April 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 9. U S N N
Industries shipyard. Although offi cial construction of DDG
121 began April 2016, the keel laying symbolically recognizes the ceremonial beginning of the ship. The keel was said to be “fairly and truly laid” and was authenti- cated by D’Arcy Neller, the ship’s sponsor, and Donald Brabston, a master Ingalls ship- builder.
“The keel laying is the symbolic fi rst
step in shaping our nation’s newest de- stroyer,” said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Offi ce (PEO) Ships. “The ship will be a lasting tribute to Frank E. Petersen Jr., who made incredible contributions to naval and Marine Corps aviation, and DDG 121 will be an extremely capable destroyer for our Sailors.” Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was the fi rst African-American aviator and the first African-American Marine Corps general. When he retired in 1988 after 38 years of service, he was, by date of designation, the senior-ranking aviator in the Marine Corps and the United States Navy. DDG 121 will be built in the Flight
IIA confi guration with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System which includes integrated air and missile defense capability. This system delivers quick reaction time, high fi repower, and increased electronic counter- measures capability for anti-air warfare. These multi-mission surface com-
batants serve as integral assets in global maritime security, engaging in air, undersea, surface, strike and ballistic missile defense, as well as providing increased capabilities in anti-submarine warfare, command and control, and anti-surface warfare. As one of the Defense Department’s
largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the develop- ment and procurement of all destroyers, am- phibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.
Navy Historian Speaks on African American Heritage at Wilson Center By By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Lockwood, Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A historian with the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) attended and spoke at a special seminar for African American/Black His- tory Month at the Wilson Center, Feb. 23. Invited by the center, NHHC Historian
Regina Akers, Ph.D., Joseph Reidy, Ph.D., a Professor of History and Associate Provost at Howard University, and retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Dereck Vines were the special guest speakers discussing African American Heritage. Specifi cally, African Americans in the Civil War Union Navy. It’s a topic all three know well. Akers and Reidy worked together previously on
an ABC Nightline broadcast on the subject that fi rst appeared on July 3, 2001, and both have continued their studies since. “It is an honor to serve on such a dis-
tinguished panel with Dr. Reidy and the other subject matter experts and to do so at the esteemed Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.,” said Akers. “I always enjoy the priv- ilege of sharing the history of the United States Navy. I am especially delighted to highlight African Americans’ rich legacy of naval service and sacrifi ce since the Amer- ican Revolution. Blacks were often the fi rst to volunteer even when war was waged for rights they were denied.” Vines started the presentation by talking
about his African-American experience in the Army before then showing the broadcast Akers and Reidy appeared in. Afterward, Akers and Reidy spoke for about 15 minutes each before the panel took questions from the audience. A wide-ranging subject, Akers believes
there is always more to learn about African American history, and in particular the black experience in the Navy. With names like John Henry Dick Turpin, Harriet Ida Pickens, Carl Brashear and Adm. Michelle J. Howard, the history of the Navy is replete with stories of African Americans who have overcome signifi cant challenges in order to defend freedom as American Sailors. “There is much to learn from African
American’s patriotism, courage, and de- termination,” said Akers. “They did not let obstacles hinder them. They remained focused on their goals and maintained professionalism and integrity despite the discrimination and racism they encountered. Their careers present lessons in leadership, demonstrate how to learn from failure and success, remind us to be true to ourselves and emphasize the importance of helping others as you advance in rank.” Subjects ranged from how there were
18,000 African American Sailors serving during the Civil War and, although it didn’t last, the Navy was the only military branch that was non-segregated during that time. They also discussed how later, Admiral E. R. Zumwalt’s pushed to end segregation in the modern Navy with Z-Gram 66, and highlighted the many contributions of Af- rican-American Sailors have made to the Navy’s rich history and proud heritage. The talk lasted a little more than an hour. “We asked for Dr. Akers, and all the
speakers, too, specifi cally because of the quality of their work concerning African Americans during the time period,” said John Martin, a retired ABC News Corre- spondent and Public Fellow at the Center. “I was delighted to have her appear as one of the sources on the Navy.” According to its website, the Wilson
Center was “chartered by Congress as the offi cial memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation’s key non-partisan pol-
icy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue to inform actionable ideas for the policy com- munity.”
Albuquerque Decommissioned After 33 Years of Service
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda R. Gray
KEYPORT, Wash. (NNS) -- The Los Ange- les-class fast-attack submarine USS Albu- querque (SSN 706) was decommissioned after 33 years of service during a ceremony held at Keyport Undersea Museum, Feb. 27. Rear Adm. John Tammen, commander,
Submarine Group 9, the guest speaker for the event, delivered remarks highlighting the boat’s many accomplishments. “Albuquerque was commissioned on
May 21, 1983, at Naval Base New London in Groton, Connecticut,” said Tammen. “She has deployed 21 times to every corner of the globe, accumulating approximately 1.1 million nautical miles steamed, the equiv- alent of 52 global circumnavigations. She has performed 1,075 successful dives in her lifetime, made port calls in over 35 diff erent foreign ports around the world, participated in over 18 major international naval ex- ercises and seen 14 commanding offi cers. Having been homeported on both coasts, she is one of the few warships in history to have deployed to every ocean in support of every operational command worldwide. Most importantly however, she has forever earned a place in the hearts of those who have called the Albuquerque ‘home’ the last 34 years. So we are here today to celebrate the Sailors who have made this boat run.” Albuquerque arrived at Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard (PSNS) for inactivation and decommissioning, Oct. 28, 2015, following an inactivation ceremony in San Diego. “Today’s crew has made signifi cant
sacrifi ces,” said Cmdr. Donald Tenney, Al- buquerque’s fi nal commanding offi cer. “De- commissioning is not particularly arduous, but it is tedious. They cooperated fl awlessly with the PSNS inactivation project team to overcome a multitude of obstacles and avoid any signifi cant work delays. I am incredibly proud of their performance and everything they accomplished both at work and off duty.”
Albuquerque was the second ship of
the United States Navy to be named for Albuquerque, New Mexico. The keel was laid by the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in Groton, Dec. 27, 1979, and launched March 13, 1982. The boat earned three Navy Unit Commendations, four Meritorious Unit Commendations and four Battle Effi ciency “E” Awards throughout her service. “As we decommission the aging Los Angeles-class boats, we make room for
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newer, more advanced submarines,” said Tammen. “We strive to continue the tradi- tion of undersea dominance, a tradition the Albuquerque has for so long been a part of, by continuing to push the envelope and equipping our Sailors with the very best technology and equipment. As we close this chapter on the USS Albuquerque, we look forward to the opportunities in the future and the progress it signifi es.”
Naval War College Professor Updates Congress on China’s Military Capabil- ities
By Daniel L. Kuester, U.S. Naval War College Public Aff airs
NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- An expert on the faculty of U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island, updated Congress on China’s current military capabilities, possible intentions, and what he sees as the future options in the region at a governmen- tal committee meeting, Feb. 23. Andrew S. Erickson, professor of strat- egy at NWC in the China Maritime Studies Institute testifi ed before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commis- sion (USCC) in the Dirksen Senate Offi ce Building in Washington. “My key points are, with its ambitious
ASBM (anti-ship ballistic missile) devel- opment, China is challenging U.S. Asia-Pa- cifi c interests and military infl uence in new
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