USS George H. W. Bush, NNSY Team Complete Sea Trials
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Valek, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs
 
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK – The aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) returned to operational status Aug. 30 after completing Sea Trials.
Sea Trials is one of the steps required by maintenance policies, directives and business rules of the Fleet Commander, Type Commander and the Naval Supervisory Authority to certify the completion of ship maintenance and modernization. GHWB’s Sea Trials were a multi-day evolution where Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) personnel and the ship’s crew tested ship equipment and systems at sea.
This is the first time GHWB was at sea since Apr. 2019 - the start of its Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
“Getting our mighty warship back to sea has been our top priority,” said Capt. Robert Aguilar, the commanding officer of GHWB.  “The teamwork between NNSY and our crew was essential to completing our first underway in 28 months. We are grateful for their continued support, and grateful to get back to sea to focus on training to deliver the combat power our Fleet and Joint Force commanders need whenever and wherever we are required.”
GHWB completed numerous evolutions during Sea Trials, including man overboard drills, an anchor drop test, rudder checks, counter-measure wash down tests, and other ship system checks.
“The hard work and professionalism of our NNSY and GHWB Maintenance Teams during Sea Trials strengthens our ability to integrate, execute, and close out GHWB’s maintenance availability,” said Project Superintendent Jeff Burchett. “We are proud to have delivered GHWB back to the fleet.”
GHWB is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U. S., allied and partner interests.
 

USS George H.W. Bush Completes Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard 

By NNSY Public Affairs and USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) departed Aug. 26 for sea trials, marking completion of one of the largest and most complex aircraft carrier availabilities conducted at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).
 
The Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA), which began in February 2019, marked Bush’s first time out of the water since 2006.  The shipyard workforce contributed 762,500 workdays of the 1.3 million workday availability, with the ship’s crew, Alteration Installation Teams and contractors comprising the rest. 
 
The DPIA included a number of complicated planned efforts including a complete shaft and propeller overhaul, rudder refurbishment, catwalk and tank preservation, and modernization and upgrades to electronic and combat systems, catapults, and hotel services. 
 
“At the beginning of this challenging availability I shared with the project team this would be a marathon event due to the large work package and the length of time it would take to return George H.W. Bush to the Fleet,” said Project Superintendent Jeff Burchett.  “At that time, we had no idea what we would face with the COVID 19 pandemic and the additional challenges it brought to the team to overcome such a major obstacle on top of the planned work.  The team stepped up and worked through it.”
 
The ship’s commanding officer Capt. Robert “Aggs” Aguilar was complimentary of the collaboration between NNSY and the crew.
 
“The end of this maintenance period marks the beginning of our team’s ability to execute our primary mission which is to provide combat capability to Fleet and Joint Force commanders whenever and wherever it is needed,” said Aguilar.  “We remain grateful for the teamwork with Norfolk Naval Shipyard to get us back to sea. Now the crew of George Herbert Walker Bush will bring the ship to life and return her to full operational capability.”
 
NNSY implemented process improvement and innovations in several areas of the availability, including the U.S. Navy’s first organic cold spray repairs at any of the four public shipyards to repair components on Bush.  Laser scanning was used to facilitate installation of sponsons onboard, supporting first time quality.  Additionally, the shipyard’s special emphasis group developed unique weight handling equipment using electric winches for servicing components while in dry dock.  
 
“The team has been all-in with either fixing or elevating any issues as they occurred, with non-stop execution in mind to ensure USS George H.W. Bush was returned to the Fleet,” said Shipyard Commander Capt. Dianna Wolfson.  “With such an extensive and challenging availability, it took a daily commitment from our team members in delivering technical excellence and skilled craftsmanship on Bush so it could be ready to excel in its mission and demonstrate Freedom at Work.”    
 
 
The ship will now complete sea trials and multiple certifications before beginning a pre-deployment training cycle.
 
“It’s been a unique privilege leading the project team of this availability throughout its entire duration at Norfolk Naval Shipyard,” said Burchett.  “When starting the project, we adopted a quote from George H.W. Bush himself: ‘This is my mission and I will complete it.’  It’s taken a lot of teamwork and perseverance, on top of working through unexpected challenges, but today we can say the mission is complete and USS George H.W. Bush—and the Navy—is all the better for it.”
 

 

Destroyer Squadron Two Six Holds Change of Command Ceremony
Lt. j.g. Beau Nickerson, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

Norfolk, Va. – Destroyer Squadron Two Six (DESRON 26) held a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station Norfolk, June 4.
Capt. Frank E. Brandon relieved Capt. Zoah Scheneman as commodore, DESRON 26.
     “I’m so proud of the staff and ships of DESRON 26 and all we’ve accomplished,” Scheneman said. “It was a great honor to work with such professional and dedicated warfighters. I am privileged, humbled, and grateful to have worked with the heroes of this team during these unprecedented times.”
     Scheneman has served as the squadron’s commodore since June 2020. Prior to assuming command, he served as DESRON 26’s deputy commodore.
Prior to assuming command of DESRON 26, Brandon’s tours of duty have included the officer in charge for Nuclear Power Mobile Training Team Pacific, reactor officer aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and operations officer at Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
     “It is an honor and a privilege to serve with the DESRON 26 team,” Brandon said. “Capt. Scheneman continued the long legacy of great leadership at DESRON 26, and he served as mentor to me and the staff. We will strive to live up to the standards of excellence he established.”
     DESRON 26 consists of the guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Nitze (DDG 94), and USS McFaul (DDG 74).

A Sailor Proud Of Her Culture
 
Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bayley McMichael, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs.