Flagship 06.16.2022

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 1

IN THIS ISSUE

CNAL Holds Ribbon-Cutting Naval Air Force Atlantic held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, June 6, to unveil their newly renovated Maintenance Operation Center (MOC), located at Naval Station Norfolk. PAGE A4

VOL. 29, NO. 23, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

June 16-June 22, 2022

Training and Readiness Demonstrated During Spirit of Norfolk Fire

Connected Through Service: NNSY Employees Share Link in Efforts that Saved the Lives of American Soldiers

By Kristi R Britt

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

PORTSMOUTH, Va — In early 2006, Michelle Lappin was an Army Reservist deployed overseas, her unit’s primary mission to transfer fuel and rations from base to base. In route to their destination, she was a passenger on one of the two-person trucks when she noted other vehicles begin to swerve ahead of them.

“And then all of a sudden, there was a fireball right in front of our faces,” Lappin shared, recalling the day a 60 millimeter round improvised explosive device (IED) hidden under a sandbag along their route had remote detonated as they were passing by.

This incident thankfully had minimal injuries, one of two such incidents she’d faced during her time of deployment.

Lappin credits that a huge factor in how their lives were saved were greatly in part to the armor placed on the trucks. In 2015, now a civilian and working at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), she soon learned that America’s Shipyard actually played a huge part in getting those trucks armored and ready in 2005.

“It was so special to find out that this shipyard played a part in saving my life Turn to NNSY, Page 7

Naval Station Norfolk Port Operations Tugs bring the Spirit of Norfolk to Naval Station Norfolk’s Pier 4 to continue firefighting efforts after the vessel caught on fire while transiting the Elizabeth River on June 7. (KELLY WIRFEL)

By Kelly Wirfel

Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs Officer

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK — Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s Fire and Emergency Services routinely trains with local partners to execute not only force protection responses, but also shipboard firefighting efforts. In addition to responding to fires onboard naval vessels, Sailors and civilians stand ready to respond to any maritime emergency on or off base.

On June 7, what seemed to be an average morning turned into a historic moment, when at approximately 12:15 p.m. watch standers in NAVSTA Norfolk’s Waterfront Security Operations Center visually saw smoke coming from the Spirit of Norfolk which was transiting the Elizabeth River and at the time was located outside of piers 3 and 4. They immediately notified the Port Operations tower who then dispatched two tugs.

The Spirit of Norfolk is dinner cruise/ party boat that sails along the Elizabeth River and can accommodate up to 400 passengers.

As the tugs made their way to the vessel, the Captain of the Spirit of Norfolk put out a mayday call stating, “I have an emergency right now. I have approximately 108 persons onboard. I believe I have a fire in the engine room. I am right off of Norfolk Naval Base.”

The call was directed to Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads, however went out over multiple channels where nearby tour boat, Victory Rover heard the distress call and immediately made its way to the vessel.

The two tugs began firefighting efforts while Victory Rover tied alongside the Spirit of Norfolk. Once safely alongside the 106 passengers on the Spirit of Norfolk were transferred to Victory Rover which included two elementary school groups.

Due to the close vicinity the Spirit of Norfolk was to NAVSTA Norfolk, the decision was made to bring the vessel to Pier 4 where firefighting efforts continued implementing the mutual aid agreement.

In emergency services, mutual aid is an agreement among emergency responders to

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Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Code 930 Zone Manager Anthony Britton and Code 300 Quality Advocate Michelle Lappin.(DANIEL DEANGELIS)

USS Forrest Sherman Departs for Mediterranean NATO Deyployment Units from 18 different entities to include Naval Station Norfolk, U.S. Coast Guard, Norfolk Fire-Rescue, the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth were all involved in the firefighting efforts onboard the Spirit of Norfolk after the vessel caught fire on June 7. (KELLY WIRFEL)

lend assistance across jurisdictional boundaries. This may occur due to an emergency response that exceeds local resources, such as a disaster or fire such as this one.

“Having a mutual aid agreement with the surrounding community is extremely important as evidenced by this incident,” said NAVSTA Norfolk’s District Fire Chief, Anthony Sickell. “The agreement allows both the installation and city fire departments to share resources and personnel in a manner that provides the most efficient, safe and immediate emergency response to the naval base, municipalities and the surrounding communities.”

According to Sickell, NAVSTA Norfolk rapidly pushed 13 of the installations units to the scene, enacted mutual aid bringing in 18 outside units and utilized Rescue and Assistance Teams from the surrounding ships.

The emergency response was notable for

the extensive number of different agencies that worked together. In addition to NAVSTA Norfolk, the Coast Guard, Victory Rover, Norfolk Fire-Rescue, the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth were all involved.

When asked why the Navy responded to a civilian vessel like Spirit of Norfolk, NAVSTA Norfolk’s Commanding Officer Capt. David Dees responded by simply stating, “To us, it is not just a civilian ship. It was a vessel in need and it had 106 passengers that needed help. And that’s exactly what we all did today as a team.”

Firefighting efforts continued on the vessel for five days when the Unified Command confirmed the fire aboard the vessel was extinguished as of 9:58 a.m., June 11.

The following day, the vessel was towed to Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk where an investigation will take place by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.s. 2Nd Fleet

NORFOLK, VA — The Arleigh Burkeclass guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) departed on deployment from its home port of Norfolk, June 11.

During the deployment, Forrest Sherman will serve as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and will operate in the European theater.

She will conduct freedom of navigation and presence operations as well as participate in multiple exercises with Allies and partners in the region.

Forrest Sherman successfully completed a surge deployment from February to April while operating with NATO Allies in the Eastern Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Sea under commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet.

“The Sailors aboard Forrest Sherman are incredibly talented and resilient,” Cmdr. Greg Page, commanding officer of USS Forrest Sherman said. “Their unwavering commitment to the mission helps Turn to USS Forrest, Page 7

Clean the Bay Day

Remarkable Robotics

Facility of the Year

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic took to the shoreline of Lafayette River Annex on Thursday, June 9 to clean up debris championing the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

PAGE A3

More than 130 teams of elementary, middle and high school students from around the world competed at the annual International SeaPerch Challenge on June 4 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. PAGE A2

Naval Satellite Communications Facility Northwest won the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) 2021 Facility of the Year award, presented on Monday, 6 June 2022. PAGE A7

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Participants operate their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) through an underwater course during the annual International SeaPerch Challenge on June 4 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. The Office of Naval Research-sponsored competition brought together students to showcase the ROVs they built as part of a curriculum designed to boost their skills and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. (MICHAEL WALLS)

Remarkable Robotics: ROVs Shine in ONR-Sponsored International SeaPerch Challenge

By Warren Duffie

Office Of Naval Research

ARLINGTON, Va.—More than 130 teams of elementary, middle and high school students from around the world competed at the annual International SeaPerch Challenge on June 4 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored competition brought together students to showcase the underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) they built as part of a curriculum designed to boost their skills and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The SeaPerch program is an initiative within the Naval STEM Coordination Office, which is located at ONR and coordinates investments in STEM education, outreach and workforce initiatives across

the Department of the Navy.

Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Lorin Selby gave welcoming remarks at the event: “ONR has been involved with SeaPerch pretty much from the beginning, so we’ve got a long, proud history of supporting many, many students like yourselves over the years,” he said. “In the world we live in today, we have a lot of very complex problems and to solve those problems, we’ve got to be able to put together teams of diverse individuals who can come at things from different angles and work together to solve problems.

“You’ve shown that by getting to this point of the competition,” Selby continued. “If you can take the skills that got you here to your future endeavors in school, in college, in work, then you will succeed and help this nation succeed.”

SeaPerch — which is administered by RoboNation — gives teachers and students

the resources they need to build ROVs from kits made up of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. The objective is that students will build STEM, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

During this year’s International SeaPerch Challenge, participants showed off their engineering prowess through technical papers and presentations. Then they ran their ROVs through an underwater obstacle course in which the vehicles navigated through 24-inch rings — oriented in multiple directions — before surfacing, re-submerging and returning through the course.

Afterward, competitors operated their ROVs through an underwater mission course with a space training theme. The course simulated the tasks and environment that an ROV might encounter while

assisting astronauts on an extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station. Mission duties included rotating a latch, disconnecting a battery and replacing it with a new one, and transporting tools.

See the full list of winning teams at https:// seaperch.org/programs/2022-season/.

“What better way to inspire students and encourage them to pursue STEM education and careers than with an underwater robotics competition?” said Sandy Landsberg, who is both the Naval STEM Coordination Office executive and a division director in ONR’s Information, Cyber and Spectrum Superiority Department. “I’ve been incredibly amazed at the different designs, the students’ understanding of their designs and the science and technology concepts out there.”

RoboNation estimates that over 250,000 students engage in the program annually through grassroots programs, competitions and training activities. Since 2011, SeaPerch has expanded to reach students in over 35 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Additionally, the number of locally hosted regional competitions has grown to over 100 qualifier events where teams earn a spot at the International SeaPerch Challenge.

Learn more about SeaPerch at https:// seaperch.org/.

Warren Duffie Jr. is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications.

Navy Calls for FY24 Officer Board Deferment Requests

By Petty Officer 1st Class Mark Faram

Chief Of Naval Personnel

ARLINGTON, Va. — Officers planning to opt-out of promotion board consideration in fiscal year 2024 must submit their requests by July 29.

NAVADMIN 132⁄22 on June 7 announced this year’s deadlines and details for the program.

Congress approved this ability to defer promotion consideration under certain conditions along with other officer personnel reforms in 2018. To be eligible, officers must not have previously failed to select to the grade the deferment is requested.

Active component and Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) unrestricted line officers are eligible to apply to be considered as “in-zone or above-zone not previously considered” to the grades of lieutenant commander, commander, or captain.

Deferments are only for the year the officer initially requested, meaning officers whose assignments are longer than 12 months must annually request renewal of

the deferment.

Lists of the types of assignments qualifying officers for the deferment are available in the NAVADMIN. In general, qualifying assignments are those determined to be “broadening” for the officer, including high-level education or fellowship opportunities, tours with industry or anything else considered “of significant value” to the service, such as defense attaché or personnel exchange program assignments.

With their command’s endorsement, officers send their requests to the community managers at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. A detailed description of the approval process is outlined in the message.

Officers will receive a notification letter either approving or disapproval no later than 45 calendar days before the fiscal year 2024 promotion cycle begins.

For more news from the Chief of Naval Personnel, follow us on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/mynavyhr, Twitter at https://twitter.com/mynavyhr or visit https://www.navy.mil/cnp.

Editorial Staff Military Editor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm, maddelin.hamm@navy.mil Graphic Designer | Trisha Irving, trisha.irving@virginiamedia.com

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MC3 Leo Katsareas MCSN Jordan Grimes

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 3

Volunteers from Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic clean debris as part of NAVFAC Atlantic’s observance of Clean the Bay Day 2022. Members of the NAVFAC Atlantic team cleared a variety of waste, including discarded lumber, plastic bottles and sporting goods from the banks of Norfolk’s Lafayette River adjacent to the command’s headquarters complex.

(MICHAEL MORRIS)

NAVFAC Atlantic Picks up 475 pounds of trash for annual Clean the Bay Day

By JC Kreidel

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va. — Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic took to the shoreline of Lafayette River Annex on Thursday, June 9 to clean up debris championing the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The haul — which netted some 475 pounds of trash — is part of the command’s efforts held around Clean the Bay Day, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s longest running annual litter cleanup campaign.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foun-

dation, more than 165,000 volunteers have collected more than seven million pounds of debris along 8,250 miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline since 1989.

Event co-coordinator Tim Wenk who works as a supervisory environmental engineer with NAVFAC Atlantic, was pleased with the outcome of this year’s haul.

“Despite the muggy weather and threat of thunderstorms, we had a great turnout of volunteers from the Command. The group worked hard to pick up and properly dispose of trash and debris from along the fence line of the base as well as the shoreline of the Lafayette River Annex,” said Wenk.

“The Chesapeake Bay is an incredibly valu-

able resource for our area, so it is important for us to try anything we can to help improve the habitat and water quality of the Bay and its tributaries.”

As in years past, volunteers collected a wide assortment of litter from treated wood to microplastics, volleyballs to birdhouses.

On the bright side, one volunteer even found lure, which she plans to recycle into her own personal fishing gear. To further cut down on litter generated while collecting the refuse, volunteers used recycled buckets to collect trash before transferring them to large trash bags.

At NAVFAC Atlantic, many of the same volunteers participate each year, hopeful to

see their effort pay off first-hand.

