Ben Werner
USNI News
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Past articles by Ben:
White House Orders Review of Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Program
The White House ordered the Coast Guard and other agencies to review the planned Polar Security Cutter fleet, a year after awarding the first contract. → Read More
Navy Higher Education Developing COVID-19 Mitigation Plans For Fall
The Navy’s higher education programs are developing COVID-19 mitigation plans for fall, a little more than a month to go before personnel arrive on campus. → Read More
Philippines Freezes Pull-Out From Visiting U.S. Forces Agreement
The Philippine government is freezing its end an aspect of its Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S., but the decision did not signal a reversal, experts say. → Read More
Naval Academy Alumni Board Of Trustee Member Resigns After Facebook Ouburst
A member of the U.S. Naval Academy's alumni association's board of trustees resigned after posting comments to Facebook disparaging the academy's admission of African Americans, Asian Americans and women. → Read More
Navy Continues 2 Weeks Off-Base Isolation for All New Recruits
The Navy is extending its practice of isolating all recruits arriving at Naval Station Great Lakes at off-base hotels and a closed waterpark for two weeks . → Read More
USS Russell Transits Taiwan Strait
Guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59) transited the Taiwan Strait Thursday, days after China’s newest aircraft carrier departed for sea trials. → Read More
New Air Bases, Baby Cabbage Key to Chinese Long-Term Claims in South China Sea
As the U.S. Navy runs freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, China’s strategy for expanding its regional economic influence takes shape. → Read More
Navy Kicks Off Summer Flag Moves With VCNO Swearing-In
The Navy released a slate of admiral postings Tuesday, the second release in ten days, marking a shift away from the policy of not announcing flag jobs. → Read More
China's Newest Aircraft Carrier Now Conducting Sea Trials
China's new aircraft carrier, CNS Shandong (Hull 17), is conducting sea trials while China's military leaders criticize U.S. Navy operations in the region. → Read More
Defense Contractors Remain Upbeat About 2021
A trio of large defense contractors belive their financial futures are secure in 2020 and 2021 – even with COVID-19 and a slowed federal budget process. → Read More
Kenneth Braithwaite Sworn in as Secretary of the Navy
Kenneth Braithwaite was sworn in as secretary of the Navy today at the Pentagon, six months after being announced by President Donald Trump. → Read More
USS Mustin Conducts FONOP Past Paracel Islands In South China Sea
USS Mustin (DDG-89) conducted a freedom of navigation operation past the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea Thursday, the Navy announced. → Read More
Navy Releases New COVID-19 Guidance To Fleet
The Navy's new COVID-19 guidelines establish standardize the force’s response to the pandemic and creates a framework to use as full operations resume. → Read More
VIDEO: Two Russian Fighters Make Unsafe Intercept of Navy P-8A Over Eastern Med
For the third time in two months, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A over the Mediterranean. → Read More
Release of USS Thresher Documents Delayed by COVID-19 Office Closures
The Navy is sitting on roughly 600 pages of documents related to the USS Thresher (SSN-593) sinking that a federal judge ordered released, unable to comply because the office charged with processing their release is shuttered due to COVID-19 restrictions. Following a February court hearing in U.S. District Court, a judge ordered the Navy’s Undersea … → Read More
Navy Issues Iran Warning to Keep Away From Warships
The U.S. Navy’s stay-away warning to marine traffic in the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman was intended for Iran, Pentagon officials confirmed on Thursday. The maritime message, posted this week by the Navy via the Maritime Safety Office run by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, alerted all international maritime traffic to … → Read More
UPDATED: FBI Now Investigating NAS Corpus Christi Shooting, 'Arab Male' Killed by Navy Security Forces
This post will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. The FBI is investigating a Thursday shooting at a Texas naval air station, after a Navy security team there killed an “Arab male” who stormed a gate at the base, a U.S. official told USNI News.. NSF responded to an active shooter at … → Read More
GAO: Women 28 Percent More Likely to Leave Military Service than Men
Family planning, child care, sexism and sexual assault were among the top reasons female service members are more likely than men to leave the military. → Read More
Navy Altering, Postponing or Skipping Midshipmen Rites Of Passage
For the Navy, keeping its new officer pipeline open and mitigating COVID-19 risks mean altering or even skipping some rites of passage for commissioning. → Read More
Navy Removes USS Philippine Sea CO After Fuel Spill
The Navy fired the captain of USS Philippine Sea, the guided-missile cruiser that spilled 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the York River on May 7. → Read More