Navy

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro unveiled conceptual renderings from five architecture firms at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, finalizing the Navy’s Artistic Ideas competition, an effort to explore the possibilities for the planned Navy museum.

Following the SECNAV’s October announcement of the preferred location for the Navy’s planned museum, Naval History and Heritage Command moved forward with its conceptual development phase and initiated the ideas competition in an effort to explore the full realm of artistic ideas that might be incorporated into a new museum.

The competition sought concepts and ideas for the planned project from a broad range of individuals and architecture firms. Following the initial announcement in December, 80 firms expressed interest in participating; 37 firms then submitted qualifications, and finally, the Navy selected five architecture firms as finalists: Bjarke Ingels Group, DLR Group, Frank Gehry Partners, Perkins & Will and Quinn Evans.

Since January, the firms developed their unique submissions of conceptual ideas to include a museum entrance, an atrium, a ceremonial courtyard, and the incorporation of some of the Navy’s larger artifacts, like a Corsair aircraft, a Swift Boat, and the sail of a submarine.

“We are pleased to display five visions for the future of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, “while each concept is different, all of them show how we might celebrate our Navy’s accomplishments, honor our veterans and point the way toward the Navy’s future.”

The Navy envisions a future museum that would offer greater public access that could include a new building and the potential renovation of existing historical buildings. The planned museum campus would consist of approximately 270,000 square feet and include about 100,000 square feet of net gallery space.

“The concepts unveiled today are a crucial step in exploring what is possible for the new National Museum of the U.S. Navy,” said NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired). “We’ll tell the story of the Navy’s history as it continues to unfold, and the ideas developed by our finalists herald a new way of honoring that history by inviting visitors to participate.”

“These concepts mark an important step in the museum building process,” according to Charles Swift, Acting Director of the Museum of the United States Navy, who oversaw the competition.

“These ideas and concepts show what might be possible for a new museum,” said Swift. “We have a number of steps we need to complete before determining a final design, and that first step is having a conversation with America: our Navy, our veterans and our nation, about what we’ve presented today.”

The firms’ concepts are available here: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/news-and-events/multimedia-gallery/news-photos/nmusn-concepts/nmusn-concepts.html.

The final canvases from the competition will remain on display for public viewing at the Navy’s National Museum on the Washington Navy Yard. Access hours are limited because of museum’s consolidation. Visit http://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn.html for hours and access guidance. NHHC plans additional public showcases this summer.

Anyone wishing to share ideas or to comment on these Navy museum concepts can find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMUSN or email: [email protected]

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington has two new Aspiring Leadership Development Program (ALDP) graduates to celebrate, Edwin Franco, financial management analyst, and Abdoulaye Camara, supervisory accountant. They are the most recent NAVFAC professionals who have taken on additional responsibilities and challenged themselves to succeed in a highly competitive environment through development of their leadership capabilities.

The ALDP is just one of leadership development opportunities that is offered to the NAVFAC workforce. Consistent with NAVFAC’s Strategic Plan to strengthen, enhance, and accelerate workforce learning and performance, the ALDP is a corporate-wide initiative to provide developmental training for current and future leaders. Employees selected for the ALDP become students who participate in a six-month structured cohort program consisting of three weeks of formal training and other developmental activities. Students are also given a series of tools to reveal personality tendencies and understand what style of leadership one will adopt when leading a group. Some of the tools include the Myers-Briggs Type Assessment, the CliftonStrengths Assessment, and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument.

“There are many styles of leadership and each person will use many of them during their career, sometimes without even realizing it,” said Franco. “One of the most powerful tools all individuals have is the ability to listen; which means paying attention to understand the meaning of the message the speaker wants to convey without judging, but instead truly understanding the ‘why’ of their message.”

The ALDP is an opportunity for bourgeoning leaders from across the NAVFAC enterprise to come together and learn from one another. Students interact with leaders who have different backgrounds, experience, and views of what an effective leader should be. Students network with their cohort and get a chance to listen to stories of experience from leaders and instructors who have been there and done that in business, industry, and government service.

“The program taught me how to be an effective leader by being an actor of positive change within NAVFAC, as well as be an effective communicator,” said Camara. “I would recommend the ALDP to all NAVFAC employees. It provides a solid leadership foundation and equips individuals with tools to succeed at work, as well as on their personal journey through life.”

NAVFAC Washington employees interested in ALDP are encouraged to apply now for the next cohort. Applications will be accepted until Friday, May 26.

PHILIPPINE SEA – The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) is conducting a full spectrum of multi-domain and integrated operations in the Philippine Sea.

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) are currently on a routine deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

“We’re operating, communicating and coordinating movements and actions in the Philippine Sea as a demonstration of our capability to compete and respond across all domains from space to the undersea,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Sweeney, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11. “We’re here not only reassure our allies and partners of our unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, but to work alongside them with a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Our carrier strike group is postured to respond to coercive behavior from those who seek to destabilize the region.”

Prior to Philippine Sea operations, NIMCSG conducted a trilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Navy. Combined operations included anti-submarine exercises, search and rescue exercises, and staff embarkations. The U.S. Navy regularly holds combined exercises such as these to strengthen ties among allied countries and to build shared interoperability.

NIMCSG consists of USS Nimitz, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur, USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) and USS Wayne E. Meyer of Destroyer Squadron Nine.

Nimitz’s embarked air wing consists of the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA-94, “Kestrels” of VFA-137, “Blue Diamonds” of VFA-146, “Sun Kings” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, “Battlecats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, “Screamin’ Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, and “Providers” of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific reg