“I’m passionate about controlling litter and recycling. I’m out here every year and I can’t help but think, if we all did a better job of reducing our carbon foot print and thinking about reusable products, we’d have very little to pick up each year on our shoreline,” said volunteer Paige Flores, an administrative assistant for the command’s environmental business line. “Real success would be not needing to clean our base and focus on another area on Clean the Bay Day.” NAVFAC Atlantic has supported Clean the Bay Day and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for years, with volunteers doing far more than simply collecting refuse. Volunteers have also taken time for other restoration efforts, such as planting oyster beds just off the shoreline of Lafayette River Annex. Those oyster beds help restore the water quality in the Lafayette River, which is a part of the Chesapeake Bay.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class James Ladner, from NTAG Richmoind, is featured as this week’s Recruiter in the Spotlight. (PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS TAYLOR JACKSON)

NTAG Richmond Sailor Leads Teams On and Off Duty

By Petty Officer 1st Class Taylor Jackson Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class James Ladner grew up on the soccer pitch. From age 5 to 19, he hit the field as a player and took charge as a referee. He envisioned playing at the collegiate level, but life had other plans.

“The college I wanted to go to didn’t have a men’s soccer team, so I chose a different school that would be better suited for my major,” said Ladner. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out either, and I ended up leaving school altogether.”

Putting soccer and college on hold, Ladner began looking for work in his hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi. After struggling to find steady income, he spoke with his local Navy

recruiter. Ladner had little prior knowledge of the Navy before meeting with the recruiter.

Because Gulfport is home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, he knew about the Navy’s construction element, but the other Navy communities were foreign to him. His recruiter recommended the nuclear program, and Ladner joined the Navy shortly after.

Upon completion of Navy Nuclear Power School, he was designated a nuclear machinist’s mate and reported to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in Norfolk, Virginia. Following this tour, he was accepted for recruiting orders at Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Richmond, Virginia. Having a break from the rigorous schedule of shipboard reactor maintenance afforded Ladner an opportunity to reconnect with his passion for

soccer. For the last year, he has served as a youth soccer coach.

“I originally wanted to join a league as a player when I got here,” said Ladner. “Unfortunately, none of the team schedules really matched well with my work schedule. I still wanted to be part of the game, so I decided coaching would be a good way to not only get back on the field for a little while, but also teach others to love the game as well.”

Ladner serves as leading petty officer for the E-Talent division of NTAG Richmond.

His division links potential applicants in the NTAG’s area of responsibility with their local recruiters. His time at the command taught him valuable lessons in leadership that apply both on and off the field.

“There is a lot of overlap between coaching and being a leading petty officer,” said

Ladner. “Both jobs involve being able to help your team bring out the best in their abilities, and as the leader, you make a lot of decisions about putting people in a position to succeed.”

Though he will be transferring soon, his leadership has been invaluable to both teams. Thanks to his coaching, his soccer team not only learned to play the game, they also won several of their matches before the season ended. Back at NTAG, the E-Talent team benefited greatly from his unique leadership perspective.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more than what he (Ladner) brings to the table,” said Chief Navy Counselor Kellyanne Ramirez, E-Talent’s department leading chief petty officer. “Ladner comes to work and gets things done. He motivates his people and helps me keep our mission running smoothly. I know he will do great things at his next command.”

Navy Talent Acquisition Group Richmond, part of Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, includes 41 recruiting stations responsible for enlisted and officer recruiting in Virginia, Washington, D. C. and parts of Maryland and North Carolina.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 5

NAVFAC MIDLANT Fast-Tracks New Maintenance Operation Center Construction; CNAL Holds Ribbon-Cutting From Naval Facilities Engineering

Systems Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. — Naval Air Force Atlantic held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, June 6, to unveil their newly renovated Maintenance Operation Center (MOC), located at Naval Station Norfolk.

The MOC, which is built inside a 70s-era aircraft hangar, was first introduced as a concept to naval aviation in late 2018 as a holistic approach to maintaining naval aircraft readiness goals. Using a commercial airline model, the new facility construct will give Sailors the tools they need to provide centralized collaboration, and real-time information on the supply, maintenance, and engineering needs of aircraft in the fleet to drive down maintenance costs.

The MOC also equips the Navy with an ability to predict and repair issues before they occur, and provides valuable insight to the end user for efficient handling of aircraft. It also represents a revolutionary step in how the Navy maintains a lethal and ready force for the future.

“This facility is what I would describe as a world class facility,” said Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (CNAL) Rear Adm. John Meier, who, along with Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. William Lescher, cut the ceremonial ribbon. “… In my 36 years in the Navy, I’ve never seen a better facility that is more equipped in terms of technology, displays, data management, and even ergonomics. I can tell you that the Sailors [who] work here are excited ... they’re innovative ... they’re looking for new ways to do business.”

For Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, when the requirement to renovate a more than 8,000 square foot area to serve as the MOC arrived in February 2021, it came with a mission-need date of April 30, 2022, and Public Works Department (PWD) Norfolk got to work.

Planning, Design, and Acquisition efforts began simultaneously, followed by approval from NAVFAC Headquarters to proceed with a Sole Source, Undefinitized Contract Action — the catalyst that drove this project to completion. This type of contract action means contract terms, specifications, or price are not agreed upon before performance begins.

The project was awarded to MIG GOV Construction, Virginia Beach, Virginia in April 2021, with only a 50 percent design in hand. The work included the renovation of existing warehouse space to a secure area office space, encompassing architectural, structural, electrical, and mechanical demolition and design. Following lead abatement, the new space included a new fire protection system, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), communications, and wall, ceiling, and floor finishes.

“Our ability to deliver this state-of-the-art facility in just 13 months is remarkable,” said NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Commanding Officer Capt. Tres Meek. “It certainly speaks volumes to the work that was done by our combined

(US Navy photo)

(L-R) Kris Poston, MIG GOV Superintendent; Jeff Graham, NAVFAC Engineering Technician; Cindy Stringer, MIG GOV Construction Project Manager; and Eugene Bricker, NAVFAC Construction Manager conduct a quality control meeting during the initial demolition phase of the Maintenance Operation Center onboard Naval Station Norfolk. (US NAVY PHOTO)

team of Contracting, Design and Construction, Construction Management, Public Works, and construction contractors, and it demonstrates the power of innovation by reimagining and

renovating functional spaces to better support the fleet and the warfighter.”

That combined team included: Assistance Public Works Officer Lt. Kevin Lachat, who

coordinated customer requirements; Contracting team members Natalie Augsburger, Kate Dinneen, and Kate Arnold, who completed all acquisition requirements; Design and Construction team members Dean Gregory, Sebastian Ramos, Lily Li, Brian Nypaver, Chris Terry, Lisa Bossert, and Ann Perry, who expedited design and clarifications; Construction Management team members Eugene Bricker and Jeffrey Graham, who assured quality; and construction contractor MIG GOV. Bricker, Gregory, Ramos, and Graham received special acknowledgement with command coins from VCNO Adm. Lescher, for their direct involvement and accomplishments in completing this project in record time.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic provides facilities engineering, public works and environmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, and as far west as Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, we provide leadership through the Regional Engineer organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively.

Lt. Cmdr. Raul Cuevas, Facilities, Engineering, & Acquisition Division director, PWD Norfolk, contributed to this story.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 7

Excellence In the Air: NAVSATCOMMFAC Northwest Wins 2021 DISA Facility of the Year

By Matthew Klepeisz

Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic Detachment Jacksonville

NORFOLK, Va. — Naval Satellite Communications Facility (NAVSATCOMMFAC) Northwest won the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) 2021 Facility of the Year award, presented on Monday, 6 June 2022.

This annual award formally recognizes outstanding DISN facilities for exemplary accomplishments, performance, and contributions made to enhance the effectiveness in which the Department of Defense Information Network is operated, secured and managed.

Navy Satellite Communications Facility Northwest received the award for leading the way in implementing operational and procedural guidance for emerging technologies in Department of Defense Satellite Communications (DoD SATCOM). In addition to normal Operations and Maintenance, NAVSATCOMMFAC supported nearly 1,000 satellite missions for its users while maintain 99.99 percent link reliability.

They hosted numerous testing and training events and collaborated in the development of tactics, techniques, and procedures with various DoD agencies.

“A primary reason we at Navy Satellite Communications Facility (NAVSATCOMMFAC) Northwest received this award was due to the commitment exhibited by the entire staff,” said David Marshall, Technical Assistant / Quality Assurance Inspector for NAVSATCOMMFAC. “The world class efforts of the operations, maintenance and security teams of this large SATCOM Gateway are unsurpassed.”

NAVSATCOMMFAC Northwest is a detachment of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT).

NCTAMS LANT’s mission is to operate and defend responsive, resilient, and secure computer and telecommunications systems, providing information superiority for global maritime and joint forces.

For more information on NCTAMS LANT, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NCTAMSAtlantic/ or the public web page at https:// www.navifor.usff.navy.mil/nctamslant/.

Naval Satellite Communications Facility (NAVSATCOMMFAC) Northwest staff are presented with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) 2021 Facility of the Year award on Monday, 6 June 2022. ( MATTHEW KLEPEISZ)

USS Forrest

NNSY

ensure that our nation’s maritime presence remains strong. “This year has presented multiple opportunities for the Forrest Sherman crew to become proficient operating with our allies and partners. As the flagship for SNMG2, I am excited to continue to work with NATO and demonstrate our professionalism, capabilities and resolve to the world.”

NATO seeks to increase security through cooperation and building relationships in line with shared values, building mutual security as well as respecting the rights of individual nations to decide their own futures.

“The Forrest Sherman team is ready to respond throughout the region in service of our maritime interests,” said Rear Adm. Scott Sciretta, prospective commander, SNMG2. “In the days ahead we will strengthen our relationships with like-minded allies and partners. We look forward to strengthening the alliance and conducting operations that will challenge us and make us stronger than ever. NATO is capable now, ready for tomorrow and adapting for the future.”

Forrest Sherman will operate with several allied navies including members from Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Forrest Sherman is deploying to the

and so many other lives in their efforts,” said Lappin. “And I always wondered if I would get to meet some of the members who worked on those trucks.”

Fast forward to early 2022, where now Operations Department (Code 300) Quality Advocate Lappin joined fellow members of the NNSY Chapter 3 of the Federal Managers Association (FMA) for the national convention in Washington, D.C. During the Day on the Hill event, members had a chance to speak with staffers of congress on the challenges of not getting appropriate funding in time. Lappin stepped forward to share her personal story to help bring perspective to the issue — and that’s when it clicked for Code 930 Zone Manager Anthony Britton — they shared a connection.

Born into a military family, Britton had joined the Navy himself at an early age.

He was stationed on USS Coral Sea (CV 43) which was being serviced at America’s Shipyard during his time and he immediately fell in love with what would eventually become his home yard as a civilian. He was discharged from the Navy in September 1987 and was stepping through the gates as an employee of NNSY in October that same year, joining the reservists as well in order to keep servicing the mission to protect our

from Page 1

from Page 1

European theater of operations and after The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) departed on deployment from its home port of Norfolk, June 11. During the deployment, Forrest Sherman will serve as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) and will operate in the European theater. (MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS RYAN SEELBACH)

reporting as the flagship for SNMG2 in July, will participate in a range of maritime activities in support of NATO allies and European Partners.

nation.

“In 2005, NNSY was asked to go overseas and assist in getting trucks armored and ready to go,” said Britton. “I was itching to join the efforts and when I got over there, I didn’t want to leave. Seeing the work we were doing directly affected our soldiers was such a great experience for me and the teams from the shipyard that went over there. I always knew that the work we did was important but we never really got to make that connection firsthand before. And then I heard Mrs. Lappin begin to speak at the convention and I immediately knew she was one of the soldiers we helped make a difference for. I spoke up and shared my story alongside hers and by the end of it; there wasn’t a dry eye left in the room.”

“Unbeknownst to anyone, I was sitting at that very table with someone whose efforts directly affected my time in the service — whose efforts were instrumental in keeping us alive,” said Lappin. “I can’t say for certain that my specific vehicle was handled by the NNSY teams but their connections and efforts helped saved millions of lives, including my own. Being able to learn of this connection and be able to say thank you in person was so special to me.”

“It really highlights the importance of doing our job right and serving the mission each day,” said Britton. “What we are doing here at America’s Shipyard saves lives and you never know who you may support in what you’re doing.”

“Early detection gave us more time to find information and support together.”

If you’re noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer’s.

Talk about visiting a doctor together.

ALZ.org/TimeToTalk

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 1

Navy Systems Analyst Julie Posusta

Julie Posusta works in the Acquisition and Readiness Assessment Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center as a systems analyst wing and is serving as her authentic self with the support from her division. PAGE B3

A MH 60S, assigned to the“Island Knights”of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, hovers over the Japanese Coast Guard Vessel Mizuho to support a medical evacuation June 9. HSC25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guam-based 24-hour search-and-rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas. HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. ( JAPANESE COAST GUARD)

U.S. Navy helicopter squadron conducts multiple medevacs within 24 hours

By Lt.Cmdr. Sherrie A Flippin

Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam — The Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducts multiple medical evacuations within 24 hours, June 9.

On June 7, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Guam notified HSC-25 regarding a possible medical evacuation of a 56 yearold male Japanese national with abdominal pain on board a fishing vessel located 725 nautical miles south of Guam. Through coordination with the Japanese Coast Guard Vessel, Mizuho, HSC 25 conducted

a medical evacuation on June 9, and transferred the patient to Naval Hospital Guam.

That same day HSC 25 was later contacted to recover a U.S. service member exhibiting heat stroke symptoms while underway on a small U.S. patrol vessel. Once the helicopter arrived on scene the service member was hoisted into the aircraft where a U.S. Navy corpsman administered fluids and the patient was transferred to Naval Hospital Guam.

Both patients have been reported in stable condition.

“Being part of the Island Knight team is both challenging and rewarding,” said search and rescue medical technician, Hospital Corpsman 2nd class Christo-

pher Finley. “From the moment we arrived at each location my primary focus was addressing the needs of the patient and administering the necessary care ensuring a safe transit to the naval hospital.”

HSC-25 provides a multi-mission rotary wing capability for units in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and maintains a Guambased 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation capability, directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas.

HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron.

Since January of this year, HSC 25 has conducted ten medical evacuations and nine search and rescue operations, with

support from USCG Sector Guam and Joint Region Marianas (JRM).

“We have been told both patients are in stable condition, which is the news we like to hear, said Finley. “I am so proud to be part of this squadron and prouder of the things we accomplish while working as a team with USCG, JRM and the Japanese Coast Guard.”

HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron.

The squadron’s aircrews provide an armed helicopter capability for U.S. Navy 7th and 5th Fleets as well as detachments to various commands covering a diverse mission sets including logistics, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance.

PHIBRON 11 holds change of command NATO ships conduct port visit in Algiers Courtesy Story

NATO Allied Maritime Command

(CSG-21) led by HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08).

“This team, despite everything it had stacked against it, COVID or otherwise, did tremendous things across Seventh Fleet,” said Baker.

“I sincerely believe that we were able to demonstrate to the region, specifically, and the world writ large, that the Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are a ready force, truly able to bring decisive combat power to our enemy at the time and place of our choosing.

“This team, combined with our partner nations, stands ready to defeat any aggressor

MEDITERRANEAN SEA — Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG-2) visited Algiers, Algeria, from June 4-7 and conducted a subsequent Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with Algerian navy units in the vicinity of Algiers.

SNMCMG2 crewmembers participated in several activities during the port visit organized

by Algerian Naval Force personnel, fostering positive relations between NATO and its partner nation.

Commander, SNMCMG2 Spanish Navy Captain Javier Núñez de Prado welcomed Algiers’ Spanish Ambassador aboard the flagship Spanish Navy ESPS Meteoro (P-41). In addition, the ambassadors of several NATO nations, as well as one general and nine other officers from Algiers, honoured the Group with their attendance of the Force Reception held aboard the flagship.

“It is a pleasure to receive you on board SNMCMG2 flagship with the aim at fostering cooperation between Algeria and NATO, looking for a more secure environment in the region,” Núñez de Prado said.

On June 17, SNMCMG2 units and Algerian ship El-Kasseh 1 (501), left Algiers port and executed a serialised schedule of exercises at sea. The PASSEX concluded with a ceremonial “sail past” to wish farewell between the units involved.

Cooperation between NATO and partner nations like Algeria is essential for achieving the goals related to security in the Mediterranean

Turn to PHIBRON 11, Page 7

Turn to NATO, Page 7

Captain Greg Baker, left, speaks with retired Capt. John Hamilton, Baker’s mentor and guest of honor, after the Amphibious Squadron 11 change-of-command ceremony in the hangar bay of the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18). (MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS THOMAS B CONTANT)

By Lt. John Stevens

Amphibious Squadron 11

SASEBO, Japan — Capt. Greg E. Baker turned over command of Amphibious Squadron 11 to Capt. Kelly T. Fletcher in a ceremony aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18), June 10.

The ceremony was held in the ship’s hangar bay, with Rear Adm. Christopher M. Engdahl, Commander, Task Force 76, presiding.

A prior Navy cryptologic technician, Baker joined the Navy in 1983 and commissioned after graduating from the Maine Maritime Academy in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in Ocean Studies. He served aboard USS Anchorage (LSD 36), USS Enterprise (CVN 65), USS Harpers Ferry

(LSD 49), as well as the Amphibious Squadron 11 staff. He was the executive officer of USS San Antonio (LPD 17), the commanding officer of USS Arlington (LPD 24), and both XO and CO of USS Wasp (LHD 1).

Baker’s tour as the commodore of Amphibious Squadron 11 included major exercises and operations for seven ships and embarked elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, including Talisman Sabre (TS) 21, Large Scale Global Exercise (LSGE) 21, Cobra Gold 22 and Balikatan 22, as well as bilateral cooperative deployments with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMDSF), the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy, and the British Royal Navy’s UK Carrier Strike Group

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Heroes at Home

Q: Where can I find an application and other documents required for housing?

A: The documents, including the Housing Application, can be found on the Navy Housing website. These include the Housing Application, Sexual Offender Form, dependent certification, custody or divorce papers and a copy of your orders.

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Corsair airplane model. (PAUL WARREN)

Modelers pay tribute to military moments and memories

By Lisa Smith Molinari In the back room of a Patuxant River game store, on the third Thursday of every month, men gather at long tables formed into a square.

They aren’t there for the video and board games.

Nor are they there to play Dungeons and Dragons, which takes place in the store’s back rooms.

They are the Southern Maryland Scale Modeling Club, and they come to discuss and work on plastic models of miniature military aircraft, ships, armored tanks and artillery.

As black-t-shirted gamers wander the store, these men take turns sharing their models with the group. Most are military active duty members, veterans and retirees, like club president, Capt.

Timothy Holland (USN, Ret.).

Others, like my brother-in-law Paul Warren, come for their interest in military battles and equipment. “Building airplanes, tanks, ships, and artillery honors those who served and fought in wars,” Warren told me recently. “The club I belong to [has] mostly retired Navy guys,” he explained. “Modeling gives them something to keep the brain stimulated and they connect with the aircraft and ships they served on.”

Their regional club has approximately sixty members between age eight and 80, currently all men, but women have participated over the years.

The club is a regional chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS), which has about

220 US chapters, and other chapters throughout 64 countries, alphabetically from Argentina to Venezuela.

Holland, who took over as President of his chapter in 2015, told me he started modeling at age five when his dad gave him and his sister Boeing airplane kits before they were taking their first flight to visit their Nana.

“I fell in love with model making,” Holland said.

“Until my teen years, I’d build anything . . . [a] ircraft, cars, rockets, ships, trucks and tanks.” He built small models (1:72-inch scale) to hang from his bedroom ceiling so that he could imagine real battles from the past. “Having a B-17 with a Messerschmitt and Focke Wulf and Mustang, and knowing that 1,000 of each would be in the skies over Germany on any given day with 10,000 men fighting was very impressionable,” he recalled.

“I ultimately decided to join the Navy,” said Holland, who after his commissioning from the Naval Academy, served as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer and retired as Captain in 2011.

Warren also began plastic modeling as a child. “Most of my childhood was spent at the kitchen table glueing pieces together and painting models,” he told me. He lost interest in his teen years, when girls, sports and cars caught his attention. “It’s always girls,” he recalled.

After reading about World War II as an adult, Warren began modeling again. “I like propellers and jets. I build the occasional car and I have a

couple tanks, but war birds is what I enjoy most…

I like to tell the story of Pacific theater and European dog fights.”

His favorite project, a 500-piece, 1:32-inch scale, Corsair F4U-1A, took ten months to build.

“These planes operated in the harsh Pacific environment. They were island-based and covered in dirt and dust … heavily weathered and rarely maintained.”

Warren seeks advice about realism from the military veterans in his group. When Holland is asked for his recollections of real navy aircraft, he said he remembers “which panels typically were open, how dirty they would get, which fluids leaked and from where. These leaks all cause staining and accumulation of dirt and grime that when added to a model makes it appear more realistic, more a miniature of the real thing.”

Warren is also realistic about public perception.

“I’ll be the first to tell you, I have a geeky hobby,” he admitted. But like most members of IPMS clubs, Warren feels a sense of honor in his parttime passion.

“I think model building takes practice, planning, structure, and discipline. The veterans have these qualities. It’s no surprise they are the best modelers. I love hearing their stories and I’m proud to call them friends. The vets make this so much more than just a hobby,” Warren said.

[For a list of IPMS chapters, events, and modeling resources, see ipmsusa.org.]

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Tips for Military Parents Planning PCS Moves with Children

Crisis Support SuicidePrevention SAPR Support

By Sonia Clark

MHS Communications

Moving can be hard on military families, especially on children. Moving to a new home, going to a new school, finding new friends — it can be unsettling for kids of any age.

Yet there are things that service members can do to prepare for a permanent change of station move that can make for a smoother transition for the children.

Army Maj. (Dr.) Dominique Holley, a child psychiatrist and deputy chief at Fort Campbell’s Department of Behavioral Health, shared some important tips for military families to help in the PCS process for kids.

How far in advance should parents start connecting with the community they will be moving to?

“Short answer is as soon as possible,” Holley said. Sharing information with children about the new location where they will live can be very helpful in helping kids adjust to the idea of living in a new place.

“It will be important to start looking into the known interests of the kids or family such as local parks, scout troops or local churches for activities,” she said.

“Moving can be stressful and there typically are mixed emotions surrounding moving from the whole family.”

Nevertheless, she said: “Kids generally adapt well overall, forming connections early on to a new place.”

What are some suggestions for finding a new doctor?

“Enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EMFPExceptional Family Member page on the militaryonesource.mil website) ensures that any military family member with chronic medical concerns, physical disabilities, mental health disorders or required intensive follow-up support are stationed where services are available for that family member,” she said.

Beneficiaries can search for doctorsFind a Doctor on the TRICARE website in a new location on the TRICARE website. Providers in most circumstances reach out to receiving installations to provide warm hand-offs to receiving clinics.

Additional PCS recommendations regarding medical records: When transferring from installation to installation there is typically no need to trans-

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

A child at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni blows bubbles during a recent Month of the Military Child celebration. (CPL GABRIELA GARCIA-HERRERA)

fer medical records as long as there is consistency from one electronic health record (EMR) to the next, Holley explained.

While the MHS GENESIS electronic health record is being implemented at military hospitals and clinics across the Military Health System, that transition is not yet complete.

Beneficiaries may have to request their medical records from your hospital or clinic medical record department or patient administration division, if the installation you are transferring from or to is not yet using MHS GENESIS. “Once MTFs migrate to MHS GENESIS from the Armed Forces Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) EHR, then they will no longer need to transport paper medical records from one MTF to another,” Holley stated.

The process of requesting medical records takes about one or two weeks and requires the approval of behavioral health care providers.

“This request should be made about a month prior to PCS to ensure time to obtain records when needed,” Holley said.

When traveling to the new location, Holley suggested these activities to keep children engaged while en route: “Ensure easy access to the most commonly used games and activities and toys while traveling,” Holley said.

Also, audio books or tablet computers, depending on the age of the child, can be engaging as well.

Should parents try to keep kids involved in the same type of activities at the new location?

“There are no correct activities necessarily to involve kids in. It largely depends on interests or passions of the kids,” Holley said. “If they love certain sports or hobbies, then it makes sense to ensure to make efforts to continue

those.”

She also suggested that the move might also be an opportunity to try new things and introduce kids to new interest that may be unique to the new school or area.

Are there ways to make goodbyes less difficult for the kids?

“Focus on all the positives of a new place,” Holley suggested. “Parents should highlight unique features of the new environment with activities that kids would enjoy.”

Planning enjoyable activities in the new city or state ahead of the move can help make the move something to look forward to. Another thing to consider is to plan a return visit to see close friends or family. “Leaving certain people is particularly difficult for kids as well as adults,” Holley said.

Any tips for helping kids get organized and prepare for the move?

Make sure to keep commonly used games and toys away from movers so that they are easily accessible for kids during the move. The same applies for their favorite items of clothing, shoes, etc.

Help kids pack a personal bag of their most beloved items to give them a sense of responsibility or control over those things.

“Often times, kids don’t have a lot of control over what’s happening,” Holley said. “Giving them options and helping them to feel empowered with small decisions can be helpful.”

Additionally, consider assigning specific tasks during the move for children to focus on. For example, they may oversee ensuring the family pet is fed or has supplies stored away for easy access.

For more information about support programs for military children, visit Military Kids ConnectMilitary Kids Connect website.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 3

Navy Systems Analyst Living, Serving as Her Authentic Self

By Linda Welz

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division

NORCO, Calif. — Julie Posusta, 27, works in the Acquisition and Readiness Assessment Department at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, as a systems analyst for reverse osmosis plants and potable water systems for surface ships.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in December 2018.

