republic waters, the crew of a Dominican Republic navy vessel interdicted the suspect vessel and apprehended three Dominican Republic nationals who were aboard. Meanwhile, the crew of the cutter Joseph Napier recovered 11 bales of the jettisoned suspected contraband, which tested positive for cocaine.   

“Safeguarding the nation’s southernmost maritime border is among our top priorities,” said Capt. Gregory H. Magee, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. “You can expect to see many more of these interdictions from the Coast Guard, federal and local law enforcement, and from our Dominican Republic Navy partners as we work together to stop drug smuggling go-fast vessels at sea and prevent them from making landfall in Puerto Rico.” 

Special Agents supporting the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force are leading the investigation into this case.   

Cutter Joseph Napier is a 154-foot fast response cutter that is homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

SAN DIEGO — General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been awarded a sole-source delivery task order from Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division to provide structural hardware for the propulsor of the Navy’s new Columbia-class submarine, the company said in a May 10 release. The delivery task order is part of a broad Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Propulsor Demonstration Hardware contract to develop and deliver critical components and hardware for installation on current and future U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines. 

“This is one of several task orders awarded to GA-EMS under the PDH contract that applies our advanced engineering and manufacturing expertise to deliver essential hardware components supporting existing and future submarines and other undersea vehicles,” stated Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “From engineering Virginia-class bearings to developing new propulsion techniques for the next submarine design, we facilitate the use of new techniques, unique materials, precision machining and extensive test procedures to deliver equipment that meets exacting specifications and the highest quality and reliability standards to support the warfighter.

“This task order involves the precision machining of components to extremely tight tolerances and demanding material specifications, and the delivery of approximately 10,000 pounds of hardware that will affix the Propulsor Bearing Support Structure, already provided by GA-EMS, to the submarine,” Forney said. “The delivery will meet the shipyard’s schedule for the installation of critical components onto the first Columbia-class submarine currently under construction, and it will provide the manufacturing template for these structures in follow-on ships of this class.”  

The hardware is scheduled for delivery in early 2023. Engineering is underway at GA-EMS’ San Diego and Tupelo, Mississippi, facilities, with all manufacturing occurring in Tupelo. 

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corp., is displaying a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and trailer and a Pratt Miller Defense Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle at the Modern Day Marine Expo 2022. The vehicles will be on display at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from May 10-12, 2022. 

The 4-door Heavy Guns Carrier JLTV will be equipped with the John Cockrill CPWS 2.0 turret and Northrop Grumman 25x137mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun. 

“The modular design of the Oshkosh Defense JLTV, which we’ve built over 16,000, can be adapted to dozens of military missions, from serving as battlefield ambulances to hosting antitank weapons,” said George Mansfield, Vice President and General Manager of Joint Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “The ability to easily integrate weapons that increase the JLTV’s firepower and lethality cost-effectively is yet another example of the vehicle’s flexibility and adaptability for next-generation warfare.” 

The Pratt Miller Defense EMAV on display is a tracked, autonomous vehicle developed for the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. The EMAV’s hybrid-electric powertrain is capable of silent watch and silent mobility and provides exportable power capability. Furthermore, with a 6,000-pound payload capacity and flat rack, the EMAV is designed to support most logistics missions. 

“Oshkosh Defense’s advanced technology capabilities run the gamut from autonomous vehicles to hybrid-electric powertrains,” said Pat Williams, vice president and general manager of U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “We partner with the U.S. Marine Corps and other customers to understand and analyze the challenges they face and explore solutions. This collaboration allows us to apply these next-generation defense technologies and advanced systems to our vehicles in order to meet their evolving mission needs.” 

WASHINGTON — Fuse Integration, a federal defense communications, networking and computing solutions provider, has completed the first permanent installation of its Tactical Technologies Toolset at a U.S. Navy shore facility, the company announced in a May 9 release. T3, a remote network monitoring and management solution for multidomain operations, was installed for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Barking Sands, Hawaii. PMRF personnel will use T3 to monitor and manage the Aegis SPY radar at that facility.  

“Ballistic missiles are one of our nation’s fastest growing threats, and it’s imperative that the Navy’s air-and-missile-defense radar is working every moment of every day,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “We’re proud to support PMRF personnel with our T3 installation, so they can ensure that their Aegis SPY radar is working as needed, at all times.”  

Designed to provide an easier way to view the health and status of distributed fleet networks and systems, T3 presents commanders and decision-makers with a layout of tactical data link, network and radar settings and status. T3’s high-tech, intuitive user interface will support PMRF personnel to better troubleshoot, maintain and manage the radar at this facility during day-to-day operations as well as for special test events.  

For this landmark installation, the Fuse team coordinated planning and collaboration with PMRF personnel and Aegis subject matter experts at the NSWC Dahlgren Division.  

Fuse is a warfighter-focused engineering and design firm providing innovative communications, networking and computing solutions for defense customers. The company’s virtualized network systems, tactical edge virtual network and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. 

WASHINGTON — Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday released an update to the CNO Professional Reading Program, May 6, the CNO’s public affairs office said in a release.     

The CNO-Professional Reading Program consists of 12 books, and is a mix of writing genres including fiction, non-fiction, military, strategy, management, and technology, among others.    

“A learning mindset is essential to accelerating our warfighting advantage,” said Gilday. “A Navy that learns, adapts, and improves the fastest will be the most successful. Knowledge sharing is essential to creating a learning culture.”    

The goal of the program is to contribute to a culture dedicated to warfighting and learning, while simultaneously supporting the personal and professional development of Sailors beyond that of their primary designator or rating.    

“We are driving a fleet-wide campaign of self-improvement,” said Gilday. “We must foster an organization that supports and empowers Sailors to have an independent quest for knowledge through reading and information sharing. What you know and how fast you learn is relevant in this era of strategic competition.”   

The following books are included in the newly released update:   

1. “To Rule the Waves” by Bruce Jones     
2. “A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy” by James Holmes     
3. “China as a 21st Century Naval Power” by Michael. A. McDevitt     
4. “Not One Inch” by Mary E. Sarotte     
5. The Sailor’s Bookshelf: Fifty Books to Know the Sea” by Admiral James G. Stavridis    
6. “Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War” by Paul Scharre     
7. “Fortune Favors Boldness” by Barry Costello     
8. “The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour” by James Hornfischer     
9. “World War II at Sea: A Global History” by Craig Symonds     
10. “Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield” by Gayle T. Lemmon    
11. “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown     
12. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck   
13. Link to CNO’s Professional Reading Program website:  https://www.navy.mil/CNO-Professional-Reading-Program/.     

Most of the books are available at no cost to Sailors in both e-Book and digital audio format from the Navy MWR digital library collection.  Eligible patrons can download the books through: https://www.navymwrdigitallibrary.org.    

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard will commission the 48th Sentinel-class fast response cutter Pablo Valent (WPC 1148), into service at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg on May 11, the Coast Guard 7th District said May 6. 

Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, commanding officer of the Coast Guard 7th District, will preside over the ceremony. Cecilia Guillot, Valent’s great-niece, is the ship’s sponsor.  

The cutter’s namesake Pablo Valent was originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912. In September 1919, Valent helped rescue the crew of the hurricane-damaged schooner Cape Horn off the coast of Texas. For his heroic efforts, Valent received the Silver Lifesaving Medal and the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor Society. Valent was one of the first Hispanic Americans to receive these honors.  

The Cutter Valent is the 48th FRC and is the first to be homeported in St. Petersburg with missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, coastal security and living marine resources. There are 12 other FRCs in Florida, which operate throughout the Caribbean Sea. 

Sector St. Petersburg is one of the Coast Guard’s largest commands, with an area of responsibility encompassing over 400 nautical miles of coastline along Florida’s west coast. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy will christen its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Beloit (LCS 29), during a 10:00 a.m. CDT ceremony Saturday, May 7, in Marinette, Wisconsin, the Defense Department said May 6. 

The Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) will be the principal speaker. Also providing remarks are Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin), Vice Adm. John Fuller, Naval Inspector General, Vice Adm. Francis Morley, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, Lori Curtis Luther, city manager of Beloit, Wisconsin, as well as shipbuilders Steve Allen, vice president, Small Combatants and Ship Systems, Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors, and Mark Vandroff, CEO, Fincantieri Marinette Marine. 

In a time-honored Navy tradition, the ship’s sponsor, Beloit native and retired Army Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, will break a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. 

“The future USS Beloit will be the first U.S. Navy ship honoring the proud naval contributions of Beloit, Wisconsin,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “I have no doubt the Sailors of USS Beloit will stand the watch with pride and be ready to respond to any mission, wherever, and whenever, there is a need.” 

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom and the Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom-variant team, or odd-numbered hulls, constructed in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA leads the Independence-variant team in Mobile, Alabama, for LCS 2 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls. 

LCS 29 is the 15th Freedom-variant LCS and 29th in the LCS class. It is the first ship named in honor of the city of Beloit, Wisconsin.