Monday, May 12, 2014

Naval History and Heritage Command Academic Awards Announced



From Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication Outreach Division

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) announced May 12 that it awarded research and writing grants to three people to support their work which furthers the understanding and application of current U.S. Navy strategy with historical context.

"The applicants for all three of the 2014-2015 incentive programs for research and writing on U.S. naval history represented a highly competitive field," said Michael Crawford, PhD., NHHC's senior historian.

The Rear Admiral John D. Hayes Pre-doctoral Fellowship in U.S. Navy History for 2014-2015 was awarded to Arthur "Scott" Mobley, doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for a study of how American naval officers drew on progressive ideology to reorder their profession and forge new strategic solutions, while contesting alternative cultures in the Navy. In his study, titled "Progressives in Navy Blue: Maritime Strategy and Cultural Metamorphosis in the U.S. Navy, 1870-1915," Mobley argues that eventually the strategists' concepts came to dominate the Navy's culture, and concludes that professionalization drove the naval officer corps to strategic thought.

The Rear Adm. John D. Hayes Pre-doctoral Fellowship in U.S. Navy History, was named in honor of Hayes (1902 - 1991), who served as a naval officer from 1924-1954, for his enthusiastic encouragement of naval scholars and his own significant contributions to the field.

Crawford was impressed with the fellowship's international appeal and applicant's diverse choice of topics.

"Although the grants are restricted to U.S. citizens, of the seven applicants for the dissertation fellowship, four are enrolled in doctoral programs in universities abroad, in Singapore and the United Kingdom," Crawford explained. "The dissertation topics range from antebellum naval policy to national strategy in the twenty-first century and included riverine warfare in the Civil War, aviation during World War I, and the Navy in the Cold War."

According to Crawford, two strong candidates applied for The Vice Admiral Edwin B. Hooper Research Grant, which, for 2014-2015, was awarded to John T. Kuehn, Ph.D., a William A. Stofft Professor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, for research to complete a book-length study entitled "America's First General Staff: A Short History of the Rise and Fall of the General Board of the Navy, 1900-1950." Dr. Kuehn's work on the General Board will highlight a Navy organization that was instrumental in creating the modern Navy.

The Vice Adm. Edwin B. Hooper Research Grant is named in honor of a former Director of Naval History (1909-1984), who served as both active duty and limited duty officer from 1931-1976, for his great contributions to U. S. naval history.

The Samuel Eliot Morison Supplemental Scholarship was awarded to Cmdr. Robert E. Poling III, USN, an instructor in the Department of Strategy at the U.S. Air Force Air War College and masters/doctoral candidate in Defence Studies Research at King's College, London. Poling plans to research and write on the integration of the U.S. Navy and Army Air Forces in the Solomon Islands Campaign of WWII. By studying combat operations, Poling looks to investigate what factors fostered cooperation and how service parochialism hindered it. The supplemental scholarship is named after Rear Adm. Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976), USNR, who served as an officer in the U.S. Navy reserve from 1942-1946. Morison was an eminent naval and maritime historian and winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Crawford saw a commonality with the some of the applicants' submissions for the supplemental scholarship.

"Two of the four naval officers competing for the Morison supplemental scholarship are investigating crises and conflicts in the Middle East in the late twentieth century and one a twenty-first-century subject," Crawford said.

More than anything Crawford is pleased with the interest in naval history.

"The capable scholars currently pursuing topics in U.S. naval history provide evidence of the existence of a small but solid cadre keeping the field of U.S. naval history healthy," Crawford said. "The quality of this year's crop of proposals bodes well for advancing our understanding of the Navy's history."
For more information on the academic opportunities NHHC offers visit http://www.history.navy.mil/prizes/prizes.htm .

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history, and supports the Fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

Harris Honored Twice For Contributions to National Security



From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., was honored this week for his lifetime contributions to national security in two separate events that celebrate diversity and the accomplishments from those of different cultures.

On May 6, Harris accepted the Asian American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Lifetime Achievement Award in Washington, and on May 10 he received an Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) in New York.

The awards embody the significant contributions that each recipient has made all while maintaining the traditions of their respective ethnic backgrounds. Harris, who is of Japanese-American descent and is the highest-ranking Asian-American officer in Navy history, accepted each on behalf of the Navy, acknowledging the many opportunities he has been afforded throughout his career.

"In World War II, Japanese-Americans were not allowed to serve in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps, and those who did serve were in the Army," said Harris. "Now, as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, I couldn't be more honored to receive these awards. I know that I stand on the shoulders of the giants who paved the way for me. I'm grateful for the numerous opportunities the Navy has given me and I'm proud of the opportunities the Navy continues to give Sailors from all cultures."

According to each respective organization, Harris follows a long line of accomplished recipients at all levels of service, professions, and from all walks of life. Former recipients of the APAICS Lifetime Achievement Award include former Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, Rep. Michael M. Honda, and retired Rear Adm. Ming Chang. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include former Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, retired Gen. and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. John McCain and Nobel Prize awardee Elie Wiesel.

