Thursday, March 17, 2011

Family Members in Japan Can Relocate Voluntarily

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2011 – The State Department has authorized family members and dependents of U.S. government officials -- including those of service members -- to relocate from northeastern Japan, officials announced last night.

The U.S. government also is working to facilitate the departure of private American citizens from areas within a 50-mile radius of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan said.

Detailed information is available in a travel warning posted at the State Department’s website, Lapan said. Meanwhile, he added, U.S. forces remain in Japan, and the United States has full capability to fulfill its alliance commitments to defend Japan and maintain peace and security in the region.

Defense Department family members eligible to relocate will receive travel instructions from their local commands, Lapan said, noting that the relocation is temporary and that the family members will return when the situation in the region is resolved.

Indian Head Division Promotes STEM in Maryland

From Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Public Affairs

LA PLATA, Md. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Division employees, including scientists and engineers, helped judge more than 500 science projects at the Charles County Science Fair, in La Plata, Md., March 5.

The science fair, held at La Plata High School, is one of several educational outreach opportunities Indian Head employees support in Charles County.

"Indian Head Division is part of the Charles County community," said Charlie Huber, NSWC IHD security guard. "Giving back to [the] community and participating in [science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs] is an important thing to do."

The division sponsors several STEM activities in the local area, including robotics competitions and summer camps.

Daren Eaton, an engineer at NSWC IHD, coaches a team from Grace Christian Academy. The team recently competed in the future Lego League (FLL) competition.

"In my role as the technical coach, I guide much of the FLL research project, and a significant amount of the robot development," said Eaton. "The biggest compliment I get from the team [is how the] competition makes science, math and engineering fun and engaging."

The Charles County Science Fair, attended by personnel from NSWC IHD, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), is one of many programs and partnerships across the NAVSEA enterprise demonstrating the command's commitment to education and outreach.

These efforts throughout NAVSEA have built lasting and productive connections with educators, business leaders, government officials and affinity groups in STEM-related fields.

Navy Supports Northrop Grumman Corp. Shipbuilding Spin-Off

The Department of the Navy announced that it is now in a position to support Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NGC) spin-off of its shipbuilding business.  The Navy finds Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (HII) responsible for award of amphibious transport dock ship LPD 26 and guided missile destroyer DDG 113, both contracts currently under negotiation with NGC.

 “NGC has cooperated with the Navy in working through the complex issues related to its potential spin-off of its shipbuilding business to HII,” said Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.  “Our support of the spin-off is based on a critical review of HII’s proposed capital structure, current contract financials, required capital investment and proprietary forward-looking projections.  Ultimately, with appropriate adjustments made by NGC as a result of the Navy’s findings and captured within an agreement between NGC and the Navy, we have been able to resolve our concerns about the risk involved to this important segment of our shipbuilding industrial base.”

The Navy’s concern with HII’s credit rating, driven by its initial debt, has been offset by NGC’s agreement to relieve HII of first quarter 2011 debts, to provide a starting cash balance of $300 million, and not to recoup retentions, performance incentives, and economic price adjustment payments that the Navy might owe under current shipbuilding contracts with Northrop Grumman Ship Building from HII.

 “The Navy evaluated the extent of considerations made by NGC as appropriately addressing the risk of this spin to Navy shipbuilding” said Stackley, “The Navy regards HII as a responsible contractor and is proceeding to finalize the negotiations with the intent to award the contracts for construction of LPD 26 and DDG 113 to HII.”

For more information, please contact the public affairs officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition at 703-695-0611.

General Officer Announcements

The chief of staff, Army announced today the following assignments:

Maj. Gen. James C. Boozer Sr., director of operations, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Installation Management, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to deputy commanding general/chief of staff, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.

Maj. Gen. Ming T. Wong, commanding general, William Beaumont Army Medical Center/deputy commanding general for readiness, Western Regional Medical Command/chief, Dental Corps, El Paso, Texas, to commanding general, Brooke Army Medical Center/Southern Regional Medical Command/chief, Dental Corps, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., commanding general, Brooke Army Medical Center/Southern Regional Medical Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to commanding general, Walter Reed Army Medical Center/North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Horlander, director for resource management, Installation Management Command, Arlington, Va., to director of resource management, Third Army/U.S. Army Central, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Brig. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, deputy chief, operations, Office of the Defense Representative, Pakistan, to deputy director for special operations, J-37, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Camille M. Nichols, commanding general, Joint Contracting Command, U.S. Forces-Iraq, to program executive officer, soldier, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Brig. Gen. Curt A. Rauhut, director, business operations, Office of Business Transformation, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C., to director for resource management, Installation Management Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Snow, director, Iraq Training and Advisory Team-Army, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq, to director, J-5, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.

Col. Paul C. Hurley Jr., who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, deputy commander/director of operations, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to commanding general, 19th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Eighth U.S. Army, Korea.

Col. Richard L. Stevens, who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, executive officer to the chief of staff of the Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Pacific Ocean, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, March 17, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has no public or media events on his schedule.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn delivers keynote address on "Progress with Financial Reform Imperatives" at the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) National Capital Professional Development Institute in Washington D.C. at .

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn and General Counsel Jeh Johnson testify at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Guantanamo detainees at in room 2118, Rayburn House Office Building.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Department of the Air Force in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal 2012 and the future years defense program at 9:30 a.m. EDT in room SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) Clifford Stanley; Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Bostick; Chief of Naval Personnel, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson; Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones and Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead testify at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Military Personnel Overview at in room 2212, Rayburn House Office Building.

This Day in Naval History - March 16

From the Navy News Service

1911 - The hulk of battleship USS Maine is sunk at sea with full military honors.
1945 - The island of Iwo Jima is declared secure.
1966 - Gemini 8 is launched. Former naval aviator Neil Armstrong flew on this mission, which completed seven orbits in 10 hours, 41 minutes at an altitude of 161.3 nautical miles. Recovery was by USS Leonard F. Mason (DD 852).