“I had always taken an interest in chemistry after my high school chemistry teacher gave me almost free reign over the small lab we had in my hometown,” Posusta said.

“From there I went to engineering because I discovered I enjoyed fitting things together and making things on large scales. The best part about working for NSWC Corona is that I get to go on board Navy ships and see the equipment they keep on board to sustain the crew.”

As a child she thought she was just a weirdo who didn’t like being a boy, but was a boy so she couldn’t argue against that, Posusta said.

“I really would have liked to have known that transgender people existed when I was nine years old,” she said. “That would have saved me a lot of grief growing up! I would love to see the look on my younger self ’s face when I say, ‘Hey kiddo, I know it’s tough right now, but I promise it’ll be okay.

You get to wear pretty dresses and you get to marry a beautiful woman too and everyone will still love you.’ ” Posusta’s secret would stay hidden until she felt safe enough to come out to a select group of family and friends. It took two years after that before she came out publicly.

Her transition started in 2020, but she chose not to tell anyone. Once physical changes became more evident, like her hair getting longer, she decided it was time.

Before coming out to co-workers, Posusta said she had been a part of discussions that were mostly ambivalent, but since coming out everyone has been supportive and accepting.

“As soon as I came out, it was clear to me that I was in good hands,” Posusta said.

“My division head came down to the office I was in at the time to personally tell me that not only did he have my back but that the command’s policies supported my decision as well. Knowing this gave me confidence to be my authentic self.”

She came out publicly in mid-May and said she is glad that coming out as a transgender woman, and then later as a lesbian, didn’t jeopardize her employment.

“It’s such a relief ! All of my friends here and colleagues respect me and care about me,” Posusta said. “I feel loved and valued.

That’s the best part about the job. That’s job security! Being myself, and unapologetically so, is liberating, and I think my colleagues can tell that I’m in a much better space overall. It’s taken some getting used to by everyone, including me, but I think at this point everyone just sees me as Julie and not who I used to be, which is all I wanted.”

For Posusta, Pride Month is an affirmation that people like her are welcome in society at large, and they do not have to be afraid of existing in a genuine fashion.

“The culture has changed a lot lately as far as an increase in acceptance and it’s a step in the right direction,” Posusta said.

“We still have a long way to go as a country, but I think things are a lot better now than they were even five or six years ago. All we want is the same level of respect that you expect for being a person. We’re people too.

And our existence is not political. Our identities are non-negotiable.”

She tries to be a good steward and foster growth for those around her so that the world is a better place when she leaves it. In that manner, Posusta finds herself educating allies who are unfamiliar with LGBTQ + A (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer, + {includes all others} and allies) issues and talking about things like micro-aggressions and how not to be rude unknowingly. For example, transgender is an adjective, not a noun, she said. So referring to transgenders instead of transgender people is considered rude, and it is not ok to ask a transgender person the status of his or her surgeries or transition, she added. That is personal and private information, according to Posusta, and to do so would be considered micro-aggression.

“Educating allies and others is good work and I like doing it, but it is so exhausting sometimes, especially when it falls on deaf ears,” she said. “Sometimes I can point out that a particular word is actually a slur and that’s enough, while other times pointing out that a well-meaning compliment is actually subtly insulting seems to be received as banal or uninspiring.”

Sometimes the biggest challenge is just existing and doing her best to keep it together when it seems the world is trying to tear her apart little by little. A lot of the challenge is internal, never being fully satisfied with the transgender process, she said.

Gender dysphoria, psychological distress resulting from an inconsistency between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity, is a real struggle for many.

“Those are the hard days,” Posusta said.

Julie Posusta, a system analyst in the Acquisition & Readiness Assessment Department of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, poses for an official portrait in Norco, California, June 7, 2022. Posusta has been in her role since September 2019. (NEIL MABINI)

“But then there are the good days, where I feel beautiful, I smile at everyone and everything, the world has color again, and I don’t feel like people are merely tolerating me.”

Posusta runs a support group for transgender women and has friends who were not supported in their decisions to come out. Her goal is to help those women find their voice and feel safe.

“Fear of what others may think of you makes you not feel safe, so you remain quiet about it,” she said. “I’m happier for one thing. I don’t feel like I’m hiding anything anymore.”

NSWC Corona Division has provided analysis and assessment for the Navy since 1964. With experience in gauging the Navy’s warfighting capability, NSWC Corona is a leader in NAVSEA data analytics. Corona utilizes networked data environments, data and visualization, and measurement technology to bridge the Navy’s data silos, enabling informed decision-making for the warfighter. Anchor to the Inland Empire Tech Bridge, NSWC Corona is located in Norco, California, with detachments in Fallbrook and Seal Beach and personnel in 14 additional locations.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

NAVSUP making U.S. ship participation in BALTOPS possible

By Joseph Yanik

Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella

AB, Sweden — Personnel assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella (NAVSUP FLCSI) planned and executed logistics requirements for U.S. ships visiting Stockholm prior to participation in exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 22, June 1-5, 2022.

NAVSUP FLCSI and their mission partners coordinated the delivery of mail, provisions, and critical repair parts to participating ships, enabling ships to participate in the exercise.

“Our unique ability to support U.S. Navy ships as they prepare to participate in the 51st Baltic Operations exercise is a perfect example of how NAVSUP is expanding logistics capabilities in the High North and delivering operational readiness to the Fleet, where and when our deployed Warfighters need it,” said Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie, NAVSUP FLCSI commanding officer. “Having a NAVSUP presence at these port visits ensures that we remain in an optimal position to support the Navy’s dynamic missions, and allows us to continue building relationships with our allies and key mission partners across the Baltic and the High North.”

The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) are among the more than 45 ships from 16 Allied and partner nations currently participating in BALTOPS 22. BALTOPS 22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Sea that aims to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the region.

“Our ship’s visit to Stockholm served as a ‘kicking-off ’ event for exercise BALTOPS22,” said Cmdr. Josh Melchert, the Kearsarge Supply Officer. “There were practical logistics considerations at play as we prepared to participate in the exercise. The port visit was an ideal opportunity to bring on much-needed, high-priority parts, material and food stores.”

Melchert added that logistics considerations included providing for ship services via barge as well as water and ground transportation between the ship and the pier for crew and visitors.

A team comprising of a logistics specialist chief petty officer from Amphibious Squadron Six and one of NAVSUP FLCSI’s deployable transportation and customs clearance officers served as the Kearsarge’s logistics advance team for the port visit, and ashore detachment unit once the ship arrived.

“Our NAVSUP and Amphibious Squadron Six points of contact were the eyes and ears of our supply department ashore,” Melchert said.

“They linked up early with the husbanding service provider to ensure the ship’s specific requirements were being met, and they coordinated the arrival and follow-on transportation of our supplies and food stores that we were set to receive by barge at our moored location.”

In addition to Amphibious Squadron Six and the Kearsarge’s supply department, NAVSUP FLCSI’s mission partners during the port visit in Stockholm included a representative from the U.S. 6th Fleet Contracting Officer Representative Program Office (N412) who ensured that the U.S. ships received all the services delineated

Saby Guercia (second from right), Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella’s master logistics specialist officer, works with NAVSUP’s mission partners to plan and execute logistics requirements for the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and other U.S. ships visiting Stockholm prior to participation in exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 22. ( JOE YANIK)

in the husbanding services task order contract.

While present on-site, the representative ensured quality of service on the part of the husbanding service provider (HSP) and acted as liaison between the NAVSUP’s contracting team, the ships’ supply officers, and the Swedish HSP to resolve any contract issues that arose.

“If our ships identified additional HSP service requirements that may arise during the port visit execution, I would work directly with NAVSUP’s contracting officer so that the requirements are added to the contract in a timely manner,” said Samantha Toles, U.S. Sixth Fleet Code 412 program analyst. “Only after the requirements are properly validated and authorized could the NAVSUP logistics and transportation team freely coordinate the movements at the time of port visit execution.”

Nations participating in BALTOPS 22 include Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. From June 5-17, 2022, more than 7,000 participating personnel will exercise a myriad of capabilities demonstrating the inherent flexibility of maritime forces, including: amphibious operations, gunnery, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises, as well as mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, unmanned underwater vehicles, and medical response.

FLCSI is one of NAVSUP’s eight globally-positioned commands that provides a full range of solutions for logistics, business and support services to the U.S. Naval, Joint, NATO and Allied Forces across 14 enduring and forward operating sites; forward contingency and cooperative security locations in 13 countries in Europe and Africa.

BALTOPS 22 is the premier maritime-fo-

cused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces EuropeU.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and Partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEURNAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

NMRC Hosts Meeting of the Fleet Health Integration Panel

By Sidney Hinds

Naval Medical Research Center

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) hosted senior medical personnel across the Navy at a meeting of the Fleet Health Integration Panel (FHIP), Jun. 8-9.

FHIP is a coordination forum for stakeholders in Navy Medicine, with members including fleet force surgeons, fleet senior medical enlisted leaders, and other senior leaders from naval medical commands. The panel meets throughout the year virtually and in-person to identify areas for improvement and collaboration in Navy Medicine.

Cross functional team leads and other panel members presented on their ongoing efforts, sharing recent accomplishments, current needs and plans for future action. Topics discussed included availability of blood products for injured service members, provider training programs on treatment of female-specific health issues and the development of tools to rapidly estimate medical logistics needs during emergencies at sea.

FHIP provides a forum for operational commands within Navy Medicine to share recent work, and identify opportunities to collaborate on ongoing, and future, efforts to improve fleet health.

“FHIP keeps us synchronized and aware of the lines of effort happening throughout the breadth of Navy Medicine,” said Capt. Michael McGinnis, co-chair of FHIP. “The panel gives us awareness of evolving fleet requirements and potential gaps the panel can help address.”

This iteration of the panel was the first in-person FHIP meeting since 2019. In-person meetings allow members greater opportunity between sessions to make connections with each other that can advance the Navy Medicine mission, according to Capt. Kevin Brown, co-chair for FHIP. “The real power of the FHIP is alignment,” Brown said. “Our members are extremely busy

Capt. Abigail Marter Yablonsky, deputy commander, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) speaks to members of the Fleet Health Integration Panel (FHIP) during a two-day meeting in support of the Fleet Commanders Readiness Council. Hosted by NMRC, The FHIP serves to act in concert to achieve standardized practices across Navy Medicine and present a unified view of Fleet Health Services to the line. (MICHAEL WILSON)

people, and what anyone sees in their individual role can be very narrow, both in terms of the problems they are aware of, and potential solutions to those problem sets. We each bring our narrow spectrums of reality to the FHIP to generate a whole understanding of what solutions are available, not just in Navy Medicine, but within the entire fleet.”

“You can’t surge trust,” McGinnis added. “You want these relationships to be made ahead of future crises and medical needs. By coming together and talking face to face, we impart a sense of urgency about what our specific needs are, why we need solutions and when we need them.”

Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, provided remarks to attendees on Jun. 8, encouraging engagement and attentiveness.

“You take three things: extremely well-trained people, optimized platforms, and highly cohe-

sive teams and you get medical power,” Gillingham said. “We have the privilege of projecting medical power for our nation and our fleet.”

Brown said that FHIP meetings support and strengthen the medical power emphasized by the surgeon general. “In the past two years, we’ve done a good job at alignment and prioritization of what is needed from the one Navy Medicine,” he said. “That means defining and articulating what is needed in a manner that is data-informed. It means using all the tools within Navy Medicine to address those problems, and then using data and analytics to determine whether we are making a difference.”

“This work puts us in a position to be ready for the challenges of future state missions, and to bring all the resources Navy has to bear,” said Brown.

“This was the first time that NMRC has hosted the FHIP,” said NMRC Deputy Commander Capt. Abigail Marter Yablonsky.

“Hosting this event was an excellent opportunity to showcase the value of our Navy research and development commands, and to foster a closer synergy between operational medicine and research. In addition, it was invaluable for NMRC staff to interact with and hear from our senior Navy Medicine officer and enlisted leaders.”

NMRC’s eight research commands are engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to field studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environments.

In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense, combat casualty care, environmental health concerns, aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology, and behavioral sciences.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Austin Emphasizes Partnership as Path for Peace in Indo-Pacific

By Jim Garamone DOD News

The U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific is at the heart of American national security strategies, and the power of the partnerships that regional nations have built with the United States forms the core for a peaceful and prosperous world for all, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said today in prepared remarks during a major speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

American strategists no longer talk about the “U.S. pivot to Asia.” That has happened. On the military side, Austin noted that the Indo-Pacific is DOD’s “priority theater” with more than 300,000 American service members in the region working with allies and partners to ensure the rules-based international order is maintained.

Time and again in the speech, Austin emphasized partnerships. He has noted that U.S. partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations have grown and matured. “We’ve moved together toward our shared vision for the region,” he said. “The journey that we’ve made together in the past year only underscores a basic truth: In today’s interwoven world, we’re stronger when we find ways to come together.”

