Matthew Swartz to Lead Navy Staff as Dual-Hatted Executive Director
Matthew Swartz has been appointed Director of Navy Staff while retaining his role as executive director on the CNO staff, creating a dual‑hat position. The move is designed to shift the Navy’s staff from a peacetime stance to a war‑fighting footing in line with the newly issued U.S. Navy Fighting Instructions. Swartz will oversee coordination of the civilian workforce, drive alignment across staffs, and continue outreach to academic and industrial partners. His background includes senior posts at Fleet Forces Command, Naval Information Forces, and Fleet Cyber Command.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Completes Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The nuclear‑powered USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN‑69) completed sea trials, achieving an early finish to its FY25 Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The carrier’s maintenance included first‑time underwater shaft inspections and catapult‑trough non‑destructive testing, marking the shipyard’s second consecutive on‑time carrier...
U.S. Navy to Commission Submarine Idaho (SSN 799)
The U.S. Navy will commission the USS Idaho (SSN 799), the 26th Virginia‑class fast‑attack submarine, on 25 April 2026 at Naval Submarine Base New London. The vessel, the eighth Block IV configuration, is built by General Dynamics Electric Boat under a long‑standing partnership with Huntington...
Department of the Navy Releases FY27 Budget Request
The Department of the Navy has asked Congress for a FY27 budget of roughly $1.5 trillion, earmarking $65.8 billion for shipbuilding, $34.4 billion for aircraft, $22.6 billion for weapons, and $150 billion for operations and maintenance. The request funds 34 new ships—including a Columbia‑class submarine,...
MILITARY STAR Card Now Offers Uniform Line of Credit to Sailors
Starting April 23, 2026, active‑duty and reserve Sailors with a MILITARY STAR® Card will automatically receive a $1,000 uniform line of credit, determined by DEERS eligibility rather than credit score. The credit provides zero‑percent financing for 12 months on each...
Navy Announces Commissioning Date and Location for the Future USS Cleveland (LCS 31)
The U.S. Navy will commission the Freedom‑variant littoral combat ship USS Cleveland (LCS 31) on May 16, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Sponsor Robyn Modly, wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, will give the traditional order to “man our ship and...
HURREX 2026: U.S. Navy Launches Major Hurricane Drill to Test Fleet and Shore Readiness
The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Forces Command and Installations Command will conduct HURREX/CG 2026, a two‑week hurricane preparedness and disaster response exercise from April 13‑24. The drill simulates storm conditions, tests Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness, evacuation procedures, and post‑storm recovery,...
Navy’s Free Barracks Wi-Fi Program Reaches Installations in Italy and Greece
The U.S. Navy’s free high‑speed Wi‑Fi initiative for unaccompanied housing has reached 86% completion, now covering 827 of 952 buildings. Service was launched this week at installations in Naples, Italy; Sigonella, Italy; and Souda Bay, Greece. Adoption is strong, with...
George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Departs for Deployment
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group left Norfolk on 31 March 2026 for a scheduled deployment, led by the Nimitz‑class carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). The strike group comprises the carrier, three Arleigh Burke‑class destroyers, and Carrier Air Wing 7’s nine squadrons, totaling more than...
Navy to Commission Submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798)
The U.S. Navy will commission the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798), the 25th Virginia‑class fast‑attack submarine, on March 28 in Boston Harbor. The ceremony features senior officials including Navy General Counsel David Denton, Governor Maura Healey, and sponsor Sheryl Sandberg. Massachusetts is...
Advanced Shipbuilding 'Factory of the Future' Opens in Alabama
Hadrian opened a 2.2‑million‑square‑foot ‘Factory of the Future’ in Cherokee, Alabama, funded by $900 million Navy OBBBA money and $1.5 billion private capital. The facility will mass‑produce components for Virginia‑class attack and Columbia‑class ballistic‑missile submarines, creating up to 1,000 high‑paying jobs. By...
Navy Reshapes Warfighting Acquisition System
The Department of the Navy announced the creation of five Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) organizations—Industrial Operations, Marine Corps, Maritime, Strategic Systems Programs, and Undersea—aimed at transforming its acquisition enterprise into a war‑fighting system. Senior leaders now hold cradle‑to‑grave authority, enabling...
U.S. Navy to Christen Future USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr.
The U.S. Navy will christen USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr., the final Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB‑8), on March 7, 2026 at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego. The ship honors Marine Corps Reserve Pvt. Hector Cafferata Jr., a Korean War Medal of Honor hero. Senior...
Navy Realigns Base Maintenance and Public Works Under Shore Enterprise
The U.S. Navy is shifting full command of installation maintenance and public works to Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), moving roughly 1,700 NAVFAC personnel under direct installation commanders. The realignment, effective Feb. 22, 2026, gives base leaders authority to prioritize infrastructure and...
Navy Relieves USS Truxtun Commanding Officer
The U.S. Navy relieved Cmdr. James Koffi of command of the guided‑missile destroyer USS Truxtun after a collision with the replenishment ship USNS Supply on Feb. 11, 2026. Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello cited a loss of confidence in Koffi’s ability to...