Ho'okele - August 11, 2017 (Pearl Harbor-Hickam Newspaper)

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What’s INSIDE

August 11, 2017

Rail construction See page A-3

Memorial service honors life of JBPHH Sailor See page A-4

JBPHH teens attend STEAM camp See page B-1

Concert to feature Air Force band members See page B-5

www.issuu.com/navyregionhawaii www.hookelenews.com

Photo by MC1 Corwin M. Colbert

Volume 8 Issue 31

“The Region/MIDPAC team has an amazing reputation of integrity, service and commitment, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of this amazing team.” — Rear Adm. Brian P. Fort, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific

Rear Adm. Fort leads Region, MIDPAC Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs With a reading of his orders to a packed “allhands call” of Sailors, Airmen and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, Rear Adm. Brian P. Fort became commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific at 10:30 a.m., Aug. 9.

C o m m a n d e r, N a v y Region Hawaii has leadership oversight of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu and Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific has leadership oversight of the 10 surface ships homeported in Hawaii. “It is a remarkable privilege to return for duty in

Hawaii,” Fort said. “The Region/MIDPAC team has an amazing reputation of integrity, service and commitment, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of this amazing team.” As an operations officer, Fort served aboard USS Ingersoll (DD 990) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70), both formerly homeported in Pearl Harbor. He also served as the executive of-

Seafair Fleet Week ends MC2 Vaughan Dill U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) departed the Port of Seattle Aug. 7, bringing the 68th annual Seafair Fleet Week to a close. The annual event, which began Aug. 2, kicked off with a parade of U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy ships in Elliott Bay and featured Anchorage and Michael Murphy, as well as Hamilton-class high endurance cutter USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717), and the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706) and HMCS Edmonton (MM 703). Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit joined Anchorage Sailors in conducting ship tours at Pier 90, while Sailors aboard Michael Murphy and Coast Guard members aboard Mellon hosted ship tours at Pier 66, and Royal Canadian Navy Sailors hosted tours of Yellowknife and Edmonton at Pier 69. More than 13,000 visitors toured the warships.

Throughout the week, U.S. and Canadian service members engaged with Seattleites through multiple community outreach events, including ship tours, community service projects, environmental educational displays, hospital visits and performances from Navy Band Northwest and the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. “I always look forward to seeing Sailors out on the town this time of year. We are extremely proud of the work they do. As someone who served, I know the sacrifice they make,” said John Ceallaigh, Seattle resident, originally from Kilkenny, Ireland. “I served in my country, so I feel a bond with the service members, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to show them how much we love them.” Operations Specialist 2nd Class Raul Garza, a native of San Antonio and assigned to Michael Murphy, said everyone he encountered was very friendly, and he was excited to participate in this year’s Seafair. “I’ve never been a part of this. I’m from Texas, and there’s nothing compared to Seattle Seafair,“ said Garza. “We’re here to show a naval presence and show that we care for the com-

munity. It’s a way to show gratitude, and show the respect that they deserve. It’s our way to say thanks.” Seafair Fleet Week also provided representatives from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Washington State National Guard, as well as federal and state emergency service agencies, with the opportunity to participate in a Defense Support of Civilian Authorities senior leadership seminar. The seminar was based on several specific emergency response strategies, including operational communications, public health and medical services, critical transportation, public information and dissemination strategies, incident action planning, mass search and rescue operations, and on-scene security and protection. “We need partners, and we know Department of Defense assets are some of the best partners,” said Barb Graff, director of emergency management, Seattle Police Department. “The working relationships we have with the Coast Guard, Army, Marine Corps and the Navy is invaluable to us. If we know each other well beforehand, we do a lot better when we really need each other.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) sails in the Parade of Ships during Seattle’s 68th annual Seafair Fleet Week. Photo by MC2 Jacob G. Sisco

ficer aboard Hawaii-based USS Port Royal (CG 73) in the wake of 9/11/2001. Fort’s other afloat and ashore commands and senior staff assignments are listed in his biography at www.navy.mil/navydata/ bios/bio.asp?bioID=991. A change of command ceremony with Rear Adm. John Fuller was canceled in June when Fort was notified of an immediate

assignment to Yokosuka, Japan to be an investigating officer of the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 60) collision. The Navy has not released results of the investigation. “While I am not able to speak about the details of the investigation,” Fort said, “I would ask you to continue to keep the Fitzgerald Ohana in your thoughts and prayers for

the seven shipmates we lost in the early morning hours of June 17.” To h i s n e w R e g i o n / MIDPAC team Fort says, “Together we can do great things. Our mission is a sacred trust: the defense of our nation. Together, we can all be part of something larger than ourselves.” (Read Fort’s commentary on page A-3.)

Col. Kara Gormont, 15th Medical Group commander, renders her first salute to the group during the 15th Medical Group’s change of command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Col. Gormont takes command of award-winning medical team Story and photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman 15th Wing Public Affairs The 15th Medical Group (15 MDG) welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aug. 1. Col. Kara Gormont assumed command of the 15 MDG from Col. Christopher Paige as Col. Kevin Gordon, 15th Wing commander, presided over the ceremony. “It’s people like Col. Paige that make my job easy,” Gordon said. “I’ve always had full confidence that the men, women and children who visit the clinic are getting the absolute best care possible.” Paige will go on to be the Air Combat Command

chief nurse and chief of medical operations, Langley AFB, Virginia. “The 15 MDG has been the problem solver for an average of 250 patients a day,” Paige said. “They say, ‘You’re only as good as your last game,’ and we just had a great game. It has been a pleasure to serve and lead these Airmen. Mahalo to each of you.” During Paige’s tenure as commander of the 15 MDG, the group won several awards, including the 2015 Pacific Air Forces Health Plan Management Team of the Year, 2015 Air Force Medical Service and Pacific Air Forces Biomedical Service Corps Large Team Award, 2016 Pacific Air Forces Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient Safety Program, and 2016 Department of Defense Suicide Prevention

Offices Program of the Year. “Kara, I am beyond excited you get to lead the men and women of the 15 MDG,” Gordon said. “I have no doubt you will do awesome things, as you have joined a remarkable team. Welcome to the 15th Wing.” Prior to taking command of the 15th Medical Group, Gormont was the administrator of the 59th Medical Operations Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. “My family and I are truly honored to be joining the team here at the historic base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,” Gormont said. “Col. Gordon, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude for honoring me with this selection. I’m humbled by your confidence and I’m eager to get to work.”


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