www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 6, 2022 1
IN THIS ISSUE
The USS Gonzalez returns to homeport Norfolk
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez returned to their homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 28, 2022. PAGE A2
VOL. 29, NO. 37, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
October 6-October 12, 2022
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the“Gladiators”of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, approaches USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck during flight operations, Sept. 17, 2022. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications and workups for a scheduled deployment this fall. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMEN APPRENTICE DANIEL PEREZ)
USS Gerald R. Ford departs on first deployment
From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet The Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) deployed Tuesday, October 4 and will operate alongside a coalition of allied forces together in the Atlantic area of operations. Ford is the flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) and their first operational deployment will include air, maritime, and ground assets from NATO Allies and partner nations. The strike group set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, and will operate in the Atlantic Ocean. “The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group will deploy, integrating with Allies and partners, to demonstrate its unmatched, multi-domain, full-spectrum lethality
in the Atlantic,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “This trans-Atlantic deployment will strengthen our relationships, capacity, and trust to forge a more peaceful and prosperous world by leveraging the ‘One Atlantic’ Command and Control Concept.” Innovation and interoperability are the key focal points of the GRFCSG’s deployment, allowing allied and partner nations to strengthen the collective defense of the Atlantic as well as to mature integration for future operations. “The Atlantic is an area of strategic interest,” said Vice Adm. Dan Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “Our primary goal is to contribute to a peaceful, stable, and conflict-free Atlantic region through
the combined naval power of our Allies and partners. The deployment of USS Gerald R. Ford’s carrier strike group is the natural progression of our renewed commitment to the Atlantic.” Along with Allies and partners, the GRFCSG will focus training on air defense, anti-subsurface warfare, distributed maritime operations, mine countermeasures, and amphibious operations. “This deployment is an opportunity to push the ball further down the field and demonstrate the advantage that Ford and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 bring to the future of naval aviation, to the region and to our Allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12.
The deployment involves approximately 9,000 personnel from nine nations, 20 ships and 60 aircraft. The nine participating nations are: U.S, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. The U.S. commands and units participating in the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) deployment include Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USNS Joshua Humpreys (T-AO 188), USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5), and USCGC Hamilton (WMSL-753).
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Changes Command By Chief Petty Officer Kimberly Martinez
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Rear Adm. Bradley Andros, from Poughkeepsie, New York, relieved Rear Adm. Joseph DiGuardo Jr., from Fallston, Maryland, as commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), during a ceremony at Assault Craft Unit 4 onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. DiGuardo, who took command of NECC in September 2020, thanked those in attendance and around the force. “You have consistently lived up to a warrior ethos that has enabled our Nation to deliver combat credible capability across the full spectrum on naval, joint, and combined operations. You have led the way to clear, secure, build, and protect where our Nation and Allies have needed it most,” said DiGuardo. During his tour, DiGuardo led the Navy’s single functional command for 20,000 Active Duty and Reserve expeditionary forces and had central management for the
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readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of those forces. Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces command, presided over the ceremony and lauded the success of DiGuardo’s tenure at NECC. He also expressed his enthusiasm for how Andros will guide the command moving forward. “Your singular drive for excellence and efficiency, along with your exemplary leadership, were absolutely essential in advancing the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command team into what we see here today — a forward leaning, highly-trained, adaptive team of steely-eyed warfighters,” said Caudle. Andros comes to NECC following a tour as director J10 Directorate of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, U.S. Special Operations Command. “I am confident you are the right leader at the right time to take [DiGuardo’s] NECC achievements to even greater heights,” said Caudle. “I’ll give you the same advice I give every commander I’ve been fortunate Turn to Command change, Page 7
The Navy celebrates its 247th birthday
Officer battles breast cancer while active-duty
Calling for Military Citizen of the Year
13 October we celebrate 247 years of the Navy. Let’s celebrate being on watch 24/7.
The noble call to serve in our nation’s military is a demanding feat requiring highmoral character and, as Army Gen. (Ret.) Colin Powell would say,“…a vigilance that is perpetually optimistic.”
The Hampton Roads Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Samuel T. Northern, Military Citizen of the Year (MCOY) award.
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Rear Adm. Joseph DiGuardo, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), delivers remarks during his change of command and retirement ceremony at Assault Craft Unit 4 onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Sept. 30.
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