It is especially meaningful that the awards come in the month of May, where America recognizes the service and dedication of the men and women of Asian-American and Pacific Islander heritage. May honors the diversity that is central to the Navy's identity and critical to advancing its role in maintaining peace and stability around the world.

Today's Navy includes approximately 19,000 uniformed personnel and more than 29,000 civilians of Asian-American and Pacific Islander heritage. According to Harris, their contributions to America's security and freedom continues a tradition of outstanding Asian-American and Pacific Islander service in the Navy.

"This is a history punctuated with stories of trailblazing heroism from Sailors that exemplify the best of who we are," Harris explained. "This month reminds us that the true source of America's greatness lies not in the power of our weaponry, but in the courage of those who serve.

"I am proud to receive these awards on behalf of them and on behalf of our Navy," he concluded.

DOD Official: 16 U.S. Troops on Search Team for Nigerian Girls



By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2014 – A total of 16 military personnel from U.S. Africa Command have joined the interdisciplinary team led by the State Department at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, to help in finding hundreds of kidnapped girls, a Pentagon spokesman said today.

Members of the extremist group Boko Haram abducted more than 200 girls from the Government Secondary boarding school in the town of Chibok on the night of April 14. Several countries, including the United States, have offered help.

On May 6, President Barack Obama said on NBC’s “Today” program that the immediate priority is finding the girls, and then the world must address the broader problem of organizations like Boko Haram that “can cause such havoc in people's day-to-day lives.”

At the Pentagon today, Army Col. Steve Warren said the group of 16 military personnel includes experts in communications, logistics, civil affairs, operations and intelligence.

“Their role is to assess the situation, advise and assist the Nigerian government in their efforts to respond to this crisis situation, and find the young women kidnapped by Boko Haram,” the colonel added.

A majority of the group members were staff officers and personnel from the embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation, whose mission is to enhance the long-term bilateral defense relationship between Nigeria and the United States. The rest came into the country from outside Africa, he said.

The Office of Security Cooperation in Nigeria is the largest in Africa, Warren said.

“We have a total of 50 or 60 military personnel assigned to the embassy there as part of the country team,” the colonel added, and 16 now are devoted to the interdisciplinary team to find the girls.

The Defense Department has no plans at this point, he said, to put more personnel into the country.

Vance med tech named outstanding professional at state executive board luncheon

5/9/2014 - VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A Vance medical technician was named an outstanding professional at the 2014 Public Service Recognition Awards luncheon held May 5 in Norman, Oklahoma.

Tech. Sgt. Amanda Lenamond was one of 73 nominees, from government agencies across Oklahoma, who competed for 16 awards.

Lenamond's award, "Technical, Professional and Administrative, GS-08 and Below," was given in recognition of her work in the 71st Medical Group and with the 71st Flying Training Wing Inspection Team.

"In reading summaries of our nominees' accomplishments, I am encouraged that we still have some of the best employees working for our government," said Julie Gosdin, chairperson of the Oklahoma Federal Executive Board, the sponsoring organization for the award luncheon.

Lenamond leads a family practice team of 13 providers, medical technicians and nurses at the Medical Group. She is also the Chief, Inspector General Inspections Planner with the 71st FTW Inspection Team.

She worked the equivalent of two full-time jobs with the inspection team as both inspection planner and installation exercise program officer while carrying quite a load at the Medical Group, said Lt. Col. Jon Plasterer, the Director of Inspections at Vance.

Lenamond helped build the new Wing Inspection Team from scratch, said Plasterer. Her expertise in planning and organizing base exercises provided critical continuity in standing up the WIT.

"Sergeant Lenamond has done so much, it was important that we nominate her for some recognition," said Plasterer.

The award luncheon was in conjunction with Public Service Recognition Week, held the first week of May since 1985.

Accompanying Lenamond to the awards luncheon were Col. David Chiesa, the 71st MDG commander; Lt. Col. Brent Johnson, the 71st Medical Operations Squadron commander; Lt. Col. Debra Smith, the 71st MDG chief nurse; and Plasterer.

For Lenamond, the best part came when her 3-year-old daughter, Reagan, saw the award, an eagle statue. "She looked at me and said, 'I'm so proud of you.'"

White House Invites Military Spouses to Mother’s Day Tea



By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2014 – To recognize military spouses’ selfless service and sacrifice, First Lady Michelle Obama invited a group of military wives and family members to the annual Mother’s Day Tea at the White House today.

Joined by Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, and as part of their Joining Forces initiative, Obama and Biden thanked the spouses and families for their service to the nation.

“We have an extraordinary group here today,” the first lady told the audience members in the East Room of the White House. “We’ve got moms who served in Iraq [and] Afghanistan. We’ve got military wives and partners who’ve moved across the country again and again. We have grandmothers who helped take care of the kids while mom or dad or both were deployed.”

Noting that she is both a “proud military mom and grandma,” Biden said she was honored to be in the presence of military families. “I feel a special bond with other military moms,” she added.

Obama emphasized military spouses’ sacrifice by noting a couple of moms in the audience.

Judith Chedville, the first lady noted, served the nation in Iraq and Kuwait, but left the service in 2004 because she could no longer serve in good conscience under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

“When my husband repealed the policy in 2011, Judith re-enlisted,” the first lady said, eliciting applause. “Today, she is a first lieutenant in the Texas Army National Guard. She is here with her spouse, Alicia Butler, and their beautiful 1-year-old daughter, Jordan.”

Obama also introduced Karen Ruedisueli, whose husband is an Army major and served several years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In their short lifetime, [the Ruedisueli children] have lived in 10 different houses,” the first lady said. “They have gone to three different elementary schools. With all those moves, Karen was forced to put her 15-year career in marketing and development on hold. But she has been determined to use her skills and her talents to give back, so over the past few years she’s been a volunteer for Blue Star families.”

Obama added that Ruedisueli also has led the Family Readiness Group when her husband’s unit deployed to Afghanistan, and she now works full-time with the National Military Family Association to advocate for other families like hers.

Obama said the audience members are the “perfect examples” of why they were invited to the annual tea.

“As military moms, you’re doing so much, not just for your families, but for your communities and our country. Most people don’t know that,” the first lady noted.

“You are the ones with husbands deployed, and you’re still driving the carpool and volunteering, joining neighborhood organizations, working with your congregations to prepare care packages for other people,” Obama said. “And no matter what your country asks of you and your family, you’re the ones who step up and you do it with grace, dignity and without complaint.”

Noting that a “special guest” was in the audience “as a token of gratitude” for the military families, Obama introduced singer/songwriter Norah Jones, who seated herself at a grand piano in the East Room and played songs for the Mother’s Day tea participants.

Modified C-5 moves Travis into another galaxy

by Senior Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs


5/12/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis officially unveiled their new C-5M Super Galaxy in front of Travis leadership, civic leaders and media during an arrival ceremony held on the flightline May 8.

The new aircraft was flown in from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., by Lt. Gen. Brooks L. Bash, Air Mobility Command vice commander, who handed over the symbolic key to the aircraft to crew chiefs from the 22nd Airlift Squadron.

"The arrival of the C-5M Super Galaxy to Travis Air Force Base herald's a new era of 'green' strategic airlift for the base," said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Breeden, 22nd Airlift Squadron commander. "The C-5 is already a mobility work horse in terms of its payload-to-fuel load ratio, but now its impressive capability is further enhanced by the velocity and efficiency with which it can be employed courtesy of the new engines."

The C-5M Super Galaxy is an aircraft that was originally a C-5B Galaxy that went through extensive upgrades at a Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga.

Under the Re-Engineering and Reliability Program, modifications included the addition of four General Electric Aviation CF6-80C2 engines, a modernized digital cockpit, communications, enhanced navigation and safety equipment and an all-weather flight control system.

According to Lockheed Martin, the C-5M Super Galaxy is an airlift revolution, with more capability, reliability and affordability than its predecessors, the world record-setting C-5M is rewriting the strategic airlift playbook.

Lockheed Martin added that the new engine produces more than 50,000 pounds of thrust - a 22 percent increase over current TF39 engines - and is Stage IV noise compliant.

Furthermore, the C-5M also has a 58 percent greater climb rate to an initial cruise altitude that is 38 percent higher than the current C-5, which provides the aircraft a fuel savings greater than 20 percent compared to other airlifters.

"This upgrade gives us the ability to climb faster, much earlier in the mission profile thereby reducing fuel burn rates and significantly improving the range at which the platform can be employed," said Breeden. "The entire C-5 community at Travis, both active duty and Reserve, are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to begin training on this phenomenal C-5 variant."

Travis is expected to receive 18 C-5Ms by the end of 2016.

Top ANG clinical dentist at 173rd Fighter Wing



by Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Thompson
173rd Fighter Wing

5/12/2014 - KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. --

A 173rd Fighter Wing dentist earned top clinical dentist for the entire Air National Guard for 2013 and was presented his award at the 173rd FW here April 6.

Maj. Paul Anderson's accomplishments helped the 173rd garner the top spot in individual medical readiness across the Air National Guard and even the Department of Defense in May 2013.

His accomplishments helped the 173rd garner the top spot in individual medical readiness across the Air National Guard and even at one point, the Department of Defense in May 2013.

He led a 20-member team to Martin, Tennessee, where they provided free dental care to those unable to afford it on their own as a part of Innovative Readiness Training in an exercise called 'Hope of Martin'.

During this exercise Anderson and his joint team of 130 Navy and Air National Guard troops served more than 2,000 patients, with over 4,000 procedures completed at an estimated value of $300,000 in medical services.

Anderson was also selected for being generous with his time as evidenced by his mentorship of 25 dental students currently attending Oregon Institute of Technology.

When he is not on military status with the 173rd Fighter Wing, Anderson is a clinical dentist with the Veteran's Affairs Outpatient Clinic in White City.