Source: United States Navy
PORTFOLIO ACQUISITION EXECUTIVE AVIATION, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — In a critical step to ensure long-term fleet readiness and secure dominance in the maritime domain, the Navy’s MH-60 service life modernization program recently announced the industry performers identified to proceed to the first phase of a Statement of Work (SOW) collaboration for the MH-60 Tailorable Architecture Leveraging Open-systems (TALON™) prototype project.
Source: United States Navy
INDIAN OCEAN – After 34 years of continuous service projecting American sea power, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) has achieved a major aviation milestone: the 200,000th fixed-wing aircraft recovery while underway in the Indian Ocean, Aug. 18, 2026.
Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON — Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao has appointed M. Barry Tanner as the permanent Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Department of the Navy (DON). In this role, he will serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary and oversee the Department’s $12+ billion Information Technology portfolio, ensuring the Navy and Marine Corps maintain a decisive cognitive and operational advantage over global adversaries.
Source: United States Navy
U.S. Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Soldiers have arrived in Keflavik, Iceland, joining forces with the Icelandic Coast Guard and other NATO Allies to officially kick off U.S. Sixth Fleet’s Northern Viking 2026 (NV26) exercise during an opening ceremony on August 18, 2026.
Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON – The Navy has completed shakedown trials on the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) and the submarine is ready for Fleet tasking. As a result of the superb material condition and combat readiness, the Navy waived the post-shakedown availability of USS Massachusetts (SSN 798). This decision was made possible by the operational quality of the ship during trials and the urgency to deliver warfighting capability to the Fleet.
Source: United States Navy
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Thirteen students selected for employment at Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC) through the Department of War (DOW) Cyber Service Academy (CSA) completed a 10-week summer internship session onboard Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, Aug. 14.
Source: United States Navy
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) today announces the first class of 12 winners in its inaugural Chief of Naval Research (CNR) Fellows program.
Launched earlier this year, the fellowship is designed to foster a constant infusion of state-of-the-art knowledge, while simultaneously creating a growing network of researchers who can translate the Navy and Marine Corps’ most pressing challenges into science and technology (S&T) research that will provide critical benefits to Sailors and Marines.
The CNR Fellows program brings the dozen academic research professors to ONR for a one-year fellowship in support of critical naval focus areas, with a stipend of $150,000 per Fellow.
Source: United States Navy
FREEPORT, Bahamas — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) arrived in Freeport, Bahamas, for a scheduled port visit on Aug. 13. This visit highlights the strong, enduring partnership between the United States and The Bahamas and underscores a shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability.
U.S. Navy forces are deployed under U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) maritime homeland defense authorities in support of maritime homeland defense. USNORTHCOM is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to provide additional military forces and capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of the U.S. southern border.
During the multi-day visit, the crew of Cooperstown expects to participate in a series of engagements designed to foster goodwill and strengthen bilateral ties. U.S. Navy Sailors will volunteer their time for a Community Relations (COMREL) project at the Beacon School, giving back to the local Freeport community.
The ship’s crew will also conduct scheduled ship tours for members of the Royal Bahamian Defense Force and the Royal Bahamian Police Force to share best practices and enhance interoperability between the partnering maritime forces.
“Our port visits reflect the enduring partnership between the United States and The Bahamas and underscores our shared commitment to strengthening maritime security throughout the region,” said Commander Jesse DuParc, Commanding Officer of Cooperstown. “Through meaningful engagement with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, lasting community outreach, and amazing professional exchanges, we thoroughly enjoy the genuine trust, interoperability, and enduring relationships that enhance maritime domain awareness and strengthen our collective ability to promote lasting security and stability across the Caribbean.”
Cooperstown’s visit to Freeport demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s continued presence in the region and its dedication to working alongside partner nations to ensure a secure and prosperous Caribbean.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
For more U.S. 2nd Fleet news and photos, visit facebook.com/US2ndFleet, https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/, X – @US2ndFleet, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/commander-u-s-2nd-fleet.
