USS Hawaii Conducts Western Pacific Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

Pearl Harbor (NNS) -- Friends and families of the crew from USS Hawaii (SSN 776) gathered at the submarine piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to say goodbye as Hawaii's namesake Virginia-class submarine departed for a scheduled Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment, May 21.

Measuring 377 feet long, weighing 7,800 tons when submerged, and with a crew size of 129, Hawaii is one of the Navy's newest and most technologically sophisticated submarines.

"We are very excited to be deploying, and the experience that the ship and our crew will gain during this deployment is extremely valuable operationally. On a personal level, it will help to form memories that a Sailor will carry with him long after he departs the naval service," said Cmdr. Steve Mack, USS Hawaii commanding officer. "We are very proud to be the USS Hawaii, in Hawaii, and take a tremendous amount of pride in the fact that we will be representing these beautiful islands, our Navy, and our nation while deployed."

Since returning from her maiden Western Pacific deployment, the first for the Virginia class, in February 2011, Hawaii has undergone maintenance and conducted training in preparation for this deployment.

"The submarine is in excellent material condition. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and the Fleet Maintenance Branch team do an outstanding job of keeping our ships fit to fight, and we are well prepared for sustained operations at sea away from all shore-based maintenance support," said Mack. "Hawaii was commissioned in 2007, and although only 5 years old, she is now ready for a second six month WESTPAC."

This will be the first time deploying for many of Hawaii's Sailors, and for others that have deployed previously, this will be their first chance to deploy to the Western Pacific. For Electronics Technician 2nd Class Brian Woody, who has been in the Navy for two years, this will be his first deployment.

"I am really glad to finally get to deploy and utilize my training," said Woody. "I am looking forward to gaining the experience of a deployment, getting submarine qualified and enjoying different parts of the world during our port visits."

The state-of-the-art submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.

U.S. Senator, MOH Recipient Visits USS Hawaii

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge,

COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The U.S. Senator for Hawaii, visited Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) March 24 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

World War II combat veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, toured the submarine and spoke with its Sailors.

"It is a great honor for us to have the Senator visiting our submarine," said Cmdr. Steve Mack, commanding officer. "The crew was excited to meet and talk to such a distinguished member of the U.S. Senate and a military icon."

During the tour, the crew of Hawaii explained basic submarine operations starting in the torpedo room where the Senator observed the latest submarine weapons operations. Next was the control room where sonar and visual observation techniques were explained.

Following the tour, the Senator talked with the crew about current events and commended them for their efforts.

"Your presence here in the Pacific, an area of major concern for all of us, is very important. I am extremely pleased and in a way, relieved that you are all here," said Inouye. "I want to congratulate all of you, so on behalf of the United States Senate, we thank you very much."

Inouye, the most senior member of the U.S. Senate and President Pro-Tempore, is known for his distinguished record as a legislative leader. He is the most senior member of the U.S. Senate and the second longest serving Senator in history. He was sworn in as President Pro-Tempore of the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2010 and is now third in line to the Presidency after the Vice-President and the Speaker of the House. He is also a World War II combat veteran with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who earned the nation's highest award for military valor, the Medal of Honor.

Measuring 377 feet long and weighing 7,800 tons when submerged, Hawaii is one of the Navy's newest and most technologically sophisticated submarines.

The state-of-the-art submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions,including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and strike group operations.

Naval Sea Systems Command Recognizes Workforce Excellence

From NAVSEA Office of Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) recognized seven teams and six individuals with 2009 Excellence Awards for personal contributions and outstanding accomplishments during at its Washington, D.C., headquarters, Jan. 31.

"The highest ideals of this command are reflected through our meaningful service and achievements," NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy noted in his letters of commendation to the award recipients for continuing to improve the command's products and processes. "These awards reflect the esteem in which you are held by the community."

Award recipients were evaluated on implementing cost-control measures, accelerating product commonality and focusing on customer satisfaction.

