B4 | THE FLAGSHIP | MAR 24, 2016 | FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens speaks with Sailors after an all-hands call at Naval Station Norfolk.
Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, ROK forces conclude exercise By MC2 Stacy M. Atkins Ricks unit has a very specific part dore Thompson and Capt. Amphibious Squadron 11 Public Affairs
EAST SEA
MC2 Edward Guttierrez III
Thirteenth MCPON announces retirement Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs WASHINGTON
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens sent an email to his Leadership Mess March 16 announcing his decision to retire in September. “In consultation with the chief of naval operations, Theresa and I have requested and have been granted approval to retire on Sept. 2, 2016,” Stevens said. MCPON was born and raised in Montana. He graduated from Arlee High School in May 1983 and immediately entered the Navy attending basic training in San Diego in June 1983. Stevens attended Aviation Structural Mechanic Apprentice School in Millington, Tennessee, and his first duty assignment was with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2 in Rota, Spain. Stevens was advanced to master chief petty officer in October 2002. He went on to complete a number of operational and command master chief tours to include U.S. 2nd Fleet and served as the sixteenth fleet master chief for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Stevens’ academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College, Harvard John
F. Kennedy School of Government “Leadership in Crisis,” Senior Enlisted Professional Military Education, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, and the National Defense University Keystone course. He is an honor graduate and the recipient of the prestigious Peter Tomich Award for exceptional military excellence from the Senior Enlisted Academy. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (six awards), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with operational “O,” Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Insignia, and Enlisted Naval Aircrew Wings. Stevens became the thirteenth master chief petty officer of the Navy Sept. 28, 2012. Details for the change of office will be announced at a later date. The solicitation for the fourteenth master chief petty officer of the Navy will be sent to eligible active-duty candidates via email from the MCPON. Eligible candidates for consideration will be all fleet master chiefs. In addition, all command master chiefs with at least 18 months of service – as of Sept. 2, 2016 – at the three and four star level will be eligible.
SECNAV Advisory Panel fosters culture of innovation By MC2 Kathleen Church Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON
The Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel (SNAP) held a public meeting to address its research about the ways to establish a culture of innovation in the Department of the Navy (DON) March 17. SNAP’s mission is to provide expert advice on a variety of issues that range from service members’ health to nuclear weapons. DON will use the guidance to help aide in the retention of service members and to foster innovation throughout the Navy. SNAP was asked to develop creative approaches to continuously improve the force, while maintaining warfighting dominance and sustaining advantages with fewer resources. The board concluded that, inculcating, managing and sustaining a focus on innovation is an obligation of leadership and a national security imperative. However,
SNAP understands that creating a culture of change in a large, complex organization like the DON is challenging at best. The study identified there are inherent difficulties in generating change in hierarchical and highly bureaucratic organizations, and provides recommendations that the DON may take to foster a culture of innovation. “In a world of modern systems we need new thinking, and fostering a culture of innovation will guide the DON into the future,” SNAP Chairman retired Adm. Bill Studeman said. The Panel concluded, establishing a culture of innovation in the DON may best be accomplished through the initiation of multiple, small pilot projects that promote innovation, eliminate barriers, encourage experimentation and reward success. In this way, leadership emphasizes the importance of innovation and their personal commitment to improvement to attract emulation across the workforce and initiate behavioral change.
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Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHRESG) and Republic of Korea (ROK) military forces wrapped up Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 (SY 16) March 18 while underway off the coast of the ROK. Ssang Yong, or “twin dragons” in Korean, is a biennial amphibious-assault exercise conducted in the Indo-Asia region with ROK and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in order to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across the range of military operations from disaster relief to complex expeditionary missions. Nearly 9,200 U.S. Marines of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and 3,100 U.S. Navy personnel of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 joined forces with 4,500 ROK marines, 3,000 ROK navy personnel, 100 Royal Australian army Soldiers and 60 Royal New Zealand army Soldiers for the amphibious exercise. “When we think about interoperability we think of the phrase ‘One team, one fight,’” Commander of ESG 7 Rear Adm. John B. Nowell Jr., said. “This exercise has certainly been one team, one fight. United with the ROK navy and marine corps, we are an unbeatable team. Over the past few weeks we observed a cohesive amphibious force come together and we look forward to continued integrated operations in the near future.” During the 10-day exercise the U.S.-ROK Blue-Green team conducted more than 220 flight operations and over 240 craft operations. “Amphibious operations are like an orchestra, each
to play,” Commodore of the ROK navy’s 5th Flotilla (COMFLOT) Rear Adm. Ki-kyung Park said. “Rank aside, each Marine and Sailor is an integral part of the mission. What I observed during Ssang Yong 16 was a masterpiece.” The exercise commenced with a 19-ship photo exercise to include ships from the BHRESG and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) along with COMFLOT 5. The Blue-Green team kicked into high gear to carry out rehearsals for a simulated amphibious assault mission, where nearly 17,000 service members from the U.S., ROK, New Zealand and Australia participated in an amphibious landing on the beaches of Pohang. Lastly, the force conducted Assault Follow On Echelon exercises involving M1A1 Abrams tanks from Marine Delta Company 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division along with members of the 6th Royal Australian Regiment and a fueling-at-sea between amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), during which Richard transferred nearly 10,000 gallons of fuel to Shiloh, closing out the exercise. “I want to express my appreciation to U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea leadership for the support we received in the execution of Ssang Yong 16,” Commanding General of 3rd MEB U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen said. “The great partnerships developed with Rear Adm. Nowell, Rear Adm. Park, Brig. Gen. Lee, Commo-
Ward throughout this exercise reinforced the importance of naval integration in the planning and execution of complex, amphibious operations. It was rewarding for the entire team to be able to engage in a joint – combined – exercise that provided value to the region by way of a clear demonstration of strength and resolve between the United States and the Republic of Korea.” Assets of the BOXARG who joined the BHRESG in SY 16 included amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) with PHIBRON 1 embarked, amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 4th Marines, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 1st Tank Battalion and I Marine Expeditionary Force Crisis Response Force Company. Amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo (LPH-6111), amphibious landing ship ROKS Cheon Wang Bong (LST 686), Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class and destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) are among the ROK assets that participated in the exercise. The BHRESG, comprised of the flagship Bonhomme Richard and amphibious dock landing ships USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Ashland (LSD 48), is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility along with the embarked 31st MEU. For more news from Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit http://1.usa.gov/1nVrVkj. For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.
Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kelsey Dornfeld Marine Corps Cpl. Henry Estrada, left, a gunner with 1st Tank Battalion, guides an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank off the Landing Craft Air Cushion during rail operations at Dogu Beach, Republic of Korea, as part of Exercise Ssang Yong 16.