Source: United States Navy
MAYPORT, Fla. –
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet completed the Combined Force Maritime Component Command (CFMCC) portion of the annual exercise PANAMAX, Aug. 3-12. This portion of the exercise helped provide maritime-focused interoperability training for the U.S. and participating multinational staffs, and build participating nation capability to plan and execute operations.
Participants in the CFMCC portion of the exercise were challenged with various maritime scenarios to help hone their skills, forge strong cooperative partnerships, and demonstrate their collective capacity to respond to and deter threats to maritime regions and critical waterways. Working together promoted a shared understanding of threats and goals, while furthering the commitment to ensure lasting regional peace by leveraging combined strengths.
“The two weeks have been intensive,” said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, Commander, U.S. Fourth Fleet. “The high tempo required a total team effort; we came here as individuals, and we leave here as a team, forged together.”
Under the exercise scenario, participants from air, land, special forces and maritime components formed a multinational force to defend the Panama Canal under a United Nations Security Council resolution. The scenario played out with complex simulated operations in the canal and its regional waters in both the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
“This exercise is essential because it’s a crucible on which we forge our own individual strengths, and we address our weaknesses and our self-doubt,” said Sardiello. “We worked outside our comfort zones to develop as leaders and as officers.”
The CFMCC portion of the exercise was conducted at locations in the U.S. to include Joint Staff Exercise Directorate at Suffolk, Va., U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Fla., Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Homestead, Fla., Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz., and Naval Station Mayport, Fla. More than 150 U.S. and partner nation personnel worked at these locations and brought the knowledge of their individual skillsets to contribute to the team effort.
“It is important, the friendships we built these two weeks of hard working,” said Chilean Navy Capt. Juan Pablo Villanueva, Deputy Commander of the Maritime Component at PANAMAX 2026, “I am certain that each of us will cherish the personal and professional qualities we shared. Memories will endure, and whenever we cross paths at an international event, we will remember that we were Panamax 2026.”
Nations who participated include Panama, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, UK and the United States.
PANAMAX 2026 is a Republic of Panama-hosted, U.S. Southern Command-sponsored training exercise that seeks to improve interoperability and strengthen collective capacity to conduct complex multinational and all-domain operations to ensure free flow of commerce through the Panama Canal and maintain security and stability in the region.
Source: United States Navy
WASHINGTON — Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao has appointed Kahlil “KD” Warner as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy for Legislative Affairs serving within the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA). In this role, he serves as the principal civilian advisor responsible for reviewing and coordinating timely, accurate responses to official correspondence, resolving constituent issues, and clarifying Department of the Navy policy on items of congressional interest.
“For the safety and security of our Nation, Congress must fully understand what our Sailors, Marines, and civilians need to accomplish their mission today—and tomorrow,” said Secretary Cao. “Just as we rely on congressional support, we must remain strictly accountable for every dollar appropriated to us. Mr. Warner is the ideal advisor to continue to strengthen this vital partnership, ensuring our communication is transparent, precise, and directly aligned with our strategic goals.”
On April 21, 2026, the Department of the Navy released the Fiscal Year 2027 President’s Budget request focused on restoring American maritime dominance with a total Navy topline of $377.5 billion. By strengthening the Department’s relationship with Congress, Mr. Warner will play a vital role in articulating the necessity of these investments and securing the resources required to modernize our Fleet. His strategic engagement will directly support our warfighters, ensuring the Navy-Marine Corps team maintains the advantage necessary to deter adversaries and decisively win conflicts in any contested maritime environment.
“It is my profound honor to serve the Navy-Marine Corps team in this capacity,” said Warner. “I look forward to working closely with Secretary Cao, Department of the Navy leaders, the industrial base, and our partners in Congress to bring a one team, one fight mentality, ensuring our Sailors and Marines have the unwavering legislative support and resources they need to maintain our maritime superiority.”
Prior to his appointment, Warner served in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Legislative Affairs as the Senior Legislative Advisor to both the Under Secretary of War for Policy and the Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness. In that role, he delivered critical legislative counsel to Department of War senior officials regarding congressional intent on high-priority matters.