RECIPIENT / AWARD / ACHIEVMENT:

Richard Muscato, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head, and Joseph Burkart, NSWC Crane, were both recognized as NAVSEA Engineers of the Year 2009. Muscato was recognized for his contributions in the development and implementation of high-nitrogen propellants in multiple configurations, explosives and pyrotechnics for naval manufacturing capability improving effectiveness of the Navy's high-caliber guns and warfighter safety. Burkart was selected for his work to incorporate remote-operated small-arms mount on the V-22 Osprey.

Dr. Andrew Hull, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport, was named NAVSEA's 2009 Scientist of the Year for completing two major, fully-elastic acoustic models which provided accurate model predictions for previously unobtainable sonar and vibration analyses; and yielded significant cost avoidance.

Shelley McInnis, NUWC Newport, received an individual achievement award for her technical management of the Submarine Multi-Mission Team Trainer, the Virtual Tactical Control Laboratory, and the Submarine Bridge Trainer mariner skills trainer. McInnis collaborated with multiple warfare centers, industry partners, and construction crews to bring the bridge trainer program prototype to fruition within nine months in fiscal 2009 and led to an improved trainer capability for the submarine fleet.

Richard Kramer, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, was recognized for efforts resulting in the successful completion of post-repair trials and industry post-delivery availabilities for USS Independence (LCS 2). Kramer led his team in building an entire post-delivery program including budgets, contracting vehicles, processes and facilities required to support the ship.

Brian Seay, NSWC Dahlgren Aegis program director, received recognition for technical direction and leadership to multiple warfare centers and PEO Integrated Warfare Systems. His technical knowledge of the Aegis combat and weapons systems allowed him to identify upgrades for currently deployed systems while helping to define the next generation of Aegis.

The Close-in Weapon System (CWIS) team developed and implemented a plan and set of procedures utilizing existing materials, tools, and fixtures allowing the team to perform specific on-site depot-level repairs on the Mk 15 CWIS onboard five ships with minimum impact to those ships' schedules. Performing onboard depot-level repairs saves the Navy approximately $1.2 million in removal, transportation, depot repair, reinstallation, alignment and test costs. In addition to cost savings, the significant reduction in downtime of the mounts translates increased readiness.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's Dual Media Discharge team performed two dual media discharge executions conducted during non-chief of naval operations' availabilities within cost estimates. The end result yielded a shipyard savings of over 1,000 mission man-days and improves fleet readiness by reducing the time a submarine is removed from service for scheduled maintenance.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility's USS Nevada (SSBN 733) project team worked with Deputy Commander, Undersea Warfare's workforce to create a benchmark engineered refueling overhaul project from start to finish. By incorporating the normal modernization period that normally follows this type of overhaul; the ship gained 100 days of operational availability.

PEO Submarine's Atmospheric Dive Suit (ADS) Improvement team developed and implemented process improvements and cost-control measures to strengthen the Navy's submarine rescue intervention capabilities. The team also developed a phased approach to ADS suit certification combining local at-sea testing of the suit along with a full-depth pressure test. This phased approach avoided the need for a week-long, at-sea underway period to the remote deep-water training site. Additionally, the ADS program standardized and improved hull-defect criteria and repair methods with the implementation of a phased certification test plan resulting in a savings of more than $420,000 and future cost avoidance of $70,000 per year.

PEO Submarine's Technical Insertion Photonics Mast (TIPM) Improvement team designed, developed and installed the first TIPM system on board USS Hawaii (SSN 776) for a foreign comparison test. This entailed taking a foreign imaging system, making it compatible with, and installing it on a Virginia-class submarine for comparison with existing photonics system. The team's effort led to the early installation of the TIPM system on the submarine in two phases at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base.

NSWC Indian Head's Home-Made Explosive Detection Kit Development Team, in less than four months, developed an inexpensive kit that can detect ingredients used in home-made explosives. Each unit costs $85 and weighs only six ounces – including the pouch designed to safely hold the components.

PEO Ships' and NSWC Dahlgren's USS Freedom's (LCS 1) Early Deployment Team coordinated funding, arranged logistics support, achieved system certifications and technical requirements that allowed the first littoral combat ship to deliver to fleet commanders more than two years ahead of schedule. The team's achievement represents the first time the Navy has deployed a surface combatant lead ship less than five years after contract award.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.