The United States works with treaty allies Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and the Philippines. America also works closely with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group alongside India, Japan and Australia.

“We know that most countries across the Indo-Pacific share a common vision, and our people share common dreams,” Austin said.

Underpinning this is the belief in a free and open order based on the rule of law. “That means a shared belief in transparency,” Austin said. “It means a dedication to openness and accountability. It means a commitment to freedom of the seas, skies, and space. And it means an insistence that disputes be resolved peacefully.”

The idea is a region free from bullying and of countries seeking spheres of influence. Ultimately, the idea is a region that respects human rights and dignity “and a world in which all countries — large and small — are free to thrive and to lawfully pursue their interests, free from coercion and intimidation,” the secretary said.

The Indo-Pacific is at the heart of this interconnected world and events halfway around the world resonate throughout the region. Austin specifically pointed to the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia as one of those events.

The secretary said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “reckless war of choice has reminded us all of the dangers of undercutting an international order rooted in rules and respect.”

The reverberations of the war in Ukraine carry to the Indo-Pacific. “The Ukraine crisis poses some urgent questions for us all: Do rules matter? Does sovereignty matter? Does the system that we have built together matter?” he said.

“I am here because I believe that it does.

And I am here because the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe.”

Others in the region share that sentiment, and Pacific nations like Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have rushed security assistance to Ukraine.

“It’s why countries across this region have sped humanitarian aid to the suffering Ukrainian people, including vital contributions from Singapore, Thailand, India and Vietnam,” he said.

“So let’s be clear: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when oppressors trample the rules that protect us all,” the secretary continued. “It’s what happens when big powers decide that their imperial appetites matter more than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it’s a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with the ten ministers of defense of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 10, 2022. (CHAD MCNEELEY)

us would want to live in.”

Russia’s war is a graphic demonstration of what happens when a nation tramples on the rules-based order, Austin said. “Let’s use this moment to come together in common purpose. Let’s use this moment to strengthen the rulesbased international order,” he said. “And let’s use this moment to think about the future that we all want.”

The Indo-Pacific comprises more than 50 percent of the globe. Defending the area requires investment, and the United States is doing just that. Austin noted the fiscal year 2023 budget request makes one of the largest investments in history to preserve this region’s security.

This includes $6.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen multilateral information-sharing and support training and experimentation with partners. The budget also looks to encourage innovation across all domains, including space and cyberspace.

“We’re working hard to develop new capabilities that will allow us to deter aggression even more surely, including stealth aircraft, unmanned platforms and long-range precision fires,” the secretary said. “And we’re on the cusp of delivering prototypes for high-energy lasers that can counter missiles.

And we’re developing integrated sensors that operate at the intersection of cyber, electronic warfare and radar communications. All this helps us do even more to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends.”

These new capabilities combined with U.S. presence and partnerships mean integrated deterrence for the region.

This benefits treaty allies and partners.

In this, Austin specifically mentioned India. “We believe that [India’s] growing military capability and technological prowess can be a stabilizing force in the region,” he said.

Expanding the network is important, and the U.S. is working to bring its partnership with Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam to the next level. “In the past year, my belief in the strategic power of partnerships has only deepened,” he said. “And that’s at the heart of the President’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Our work together helps ensure that all countries in the region — large and small — have a say in its future. It helps ensure that the status quo can’t be disrupted in ways

that harm all of our security. And it helps strengthen our ability to find common solutions to common challenges.”

And this is truly a dialogue with allies and partners, he said. “First, we’re working with our partners and allies to ensure that they have the right capabilities to defend their interests, to deter aggression, and to thrive on their own terms,” he said. “Now, as we invest in innovation in America, we’re committed to bringing our allies and partners along with us.” There is an unprecedented move to link the defense industrial bases on the nations and quickly get promising capabilities developed.

Expanding exercises and training is also important. The exercises in the area have become more complex and include more countries. These range from maritime exercises to long-established exercises like Cobra Gold in Thailand and Balikatan in the Philippines.

“We’re also finding new ways for our friends to operate together—and looking for new constellations of partners, including good friends from Europe and beyond,” he said.

“Later this month, we will host the 28th iteration of [Rim of the Pacific],” he said. “Forces from 26 countries — with 38 ships and nearly 25,000 personnel — will gather along U.S. shores for the world’s largest naval exercise.”

These moves are aimed at developing new tactics to combat new threats.

“That includes tackling the gray-zone actions that chip away at international laws and norms,” he said. “We’re bringing to bear the full resources of the U.S. government to do so. And that includes unprecedented Coast Guard investments in the Indo-Pacific.”

“Next year, our Coast Guard will also deploy a cutter to Southeast Asia and Oceania,” he continued. “That will open up new opportunities for multinational crewing, training and cooperation across the region, and it will be the first major U.S. Coast Guard cutter permanently stationed in the region.”

Partnership in the region needs flexibility to work, he said. “More and more, we’re working in new, flexible and custom-made ways with our friends, and our partners are doing the same thing with one another — even as we strengthen our commitment to ASEAN’s centrality and its leading place in the

regional architecture,” he said.

That has the rise of nimble, flexible security networks that add stability to the region. An example of this is the new Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, which President Biden announced in Tokyo last month. “This important initiative aims to provide better access to spacebased, maritime domain awareness to countries across the region — including here in Southeast Asia,” Austin said.

“This new partnership will harness together regional information centers.

That’ll help us build a common operating picture and work together to tackle illegal fishing and other gray-zone activities.”

But diplomacy is the first choice, he said. “We remain open to future diplomacy — and fully prepared to deter and defeat future aggression,” the secretary said. “We’ll also continue to stand by our friends as they uphold their rights. That’s especially important as the [Peoples Republic of China] adopts a more coercive and aggressive approach to its territorial claims.”

He noted that China is pushing limits in the East China Sea and South China Sea. “Further to the west, we’re seeing Beijing continue to harden its position along the border that it shares with India,” Austin said. “Indo-Pacific countries shouldn’t face political intimidation, economic coercion or harassment by maritime militias.”

DOD will maintain its active presence across the Indo-Pacific. “We will continue to support the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, and we will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” he said. “And we’ll do so right alongside our partners. And we’ll continue to be candid about the challenges that we all face.”

He said the U.S. policy is unchanged and unwavering and has been consistent across administrations. “We’re determined to uphold the status quo that has served this region so well for so long,” he said. “So let me be clear: We remain firmly committed to our longstanding one-China policy — guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.

We categorically oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. We do not support Taiwan independence. And we stand firmly behind the principle that cross-strait differences must be resolved by peaceful means.”

The U.S. will continue to fulfill commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act, including assisting Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability. “And it means maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people of Taiwan,” he said.

China needs to act accordingly. “We’re seeing growing coercion from Beijing,” he said. “We’ve witnessed a steady increase in provocative and destabilizing military activity near Taiwan. We remain focused on maintaining peace, stability, and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. But the [People’s Republic of China’s] moves threaten to undermine security, and stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. That’s crucial for this region, and it’s crucial for the wider world. Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait isn’t just a U.S. interest. It’s a matter of international concern.”

The United States does not want conflict or confrontation, he said. The U.S. does not want a new Cold War or a region split into hostile blocs. “We’ll defend our interests without flinching,” Austin said. “But we’ll also work toward our vision for this region: one of expanding security, not one of growing division.

I continue to believe that big powers carry big responsibilities. And so, we’ll do our part to manage these tensions responsibly — to prevent conflict, and to pursue peace and prosperity.”

NAMRU San Antonio Researcher earns Award for Authored Work

By Burrell Parmer

Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO —U.S. Navy Lt. Rachel Robeck, of Atlanta, a medical researcher assigned to Combat Casualty Care and Operational Medicine, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, was awarded 1st place in the Commanders’ Awards for Original Medical Research and Quality Improvement (Allied Health Category) during the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium’s (SAUSHEC) 2022 Graduation Ceremony held at the Lila Cockrell Theatre.

Robeck’s authored work was titled “The Relationship of Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D at Admission and Severity of Illness in COVID-19 Patients.”

“I feel truly honored to receive this award in recognition of the research I completed while pursuing my doctorate,” said Robeck whose work will be published in U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence’s (MEDCoE) The Medical Journal in July.

According to Robeck, her work was completed in affiliation with Brooke Army Medical Center and the University of Baylor.

NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care,

Presenting the award, from left to right, are U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle; Director, Defense Health Agency San Antonio Market and 59th Medical Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Jeannine Ryder; Acting Deputy Director DHA San Antonio Market and Acting Brooke Army Medical Center Commander, Col. Kimberlie Biever, and SAUSHEC Dean and CEO, Dr. Mark True. (BURRELL PARMER)

craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expedi-

tionary operations.

It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subor-

dinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, Md.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 7

South Korea and U.S. Navy Strengthen Ties with New Agreement

Naval Oceanography hosted representatives from the Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN) for a two-day tour of U.S. Navy (USN) commands at NASA Stennis Space Center, MS and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two navies, June 7-8, 2022. (JONATHAN HOLLOWAY)

By Jonathan Holloway

Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. — Naval Oceanography hosted representatives from the Republic of Korean Navy (ROKN) for a two-day tour of U.S. Navy (USN) commands at NASA Stennis Space Center, MS and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two navies, June 7-8, 2022.

This MOU, a regularly-signed joint agreement, reaffirms commitment to enhance the ROKN-USN partnership by sharing information on oceanography, hydrography, and meteorology best-practices.

Foundationally, the MOU aligns with the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) priorities: (1) defending the homeland, paced to the growing multi-domain threat; (2) deterring strategic attacks against the U.S., Allies and partners; (3) deterring aggression, while being prepared to prevail in conflict when necessary; and (4) building a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem.

“The signing of this agreement is historic and demonstrates our navies’ commitment to continued growth in our oceanographic alliance,” said RDML Ron J. Piret, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC).

The ROKN cohort included: CAPT Jaesic

Park, Commanding Officer, ROKN Naval Intelligence Group (NIG); Chief Warrant Officer Sanghwan Chung; and Mr. Ansung Kim from the ROKN NIG. In solidarity between the U.S. and ROK as allies, Piret and Park signed the MOU, strengthening ties between the two countries.

“Our [Naval Oceanography] partnerships are built into our strategy because ‘partnership’ is a tool of leverage to create a warfighting advantage and is built into the foundation of the national defense for both our countries,” said Piret.

Naval Oceanography’s counterparts attending the tour were: CDR Chris Tuggle, Commanding Officer, NAVOCEANASWCEN Yokosuka; LT William Griffin, CNFK METOC; and Mr. Joe Johnson, CNMOC Fleet Representative.

During the visit, Naval Oceanography and ROKN representatives had discussions on understanding the physical-battlespace environment and its importance to unmanned systems operations.

The group also toured and became familiar with Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO) program offices, operational equipment from Fleet Survey Team (FST) and Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare (NOMWC), all used to collect massive data.

“We put more than 1300 unmanned observing systems out for monitoring the environment collecting about 18 million observations

a day from various systems,” Piret continued.

“It’s about providing decisive advantages to our Navy and Department of Defense (DOD) allies and partners by ensuring that our weather and ocean environmental information superiority is better than anyone else, and we rely on UUV expertise to execute that.”

In addition, Piret and Park, discussed possibility of an exchange program in regards to enlisted personnel from the USN and ROKN Oceanography communities to exchange billets between the two navies.

ROK-U.S. Alliance, forged in blood on the battlefield 70 years ago, serves as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region. Amid increasing global threats, the Alliance has never been more important.

The ROK-U.S. Alliance remains committed to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad.

U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command directs and oversees more than 2,500 globally-distributed military and civilian personnel who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to make better decisions, based on assured environmental information, faster than the adversary.

PHIBRON 11 from Page 1

or provide assistance anywhere in the region to those in need,” he added.

Baker cultivated a strong relationship with the JMSDF’s Amphibious and Mine Warfare Force, Landing Division 1, building a foundation for an enduring partnership and reassuring bilateral presence, operating interchangeably on a regular basis aboard each other’s platforms.

Fletcher previously served as the commanding officer of USS Essex (LHD 2).

“My goal is to lead this great staff, this team, the entire ARG and all their leaders, with that gut, guile and imagination we need to succeed,” said Fletcher. “To everyone here, I absolutely look forward to working with you.”

A prior Navy electronics technician, Fletcher enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and later graduated from the University of Arizona and received her commission through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1997. She served at sea aboard USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). She was the executive officer and commanding officer of USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and served on the staff of Carrier Strike Group 10.

Fletcher’s shore tours include Afloat Training Group Pacific, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Joint Forces Command, and Afloat Training Group San Diego.

Fletcher earned her master’s degree in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego.

She was a selectee for the Junior Line Officer Advanced Education Program (BURKE Program) and a recipient of the Navy League Winifred Quick Collins Award for Inspirational Leadership.

