Welcome Home Matt Rutherford!

I had the opportunity to represent the Naval Academy and our sailing program at a welcome home ceremony for Matt Rutherford.  Matt had just completed a circumnavigation of North and South America in a 27 foot sailboat.  This trip took 309 days, he did it solo and during that great expanse of time he never went ashore - non-stop north through the Northwest Passage, around Alaska, down the west coast of North, Central and South America, around the treacherous Cape Horn and up through the Atlantic.  He departed from and returned to Annapolis and did it all to raise money for a disabled boating charity called C.R.A.B (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating).  I shared the stage with Gary Jobson, the head of US Sailing, Maryland Governor O'Malley, the Mayor of Annapolis and several Congressional Aides.  Senator Harkin teleconferenced in via an onstage iPad.  It was a great event, honoring a truely heroic undertaking 

Safety at Sea

In the wake of the disastrous 1979 Fastnet Yacht Race which claimed the lives of 15 sailors the US Naval Academy began a seminar entitled "Safety at Sea" to focus on offshore boat preparation, weather forecasting,  heavy weather sailing and survival.  That seminar endures today and each spring we partner with the Maryland Marine Trades Association to educate Midshipmen and civilian sailors in the safe operation of offshore sailboats.  My staff put on a truly world-class event, moderated by John Rousmaniere and Ralph Naranjo.  It was a great refresher in the risks of offshore sailing - and a great opportunity to meet some of the foremost experts on the water.  Briefing slides from the event are available online.

Naval Academy Sailing

I've been settling into my new position as the Director of Naval Academy Sailing.  It's a great job - that probably goes without saying.  The program is actually far more complex than I could have imagined - 160+ sailboats in the fleet, a 6 acre marina, a mixed staff of Navy officers and enlisted sailors, Government civilians and athletic department coaches, 20+ funding sources, a charitable foundation and an advisory board.  I'm trying to get out on the water as much as possible but each day brings new challenges.  I'm very fortunate to have an amazing staff.  Within my civilian ranks are veterans of the Whitbread/Volvo Around the World Race, the Americas Cup, former Olympic hopefuls and a Collegiate Sailor of the Year.

High Seas

Although I'm safely back on dry land I thought I'd share a great photo from our recent time underway off the east coast.  As has been typical in the winter months we were chased by the weather - in this shot the weather won - it was actually more ominous than it appears with 25-30 foot seas and winds topping 50-60mph.

                                                                             US Navy Photo

The ship held up just fine - in fact, onboard you hardly knew it was raging outside.

MEDEVAC delays my return

Happy to be back for the holidays after a couple weeks at sea.  In addition to our regular training missions we were called on to help out a few fellow mariners.  The latest call came as we were within sight of the pier - we turned the ship around and headed back out to sea with many families (and a many onboard the ship) wondering where we were going.  We were able to coordinate the rendezvous with another US warship, pick up one their sailors who has suffered major head trauma,and after a brief evaluation onboard our ship we flew him to South Carolina for further treatment.  We call this mission "MEDEVAC: or Medical Evacuation.

Bush dispatched to help injured sailor

Carrier was scheduled to return to Norfolk on Wed.

Published : Wednesday, 15 Dec 2010, 4:42 PM EST

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A MH-60S Knight Hawk assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted a medical evacuation on Thursday of an injured sailor off a U.S. Navy submarine conducting operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
On Wednesday, the George H.W. Bush was ordered to make "best speed" to assist the injured sailor, who had a head injury, according to the Navy.
The Mayport, Fla.-based USS Boone was also dispatched to aid the submariner.
A Navy neurosurgeon, assigned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, assessed the sailor and both were transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., for further evaluation and treatment as necessary. The last assessment listed the sailor in stable condition.
"Mariners at sea take care of each other," said Vice Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. "There is no better way to show our sailors and their families the extent the Navy will go in order to take care of their own."
The Bush was scheduled to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Wednesday after conducting training operations off the eastern coast of the U.S., while the Boone is already underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
An unconfirmed account received by WAVY News 10 indicates the carrier was past the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and close to Naval Station Norfolk around noon when it hurriedly came about and went back out to sea.
"The saying that we never leave a shipmate behind was proved today," said Capt. Chip Miller, George H.W. Bush commanding officer. "There was a sailor out there who needed our help, and we were honored to receive the call. I am very proud of the professionals on board this ship and our families at home who provide constant support."
The Bush embarked with three MH-60S Seahawks from HSC-26 and one C-2A Greyhound from Fleet Logistic Squadron Four-Zero (VRC-40). The Boone will embark one SH-60B Seahawk from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four-Two (HSL-42) and additional medical staff to include a fleet surgeon and anesthetist to support this operation.
The SH-60B Sea Hawk from HSL 42 provided surface surveillance and search and rescue support during the medical evacuation.
This marks the second time the crew of George H.W. Bush was able to lend a helping hand in December 2010. The ship assisted a sailboat stranded 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., on Dec. 3 by supplying them with fuel on their return to Norfolk.
"Being extended at sea is something we are always prepared for," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Caleb Haynie, a member of the George H.W. Bush's Medical Department. "If the roles were reversed, I would want the Navy to do anything and everything to save me. And I'm proud to be part of the medical team that helped this sailor get home safely for Christmas."

Refuel at Sea

We usually practice this sort of thing between two warships, but early in our latest at-sea period we received a distress call from a sailboat.  While enroute to Bermuda they had lost their sail in a storm.  They turned back for Norfolk but ran out of fuel.  We altered course and rendezvoused with them and were able to pass over some fuel, a few baseball hats (with our ship's logo) and some fresh cookies before returning on mission.  We alerted the Coast Guard who would further track their progress towards shore.