Baker’s next assignment will be as the chief of staff for Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2 in Norfolk, Va. Continuously forward-deployed to Sasebo, Amphibious Squadron 11 includes USS America (LHA 6), New Orleans, USS Green Bay (LPD 20), USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). The ships of Amphibious Squadron 11 are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

NATO from Page 1

region. Cultural exchange, as well as common training exercises, enhance interoperability and mutual understanding.

SNMCMG2 is one of four standing forces that comprise the maritime component of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF). To respond to contingency situations, additional forces can be added to these groups, with the NATO command staff on board and the ships of the Group as the nucleus, capable of providing timely support to NATO operations.

SNMCMG2 is currently composed by ESPS Meteoro (Flag Ship) and FGS Bad Rappenau.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 1

Heart Health Healthy eating doesn’t have to be difficult.

In fact, making smart choices when cooking at home can give you more control over the types of tasty, heart-healthy dishes you put on the table. PAGE C4

HAMPTON ARTS ANNOUNCES CELEBRATORY 35TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON Margaret Cho, Melissa Manchester, an upgraded studio theatre and the return of the Hampton Holiday Fine Arts Bazaar among season highlights.

By Hampton Arts HAMPTON, Va. — The curtain rises on a dynamic season as Hampton Arts celebrates 35 years as Coastal Virginia’s premiere presenter of performing and visual arts. Bold, exciting programming brings the very best to venues both historic and new, including The American Theatre, The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center, the Hampton Coliseum, and a newly-upgraded Studio Theatre.

“It’s been a long intermission, and we’re enthusiastic to welcome audiences back for this anniversary season,” said Hampton Arts Artistic Director Richard M. Parison, Jr. “From Grammy-winning musical acts, bold theatrical productions, and family-friendly holiday fun to curated exhibitions from some of the most recognized visual artists in the region, this season is all about storytelling in its many forms.”

Margaret Cho. (HAMPTON ARTS)

Dee Dee Bridgewater. (HAMPTON ARTS)

Hampton Arts also welcomes the addition of a new performance space. The grand opening of the Studio Theatre offers audiences a more personal experience with artists in an intimate venue. The “Life is a Cabaret” series inaugurates the space, featuring drag legend Coco Peru, jazz artist Liz Terrell, and Desiree Roots celebrating the career of Nancy Wilson.

A variety of ticket options makes experiencing Hampton Arts convenient and affordable.

Tickets start at $35, Flex Pass subscriptions offer early access and customization, and restaurant partners offer day-of discounts for a night to remember.

“The arts are an integral part of the commu-

nity,” said Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck. “We have been eagerly anticipating the return of Hampton Arts programming. The 35th Anniversary season reflects our legacy as a region committed to the arts and the possibility of what can be achieved when we’re steadfast in our dedication to cultural programming. I can’t wait to return to the theater!”

We are glad to have the opportunity once again to share the magic of the performing and visual arts,” continued Parison. “Creativity and imagination are the threads that weave our cultural tapestry and advance our mission to enhance the quality of life for the artists and audiences we serve. Welcome back!”

The American Theatre (Highlights)

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy — Famously named after an autograph by blues legend Albert Collins, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been at the forefront of jazz and swing music for more than 30 years and continues to play to sold-out houses around the country. From the Hollywood Bowl to Lincoln Center, appearances with many of the country’s finest symphony orchestras, and television performances ranging from “Dancing with the Stars” to Super Bowl XXXIII, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy continues its mission to celebrate and revitalize one of America’s oldest musical art forms. (December 17, 2022) DC’s Reflecting Fools — The new musical parody group created by the performers and writers from the Capitol Steps arrives just in

time for the mid-term elections. The troupe of multi-talented performers holds up a mirror to American politics and culture, parodying the news of the day with wit and laughter. Expect over-the-top impressions, fast-paced costume changes, and plenty of hilarities. (October 15, 2022) The Acting Company’s “The Three Musketeers” — This world premiere adaptation draws inspiration from an astonishing little-known fact — that novelist Alexandre Dumas’ father was the highestranking person of color in a Western military until our own time. This theatrical reimagining sheds new light on this Turn to Arts, Page 3

Tony Schiavone talks about his graphic novel, AEW, WCW, Jim Crockett Promotions, Ric Flair’s Last Match Interview conducted by Yiorgo Yiorgo: With us today is All Elite Wrestling (AEW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) wrestling commentator Tony Schiavone, who to quote the great podcaster himself Conrad Thompson who said, “Tony is arguably the most beloved announcer in the business.”

Tony, it is so obvious that you are having so much fun on AEW. What are some of your favorite moments there so far?

Tony Schiavone: I have had soooooo many favorite moments working at AEW. One of my favorites is being able to work with the kids backstage. When I first started in the business I was kinda working with guys my age, and now I’m working with guys who are the age of my kids. It’s a different dynamic all together but the respect they have with what I’ve done and the respect that Tony Khan has for what I have done in the business is just overwhelming every day, it really is. I never thought I would really enjoy it again and I really, really enjoy what I am doing and it’s because of the atmosphere that Tony has created. I encourage everyone who loves pro wrestling to check out the incredible talent we have in the ring, at the announce table and behind the scenes on AEW Dynamite on the TBS station every Wednesday night at 8pm, on AEW Rampage Friday nights at 10pm on TNT and AEW Dark on YouTube and so much more.

Y: We are almost the same age, give a year or two and you along with Bob

Conrad Thompson. (ADFREESHOWS)

Tony Schiavone. (ADFREESHOWS)

Caudle and David Crockett were the voices of my youth as I watched Jim Crockett Promotions, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. I was very excited when I heard that you have a graphic novel about your life story called ‘Butts In Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story.’ Can you talk about how all that came to be?

TS: A lot of people have said to me that you need to do a book about your years in wrestling. I thought, there’s a lot of work in writing a book and I just don’t know if I’m into that.

Mike Dockins who is my lawyer and based out of Toledo, Ohio approached me about doing a graphic novel. I thought that sounded pretty

cool because I am a comic book fan and collected them when I was a kid back in the 1960’s, so that appealed to me. I remember having the very first X-Men comic book. I mean, how much would that be worth now? Mike hooked me up with Dirk Manning (#1 Amazon Best-Selling writer of comics and graphic novels) and Dirk set up these sessions that we would do once a month on zoom with myself, Dirk, Mike, Dave Silva who works with us and Drena Jo who is our editor and I would tell them my story. That’s how it all started.

Y: Did you have any input as to who would ink it?

TS: I really had no idea when it came to that.

Dirk came up with this great idea right in the midst of COVID that we would have 10 chapters, with a different artist for every chapter, have pin-up pages between chapters, it’s a page that recaps the chapter you just read and we would have a different artist for that. We will have bonus stories with different artists and a different artist for the cover, so we ended up having 26 different artists work on this book and that I thought was tremendous because it gave these artists work during COVID. Dirk handled it.

I had no input and I was very happy with the final product.

Y: So what did you learn from working on the graphic novel and what do you hope the readers benefit from reading it?

TS: In the grand scheme of things, I never thought of myself in that way. As you know, I Turn to Interview, Page 3

INSIDE: Check out Flagship Values, your source for automobiles, employment, real estate and more! Pages C6-7

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Community Submit YOUR events, news and photos

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Enjoy Smooth Jazz in Downtown Hampton at the Sundown Concert Series From Visit Hampton HAMPTON, Va. — Head out to the Sundown Concert Series for a relaxing smooth jazz experience in Downtown Hampton this summer. Presented by Jay Lang, the event series will be held the third Saturday of June, July and August at the Docks at Downtown Hampton and Mill Point Park. Visitors won’t want to miss an evening of captivating and sensational, internationally-acclaimed artists in the heart of Downtown Hampton.

The concert mini-series begins on June 18 with a performance by trumpeter and composer Rob Zinn. Saxophonist Jason Jackson will be the special guest on July 16.

The series will conclude with bassist Julian Vaughn on August 20. Each concert will begin at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. In addition to live music, guests will be able to enjoy recorded smooth jazz.

Festival chairs are allowed.

“We are excited to bring the Sundown Concert series and smooth jazz to Downtown Hampton this summer,” said Mary Fugere, Director of the Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau. “We want our visitors and residents to know that Hampton’s strong jazz tradition, leading back to the first Hampton Jazz Festival in 1968, is thriving.” In the event of inclement weather, the performances will be moved indoors to the Landing at Hampton Marina’s ballroom at 700 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA. Schedule of Events The Sundown Concert Series Featuring Rob Zinn June 18; 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

The Docks at Downtown Hampton, 710 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, Va The Sundown Concert Series Featuring Jason Jackson July 16; 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

The Docks at Downtown Hampton, 710 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, Va The Sundown Concert Series Featuring Julian Vaughn August 20; 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Mill Point Park, 101 Eaton Street Hampton, Va For more information, call 757-254-2838

(COURTESY GRAPHIC)

Norfolk is a NoKill City for the First Time Ever According to Annual Data Report from Best Friends Animal Society

From The Best Friends Animal Society Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization, today released its sixth annual pet lifesaving dataset, which gives a national overview of the number of dogs and cats that enter and exit shelters in a given year. For the first time ever, Norfolk, Virginia is a no-kill city with a shelter pet save rate of 91.6%. Of the 5,123 dogs and cats that entered Norfolk shelters in 2021, all were saved.

Best Friends measures shelter lifesaving with a metric called “save rate.” A 90 percent save rate is the nationally recognized benchmark to be considered “no-kill,” factoring that approximately 10 percent of pets who enter shelters have medical or behavioral circumstances that warrant humane euthanasia rather than killing for lack of space.

The city has been committed to shelter pet lifesaving and steadily making strides. In 2019, Norfolk had a 75% save rate. In 2020, that number jumped to 89.7% and now in 2021, it’s now 93%.

“Despite all of the hardships in 2021, Norfolk was committed to saving the lives of shelter pets in need,” said Makena Yarbrough, Senior Director, Lifesaving Programs, Best Friends Animal Society. “We are so proud of the work done by Norfolk shelters, as well as the community members and government officials who are dedicated to lifesaving for all pets.”

Norfolk is doing better than most of Virginia. In 2021, 114,420 dogs and cats entered Virginia shelters and 98,704 were saved, giving the state an aggregate save rate

(Best Friends Animal Society )

of 86.3%. In the same year, 63.6% of state shelters measured above the 90% benchmark.

Those that were below it needed to save 5,425 more healthy or treatable animals to make Virginia no-kill (a state is considered to be no-kill when every brick-and-mortar shelter serving and/or located within the state has a save rate of 90% or higher).

The data also showed that nationally for the first time in five years, U.S. shelter systems are seeing a setback in lifesaving. In 2021, the number of dogs and cats killed for reasons other than severe medical or behavioral issues that could not be rehabilitated in U.S. shelters increased from 347,000 to 355,000 and was especially stark when compared to the dramatic lifesaving efforts seen throughout the previous year. The reasons were partly due to staffing shortages that limited hours,

decreased in-person volunteers, reduced adoption events and pet care support.

As overall lifesaving stalls, Best Friends’ data shows the animal shelter crisis in America growing with increasing intakes and waning adoptions.

“The responsibility of saving pets’ lives should not rest solely on shelters and those in animal welfare, but on entire communities including community members, government leaders, shelters and other animal welfare groups,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “Through collaboration and community involvement, this model provides better support for pet owners, efficiency in shelters, and more lifesaving outcomes for pets. When a community supports its shelter’s critical needs, we see dramatic results.”

Individuals can help save lives by choosing to adopt from a shelter or rescue group, spay or neuter their pets, foster, volunteer, donate, and support and advocate for community cats through trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) and shelter-run TNVR programming.

For the past six years, Best Friends has spearheaded a one-of-a-kind extensive data collection process that involved coordinated outreach to every shelter in America followed by additional research, data analysis, and technology development. The dataset is the most comprehensive on U.S. sheltered animals, and is based on data collected directly from shelters, state and local coalitions, government websites, and FOIA requests. From this, 94% of the animal intake in U.S. shelters is known, 6% is estimated.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 3

Interview from Page 1

started doing work with the Crocketts and the Crocketts impressed on me, and I knew this anyway, that my job was to put other people over. That was always ingrained in me and I never thought of doing anything to put myself over. I would always shy away from that. I guess I found out by doing this that it’s a story of determination, perseverance because I worked very hard. I made a very good living with Turner Broadcasting before WCW went down. I had to do some things creatively to stay afloat and keep a roof over my family’s head. I think it’s a story of determination and that you need to keep your life going during tough times.

Now this is very important. There are people that have had much tougher lives than I had and that’s why I have always been leary in telling my story. I hope it’s a story that people are drawn to and will say, he made sure his family was provided for, and he loved wrestling, that never wavered, he tried to reinvent himself, have his career go a different way and when I thought I was out, I was pulled right in. Hard work, determination and perseverance more often than not, it does work.