Norfolk carrier aids vessel in distress

USS George H.W. Bush helps 4 on standed sailboat

Published : Friday, 03 Dec 2010, 1:21 PM EST

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) came to the aid of a stranded sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean early Friday morning.
The Shangri-La and its four crew members were approximately 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.
The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier, currently conducting carrier qualifications in preparation for a 2011 deployment, was approximately 30 miles away from the sailboat Shangri-La when the distress call was received at 4:00 a.m.
According to the Navy, the stranded sailboat, also homeported in Norfolk, ran out of fuel trying to return to Norfolk in high winds and lost its sail. The George H.W. Bush assisted the ship by sending fuel over in one of its rigid hulled inflatable boats.
"We were fortunate to be at the right place at the right time," said Capt. Chip Miller, commanding officer. "Assisting fellow mariners on the seas is one of the many missions Navy ships are always prepared to execute. Every time we go to sea or conduct an exercise, we train for the unexpected, and today we had the opportunity to do just that."
The Shangri-La, a 65-foot catamaran, left Norfolk on Monday to sail to the British Virgin Islands. The Navy said the sailboat's crew now plan to return home.
(Compiled from report by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian M. Brooks, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs)

"Birds Away!"

I'm back - another 3 weeks at sea. This trip was the culination of several months of preparation for the USS George H W Bush's first missile shoot. Our weapons systems are defensive - as the moving airfield for 70+ combat aircraft we are a potential target - it's my job, and that of the Combat Direction Center, to protect the aircraft carrier against any potential airborne threats to our ship. So, we have two missile systems that we control that do just that - protect the ship. This past week we tested those systems against multiple ingresing drones shot from Virginia Beach. The weapons systems on the ship were perfectly tuned, my crews were flawless in the execution. The result: we're one step closer to taking this new aircraft carrier on deployment. I think the former President (George H W Bush) would approve...we'll see...


Here are a couple shots of the missiles being launched and my Combat Direction Center Officers that make it all happen - a fantastic group of professional warriors (that's the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System launcher behind us).

The Navy Website picked up the story:
www.navy.com

Carrier Landing Practice ("CQ")

US Navy Photos

A big part of what we do when out to sea these days is support "CQ" Carrier Qualification or landing practice for the aircrew. We've just finished up with a couple of our tactical squadrons (F/A-18 Hornets) and as I write this the training command is qualifying some of the Navy's newest aviators in the T-45 Goshawk. I can't claim much first hand knowledge since I've only even been a passenger for a couple hundred of these landings but the Navy has studies that show that this evolution (especially in bad weather at night) is more stressful for our pilots than actual air-to-air combat. We practice this often and that makes us the best in the world (much better than those Air Force guys!).

Your Navy Today

US Navy Presentation

You may have noticed that I'm gone a lot! Here's a great snapshot of what the Navy is up to on any given day. The briefing slide is not classified and in fact is a bit old (no security compromise here) but it's a great representation of where we're currently deployed. A number of different missions, with very different requirements. Most of this will never make the news, but we're out there as we have always been out there: contributing to the 'War on Terror,' keeping the shipping lanes open (counter piracy), interdicting narcotics and generally "showing the flag" in support of our allies and as a deterent to any potential adversaries. What is not depicted is the recent Humanitarian effort in which more than 10,000 Sailors and Marines have been involved in the Haiti relief efforts: a total of approximately 17 ships, 48 helicopters and 12 fixed-wing aircraft have been engaged in delivering relief supplies for distribution to affected areas. It's a busy time for us and it takes a lot of training to prepare our ships and their crews for so many diverse missions. And that keeps me out to sea a lot these days.

High Speed Turns!

(US Navy Photos)

We’re underway again (you’ll hear a lot of that over the next year). We’re doing some more tests of the ships systems: we tried, but just couldn’t get her to roll over (actually that’s what a 97,000 ton boat looks like in a high speed turn!). We’re all looking forward to getting some real airplanes on the flight deck – a new aircraft carrier just doesn’t look complete without 70+ warplanes onboard!

A New Mission

It was probably just a matter of time until the Navy found me and sent me back out to sea (in retrospect, the Pentagon was a poor choice of hiding places). All joking aside, I've now left the Joint Staff and joined the crew of our newest Aircraft Carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77). Aircraft Carriers are amazing ships and this one is no exception. We've just pulled out of the Newport News shipyard and are putting her through initial sea trials and aircraft landing practice.

Here are a few stats about this awesome warship:

- Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, VA.
- Unit Cost: About $4.5 billion each.
- Length: 1,092 feet (332.85 meters): nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall
- Towers 20 stories above the waterline with a 4.5-acre flight deck
- Beam: 134 feet (40.84 meters); Flight Deck Width: 252 feet (76.8 meters).
- Displacement: Approximately 97,000 tons (87,996.9 metric tons) full load.
- Propulsion: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts.
- Four bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing more than 30 tons
- Steering accomplished by two rudders, each 29 feet by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
- Speed: 30+ knots (34.5+ miles per hour).
- Crew: Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
- Four high speed aircraft elevators, each more than 4,000 square feet, bring planes to the flight deck from the hangar below
- Enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days: 18,150 meals served daily
- Distillation plants providing 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2,000 homes
- Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,600 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets

The obvious downside to this adventurous job is the time away from home. Over the next 2 years I'll be spending a lot of time at sea, as we train the crew and eventually deploy to the Persian Gulf. Thankfully we now have email and internet access at sea so I can keep in touch with Michelle and our little man.