Those qualities are ingrained in me. I was a late in life baby. My dad was 50 and my mom was 41 when she had me. They were really old school. My mother grew up during the Great Depression and really had it hard. She always told me, “Regardless of what you do in life, always work hard because most people don’t.”

My dad’s family came over from Italy before the turn of the century. He was born in 1908 in Pennsylvania in a very large Italian family, so old school hard work is in my blood.

Y: You and Conrad Thompson have a great podcast called What Happen When? How did you and Conrad first meet originally and how did he convince you to do the podcast?

TS: Conrad sent me an email around 2015-16 and said, “My name is Conrad Thompson, I live in Alabama, I’m a big wrestling fan and before you laugh this off, I would like to invite you to come to my house, we’ll have a cookout, you can just sit down and tell stories to my friends.”

I didn’t know anything about it but I found out this is kinda what Conrad does. He offered me a chunk of money that blew my mind. I said ok and then I never heard from him again.

So I thought this was BS, he had given me his number so I called him. I said, “Hey it’s Tony Schiavone, I never heard from you”. He said that he broke his foot and talked about some other things going on in his business. He then said something I’ll never forget, “Do you need some money?” I said no but that shows realy what a generous guy he is.

Fast forward now, we go to the NWA Fanfest in the summer of 2016. I was doing baseball for

Arts

from Page 1

swashbuckling adventure and gives a favorite story new importance, reminding audiences that courage, honesty, and valor can change the world. (January 27, 2023) Dee Dee Bridgewater — It may be February when Bridgewater arrives at The American Theatre, but the evening promises to be jazz hot.

Ever the fearless explorer, pioneer and keeper of tradition, Bridgewater fuses musical genres with each song she interprets. Jazz pianist Bill Charlap joins Bridgewater for this special performance. His mastery of the 88 keys promises to add flair to an unforgettable evening. (February 11, 2023) Melissa Manchester — What a better way to celebrate Spring than “Through the Eyes of Love”? Melissa Manchester’s Grammy-nominated hit is just a hint of a career that began as a back- up singer for Bette Midler and grew into a spectacular songbook spanning 20 studio albums. Manchester comes to The American Theatre to perform a collection of favorite songs in her unique way, with beautiful phrasing and a rich, earthy tone that has been her signature sound since the singersongwriter’s early days.

(February 25, 2023) Comedy @ The Coliseum Margaret Cho — The trailblazing comedian, actress, musician and activist Margaret Cho kicks off a brand new series, inviting American Theatre audiences to experience headlining acts on a bigger stage at the Hampton Coliseum.

Cho, who Rolling Stone named as one of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comics and co-stars this summer in the hit

the Gwinnett’s baseball team, we were playing the Charlotte Knights baseball team that weekend. They had attempted to bring me into these fanfests many times but I just didn’t want to do it.

I had enough of wrestling. But 2016 was a tough year for me financially. I had lost my job at the radio station, I was just working for the Gwinnett Braves and Georgia Bulldogs and working for Starbucks and trying to make ends meet, so I went to the fanfest and I did a sit down interview with Jim Valley. This is all in the graphic novel and we talked about my life in wrestling. Apparently, I was so entertaining that Jim Valley said afterwards, “You need to take this act of yours on the road and make some money with it”.

Of course I didn’t believe him but Conrad Thompson was in the audience that day. It’s now January 2017 and Conrad sent me another email and said I would like to do a podcast about your days in wrestling and here’s what I plan to do. It was a business plan with how much money we can make, we can sell tee shirts and merchandise we can eventually get sponsors. My daughter was getting married so the timing was right and I said yes. We started in late January 2017, and here we are five and a half years later.

Y: What a ride it has been. What are three of your favorite moments from the podcast?

TS: I was working out of the basement at the time, we were only doing audio then, Conrad and I were doing an episode talking about something, and you know by listening to our show that our language can be very colorful and riskay, and my wife Lois started saying, you guys are sick, etc. and that became a routine where we would bring her on and tell us how stupid we were. She got some notoriety from that to the point that someone made a sign that said ‘Lois Rules’ and held it up at WrestleMania. I framed it, got a picture of that guy and his family, I’m looking at it now as we speak. That’s one of my favorites.

Another favorite is that we watch shows together and sometimes Conrad has me doing voice overs during the regular interviews in the segments we are watching and I have said some silly stuff, especially the Macho Man and Johnny B. Badd interviews.

Another favorite moment, and they have asked us to do it again, was when Conrad and I drove from his home in Alabama to Atlanta one time, we got two microphones and a recorder and we did a podcast of us on the road. It was Tony’s and Conrad’s Roadtrip. People have asked for that again. We have not done another one and I wish we would as a matter of fact. One of the great moments of that was that Conrad kept falling asleep. I’m driving, he would ask me something, I would answer him and he would doze off. I edited out some of that stuff. That’s another thing that I do, I edit the podcast. I love editing audio, love working with it and I just don’t trust anybody else.

Y: I called Conrad and asked him to

share a favorite episode or moment with Tony.

Conrad Thompson: Man, there are too many to choose from. Tony has become easily the most fun, interesting and easy episodes to do every week. It really would be very hard to pick one moment but the thing that I am most proud of is that Tony has realized how much he has contributed to everyone’s lives. He was bitter and angry with the business and is arguably the most beloved announcer in the business. The resurgence that he has enjoyed and the success that he is enjoying right now, with the best contract he has ever had and with the most fun he has ever had in wrestling. He did not know that was an opportunity before the podcast but it is after and is one of the most proudest achievements in this whole experience.

Y: Tony, as we now know, Conrad is bringing back Jim Crockett Promotions onelasttimeathisStarrcastVJuly29-31st in Nashville, Tennessee with Ric Flair’s Last Match. (Ed. note, read Yiorgo’s recent interview with Conrad Thompson for all the details https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/ podcasts-extraordinaire-conrad-tho mpson-talks-starrcast-v-ric-flair-s-lastmatch/article_1b5d5f02-e278-11ec-82f0c7409ec ed027.html ) Let’s reminisce about the good old days of Jim Crockett Promotions. Can you share a Ric Flair story?

TS: I got a million Ric Flair stories. My favorite would be the first time I was with him at his house talking about his match with Harley Race for Starrcade 83. Ric was so nice to me and very polite. I was and still am such a big fan of his. It was a big moment in my life to be able to meet Ric Flair and interview him.

Y: You originally worked at the Crockett baseball park with Francis Crockett.

Can you share a fun memory?

TS: One time we had some thefts at the baseball park and Francis hired some German Shepard dogs to protect the ballpark at night. We were supposed to work with these dogs but they were mean as hell. They jumped on me, bit me, tore my shirt off. They would look at us in our office and growl. Francis said, “Oh my God, I feel like I’m trapped. We are getting rid of them”.

Y: How about a Jim Crockett Jr. story?

TS: We were at the very first Crockett Cup in New Orleans, Louisiana and me, Jimmy Crockett and Dusty and a couple of others were walking down Bourbon Street. Jimmy saw this shirt in the window of a store with some very suggestive language on it and said, “I’m buying that shirt for you Tony”. He did buy it for me, I took it home and hid it because I didn’t want Lois to see it. I don’t know why I brought it home. I’ve since donated it but I remember that was the first time I had fun with Jimmy because he was serious all the time and he was my boss. But I discovered that time you could have a lot of fun with him.

Y: And a story with your partner in crime as co-commentators, David Crockett.

TS: David was so good to me and such a big part of my life that we named our last son after David. His name is Timothy David Schiavone.

When I was doing the baseball game announcing, we were in Charlotte one time and David came on the air with me. We were talking and I told him the story on the air, and David did not believe me. But it’s true.

Y: Of course our reminiscing would not be complete without a Bob Caudle story.

TS: Bob Caudle is very special to me.

Fans talk about me being the voice of their childhood. Well Bob was the voice to my childhood. A fun memory that I have with Bob is when we were at the Nassau Coliseum for Bunkhouse Stampede, I was the ring announcer and Bob Caudle did the commentary with Jim Ross. The next morning we had to go from our hotel at Nassau Coliseum to LaGuardia Airport. I swear, I’m driving 80-90 miles an hour on the expressway, a map on my lap and Bob on the passenger side, JR and somebody else in the back seat. Bob kept saying, “I can’t believe you are driving this fast with a map on your lap in this traffic.” We got there and he said, “That was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that, it was amazing.” He kept going on and on how I was able to do that. I said, Bob, slow down, I’m not a wrestler, you don’t have to put me over. I do this all the time, my dad was a truck driver.

Another quick story about Bob. When I had the opportunity to do something with him on set, in Spottenburg in 1985, I am standing there and we are getting ready to go live, I turn to him and say, “I’m not overstating the fact that this is one of the biggest moments in my life to stand next to you and broadcast with you.” And he being the great humble guy that he was just shrugged it off.

Y: How about a pinch me moment that you could not believe this Virginia boy was experiencing?

TS: My pinch me moment, is the first TBS show when David and I went live to tape but it was live for us. We recorded it in the morning and it would air at 6:05pm. We would have a 3:15pm flight and fly back home to Charlotte and I watched it on the TV that night. I saw myself at 6:05pm and here I am doing this national TV show in 1985, four years removed of me graduating college. That truly was my pinch me moment.

To purchase Tony’s graphic novel, go to https://www.amazon.com/Butts-Seats-TonySchiavone-Story/dp/1954412320 For Starrcast V info, go to www.starrcast.com Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.

movie “Fire Island,” promises a provocative night of humor and cultural observation. (Presented in collaboration with Outwire 757. This show is for mature audiences. March 11, 2023) The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center (Highlights) Hampton Holiday Fine Arts Bazaar — The second annual Hampton Holiday Fine Arts Bazaar returns, featuring original handmade works from regional artists and the opportunity to purchase unique holiday gifts. (December 10 — 11, 2022) “From the Sea to the Stars” — This curated exhibition, named for the city motto, celebrates the region’s legacy of space exploration and nautical history. Hampton is home to the first aeronautical laboratory in the country as well as a continually operating shoreline.

These inspirations come to life through artist interpretations featuring various mediums and motifs from the representational to the abstract. The works interpret how the simplicity of a city motto can reach across geographical and artistic boundaries to touch on the economic, creative, and place-making impact Hampton offers to all of Coastal Virginia.

(April 22 — June 17, 2023.)

Social Media www.facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatre www.facebook.com/CharlesTaylorVisualArtsCenter @AmericanThtre @CTVisualArts Sponsor Acknowledgement Hampton Arts is proud to thank the following businesses, foundations, and sponsors who have helped support our programs on stage, in the classroom, in our galleries, and in our

community.

Platinum Season Sponsors: Hampton Convention and Visitors Bureau, Virginia Media Gold Season Sponsors: Holiday Inn Express at Coliseum Central, WHRO Public Media Premier Performance Series Sponsors: Coliseum Central, Element by Westin Performance Sponsor: Jeff ’s Flowers of Course, Peninsula Custom Framing & Gallery Magazine Media Sponsor: VEER Magazine Television Media Sponsor: WTKR/WGNT Hampton Arts is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and Art Works for The National Endowment for the Arts.

Premier Restaurant Partners: The Baker’s Wife, The Grey Goose, Mango Mangeaux, Sweetwater Cuisine Purchasing Tickets The FLEX-8 Subscription offers the best discounts when guests purchase eight or more tickets to select shows. Order forms may be faxed, mailed or brought in person to the Box Office.

Individual performance tickets may be purchased in person at The American Theatre Box Office or Hampton Coliseum Box Office beginning August 1, 2022. Tickets may be ordered online at theamericantheatre.org or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Box Office Hours: The American Theatre 125 East Mellen Street 757-722-2787 Summer Hours August 1 — September 30 Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. — 5 p.m.

(Closed for Lunch 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.)

Fall Hours October 3 — December 31 Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.

Saturday of Performances 4 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Sunday of Performances Noon — 5 p.m.

Hampton Coliseum 1000 Coliseum Drive 757-838-4203 Tickets for The American Theatre are also available for purchase in person at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office.

10 a.m. — 4 p.m., Monday through Friday About Hampton Arts Thirty-five years ago this season, the Hampton City Council established the City department known as the Hampton Arts Commission. Since its creation, the Hampton Arts Commission (now popularly known as Hampton Arts) has been a much respected and praised institution responsible for a remarkable renaissance of the arts not only within the City of Hampton but also within the entire Hampton Roads region. Hampton Arts oversees both the venues and the programming at The American Theatre and The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center.

Hampton Arts’ continuing mission and vision for more than three decades has been to advance the performing and visual arts and enhance the quality of life for all Hampton Roads residents and visitors by educating and inspiring teachers, students, and life-long learners to embrace the arts; provide opportunities for Hampton Roads artists to showcase and develop their arts; and present unique, world-class caliber performing artists that appeal to a diverse citizenry and promote a deeper cultural awareness.

FREE PUZZLES & GAMES Play online every day at PlayJumble.com

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Food

Frozen Yogurt Bark. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Cook with Heart Health in Mind

By Family Features

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be difficult or require you to take favorite meals off your family’s menu. In fact, making smart choices when cooking at home can give you more control over the types of tasty, heart-healthy dishes you put on the table.

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for heart disease and stroke, with about 38% of American adults diagnosed with high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. These cooking tips can help you prepare heart-healthy meals that could help improve cholesterol levels by reducing excess saturated fat and trans fat.

Cook Fresh Vegetables the Heart-Healthy Way Roasting, steaming, grilling or baking can help bring out the natural flavors of vegetables. Adding herbs and spices can also help make veggies tastier, including combinations like basil with tomatoes, oregano with zucchini, dill with green beans or rosemary with peas and cauliflower.

Reduce Saturated Fat in Meat and Poultry The amount of saturated fat in meats can vary widely, depending on the cut and how it’s prepared. Opt for poultry and fish over red meat and look for lean cuts of meat with minimal visible fat, which should be trimmed away before cooking. Also limit processed meats such as sausage, bologna, salami and hot dogs, which are often high in calories, saturated fat and sodium.

Use Liquid Vegetable Oils in Place of Solid Fats Some fats are better for you than others.

Liquid vegetable oils such as canola,

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken with Grilled Asparagus. (COURTESY PHOTO)

safflower, sunflower, soybean and olive oil can often be used instead of solid fats, such as butter, lard or shortening. If you must use margarine, try the soft or liquid kind.

Find more heart-healthy recipes and tips for lowering cholesterol at heart.org/cholesterol.

Grilled Tequila-Lime Chicken with Grilled Asparagus Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association Servings: 4 ¼ cup tequila or white vinegar

2 teaspoons lime zest ½ cup fresh lime juice 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon chipotle pepper canned in adobo sauce, minced, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fat discarded nonstick cooking spray 3 bunches asparagus spears, trimmed ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided 2 tablespoons canola oil or corn oil

In small bowl, stir tequila, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce. Pour into large resealable plastic bag.

Add chicken and seal bag tightly; turn bag to coat. Refrigerate 2-12 hours.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly spray grates with nonstick cooking spray.

In large dish, sprinkle asparagus with salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with oil.

Turn asparagus over to coat.

Remove chicken from marinade. Discard marinade and wipe most of it off chicken.

Sprinkle chicken with remaining pepper.

Grill 8-12 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Transfer to plate and cover with aluminum foil.

Place asparagus on grill, facing opposite direction of grates. Grill 7 minutes, or until tender crisp.

Serve asparagus with chicken.

Frozen Yogurt Bark Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association Servings: 8 1 ½ cups 2% low-fat plain Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons chopped, unsalted almonds ½ cup chopped mango ¼ cup blackberries or raspberries ½ cup blueberries In medium bowl, mix yogurt and honey.

Line 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Use spatula or knife to spread yogurt over entire bottom of dish.

Pour chopped nuts over yogurt. Use fingers to slightly press into yogurt. Top yogurt with mango, blackberries and blueberries and slightly press into yogurt.

Cover with plastic wrap or foil and place in freezer overnight.

To serve: Lift parchment paper from baking dish onto cutting board. Use hands to break bark into pieces.

Sweeten Up Summer with a Frozen, Fruity Snack

By Family Features Whether you spend your summer afternoons sitting by the pool, splashing in the shallow end or just soaking up the sun’s rays, part of the fun is beating the heat with a cool, refreshing snack. Heading to the freezer for a fruity ice pop can transport you from your own backyard to a tropical island, and the experience can be even more rewarding when the tasty treat is homemade.

Cool down after fun in the sun with these kid-friendly Pina Colada Sweetpotato Ice Pops, a tropical-inspired dessert made with coconut cream, sweetpotatoes, fresh pineapple, lime juice and honey.

Sure to please kids and adults alike, they’re a better-for-you option when a cold snack calls your name. As a “diabetes superfood,” according to the American Diabetes Association, sweetpotatoes provide a main ingredient that’s rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber along with a “sweet” flavor without the added sugar.

The ease of this summer snack means kids can help in the kitchen, and while you wait for the sweet concoction to freeze, you can share this fun fact with them: The one-word spelling of “sweetpotato” was adopted by the National Sweetpotato Collaborators in 1989 in an effort to avoid confusion with the potato and yam among shippers, distributors, warehouse workers and consumers. To add to the fun facts, a sweetpotato is not even botanically related to a white potato; they are two entirely different species from one another.

Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to find more delicious summer recipe ideas.

Pina Colada Sweetpotato Ice Pops

Pina Colada Sweetpotato Ice Pops. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Prep time: 5 minutes Freeze time: 3-4 hours Yield: 8 small ice pops ½ cup coconut cream ¾ cup mashed and cooked sweetpotato

¾ cup diced pineapple 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon lime juice coconut flakes (optional) In food processor or high-speed blender,

mix coconut cream, sweetpotato, pineapple, honey and lime juice. Transfer batter to freezer molds.

Place in freezer 3-4 hours. Top with coconut flakes, if desired.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 5

Health

Army Capt. (Dr.) Gabriel Paris, assigned to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, was recently named honor graduate at the Sabalauski Air Assault School for earning the top scores on a series of written and performative tests that measure curriculum knowledge and ability. (MARIA CHRISTINA YAGER)

Army Doctor Earns Top Honors at Air Assault School at Fort Campbell

By Maria Christina Yager

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

Apediatrician from Blanchfield Army Community Hospital recently distinguished himself as the class honor graduate at the Sabalauski Air Assault School on Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

On May 2, Capt. Gabriel Paris, who is assigned to the hospital’s Young Eagle Medical Home, was among 167 soldiers who in-processed for class 26-22. After the equipment inspection, two-mile run and obstacle course on the first day, 142 soldiers made it to the first phase of training. By graduation May 17, only 100 soldiers remained.

It is a 10-day course that is both physically and academically challenging teaching soldiers the foundations of heliborne operations to include troop transportation, sling loaded cargo and equipment transportation, medical (MEDEVAC) and casualty

(CASEVAC) evacuation operations, and air assault operations.

“As you can imagine, my medical background helped me tremendously in quickly learning a large amount of information. I was very interested in the school and set it as one of my professional/military development goals. I wanted to test my physical abilities and get a better grasp of what ‘regular’ Army is like, since this is my first duty station after residency training,” said Paris.

According to Paris’ leadership, he knocked it out of the park.

Honor graduate is awarded to the student who achieves the highest scores on written and performative tests administered during the three phases of Air Assault School. The tests encompass detailed information on rotary aircraft specifications and capabilities, sling load rigging and inspections, path-finder skills, and air assault missions.

“Soldiers must know the specifications and capabilities of every rotary wing aircraft

in service in the Army, and also throughout the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force to enable soldiers to facilitate joint air-ground operations,” said Capt. Huy Nguyen, BACH’s Medical Company commander, who works closely with his TSAAS counterparts in order to send BACH soldiers through the course.

During the class, soldiers learn the principles and parameters of establishing safe and usable helicopter landing zones. They also learn and are tested in the configuration of sling loads for ground vehicles, equipment, and supplies. Upon completion, graduates are able to certify loads for air movement that enhance a unit’s operational reach, freedom of action, and endurance in the execution of unified land operations, explained Nguyen.

“We are fortunate to have regular access to the Sabalauski Air Assault School. We are able to send soldiers to every Air Assault class and we have a high success rate. Over

90% of the soldiers we send graduate; those who do not, often are able to recycle and pass at a later time. This is the first time I can recall BACH having the honor grad. It is quite an accomplishment,” said Nguyen.

BACH soldier, Sgt. Sangoh Choi, a behavioral health specialist assigned to the Department of Behavioral Health graduated from Air Assault School nearly two years ago and has put the skills he learned to use.

“During EFMB [Expert Field Medical Badge], there was a task where I had to establish the landing zone for the [helicopter],” said Choi. More recently he used a technique he learned at Air Assault School called the Swiss Seat method while competing in the Regional Health Command-Atlantic Best Leader competition to safely move a casualty from one place to another using a rope.

“Army Medical Department soldiers who graduate from Air Assault School provide capabilities for their commanders. When commanders get a soldier who has the Air Assault Badge on their chest, they know they are getting a highly skilled and motivated soldier who will be a force multiplier for their unit,” said Nguyen.

Could a Therapy Dog Help with Your Dental Anxiety?

By Janet A. Aker

MHS Communications

Could dogs help improve military dental care?

A first-of-its-kind study at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is researching whether using facility therapy dogs in dentists’ offices could reduce patient anxiety and improve outcomes for military dental treatment programs.

The study focuses on patients requiring complex dental procedures with multiple appointments. Each appointment can be very painful and create a lot of anxiety.

Significant anxiety is relatively common for dental patients and can result in patients declining to show up for treatment, explained John Schmidt, a clinical psychologist at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School located at WRNMMC, and one of the two leads for the study along with Navy Cmdr. Doris Lam. Lam’s dental master’s thesis led to the study.

Before their dental appointment, patients involved in the study are encouraged to meet with a facility dog that provides animal-assisted therapy at WRNMMC. The dogs are highly trained to provide comfort and companionship in a clinical setting.

The hope is that having patients meet with a facility dog can “decrease the amount of pain medication needed, and increase the probability that the person will continue onto their next complex dental appointment,” said Navy Hospital Corpsman Skylor Cervantes. She is one of two leading petty officers for facility dogs at WRNMMC in Bethesda, Maryland; and is participating as a handler for dogs in the dental study.

The goal is to reduce dental problems and enhance oral health and improve dental readiness.

“This is especially problematic in our military population as poor oral health care and missing dental treatments can directly impact mission readiness and deployment status for our war fighters,” Schmidt said.

Facility therapy dogs have been part of

Air Force Brig. Gen. Goldie, a facility therapy dog at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, helps reduce anxiety in a patient with complex dental conditions that require multiple appointments. The use of therapy dogs is part of an ongoing study with these patients. (COURTESY PHOTO)

WRNMMC patient care since 2005. All of the canines receive initial service dog training for working with veterans. Before being assigned to a medical facility, the dogs also receive additional training and are screened for temperaments that work well in a medical environment.

Reducing Anxiety The study at the Comprehensive Dentistry Clinic assesses anxiety levels by using self-reported measures of dental anxiety and satisfaction with care, as well as any missed appointments, Schmidt explained.

“All participants also have their heart rate monitored during each study visit to determine if the interactions with the facility dogs results in reduced physiological reactivity during dental procedures,” Schmidt said.

This added measure is novel for a study using facility therapy dogs to address dental anxiety.

How the Study Works In the study, researchers evaluate patients over the course of three visits. One group of patients see the dogs 10 minutes before

two of three appointments. Another group of patients does not see a dog until the third appointment.

The patients also fill out questionnaires beforehand. These questionnaires contain three modules assessing dental anxiety, phobia, fear, and feared dental stimuli. This measure also assesses emotional, behavioral, physiological, and cognitive components of the anxiety and fear response, Schmidt explained.

Meanwhile, the dog handler stays outside of the room with the dog. “Once we go in the room, I let the dog do the work,” Cervantes said. “The patient interacts with the dog. They pet them, they can do different tricks with the dog just to get their mind off of what’s going on, or what’s about to go on.”

Some patients like to interact with the handler to find out about the dog, and other patients like to just focus on the dog itself. ”We try to make the patient as comfortable as possible. And the dogs do a really good job with interacting with the patient and keeping focused on the patient,” Cervantes said.

Anxious Patients Cervantes explained how having a facility dog at appointments gives patients a more positive attitude and motivates them to continue their multiple treatments.

“It gives the patient something to look forward to, especially when they’re introduced to the dog, Then we try to get them in on a day where that same dog can be there again, or they can see another dog if they want,” Cervantes said.

“Because of this interaction, they know the appointment is not going to be as bad.”

Preliminary study results are quite encouraging, Schmidt said.

“The patients love interacting with the dogs and many of the patients have reported reduced dental anxiety, satisfaction with the dog intervention, and have followed through with their dental care.”

The study began in 2016, but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schmidt and Lam expect the study to be completed next year, and present their findings.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

Misc. Merchandise For Sale

Wanted To Buy

Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022 7 Classic, Antique Cars

CHEVROLET 1955 BEL AIR

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We will purchase your collectible, classic, late model autos, we will come to you. Call 757-675-0288.

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GMC 2021 SIERRA

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Sudoku

CryptoQuip

Last week’s CryptoQuip answer

Folk song concerning the alarming lack of oath-takers in these times: “Where Have All the Vowers Gone?”

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Religious Services For your installation’s religious service times visit www.flagshipnews.com⁄ base_information⁄ religious_services

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, June 16, 2022

AIR LAND SEA START PLANNING YOUR NEXT GETAWAY

In Print. Online.

Look For The Travel Section In Your Sunday Publication