Submarine Group Two Commander Visits NUWC Newport
Rear Adm. Melvin R. Smith, commander of Submarine Group Two, visited the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport on Dec. 11, delivering a message of gratitude to the workforce during the command’s holiday cookie party before receiving a series of briefings on emerging undersea technologies.Smith oversees the U.S. Navy’s Undersea Hybrid Fleet Executive Steering Group — a group focused on the development and delivery of undersea robotic autonomous systems (URAS) capabilities to the fleet. He toured the command to gain a deeper understanding of NUWC’s role in system
Missing Sofar Spotter Buoy in the Gulf
While 2025 was coming to an end, a Sofar spotter buoy that Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary staff refer to as Bob due to his minion-like characteristics became dislodged from its location at East Flower Garden Bank. The buoy is an essential part of our monitoring efforts, as it tracks temperatures at the ocean surface as well as near the reef, but it also tracks sea surface conditions, which are crucial to boats visiting the area.Bob's location as of 12:50 p.m. CT on January 5, due south of Rezak Bank. © Flower Garden Banks National Marine SanctuaryWe would love to have Bob
USACE's Major General Jason Kelly & Modernizing America’s Waterways
For Major General Jason Kelly, Rebuilding and Maintaining the Nation’s Critical Waterway Infrastructure is personal.When Major General Jason Kelly reflects on his path to leading the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Civil Works mission, he doesn’t describe a straight line. He describes a journey, one that began “on the business end of the Army,” as he puts it, and evolved into a passion for solving complex problems that impact every American who depends on safe, reliable, efficient water infrastructure.For more than two decades, Kelly served as a combat arms
Prysmian, Fincantieri to buy Xtera in Subsea Telecom Cables Push
. The acquisition will allow Prysmian to become a global player in subsea telecom solutions, building on its existing expertise in subsea energy cables. The partnership with Fincantieri also includes plans to develop installation and security services aimed at offering customers an integrated solution for subsea telecom infrastructure.Subsea telecom cables are seen as long-term growth assets as demand rises from data centers, hyperscalers and artificial intelligence-related infrastructure, while security considerations are increasingly central to cable deployment and operations.“Thanks to the
Phoenix Assists US Navy with Aircraft Recovery in the South China Sea
Phoenix's International (Phoenix) recently assisted the Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) with the successful recovery of an MH-60R helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The two aircraft went down within 30 minutes of each other during routine flight operations off the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) in the South China Sea on October 26, 2025. All crew members survived and were rescued.Phoenix personnel traveled to Singapore and mobilized search assets aboard Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel of opportunity (VOO) and recovery assets aboard
MOG, HHI Ink MoU to Build Submarines
Maritime Operations Group (MOG) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a memorandum of understanding MoU aimed at accelerating the development, construction and delivery of modern diesel-electric submarines and undersea technologies for U.S. government and allied missions.Under the agreement, the two companies will explore collaboration on the design and construction of diesel-electric submarines optimized for U.S. Navy training, research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E), and specialized mission support. The MoU also targets the introduction of advanced maintenance, repair and
2025: Fascinated with Subsea Discovery
watched Offshore Engineer TV show.Working underneath the world’s waters is a challenge in and of itself, a challenge exacerbated if an operator does not have a clear picture of the make-up of the seabed with insights on the potential traps that might await. Grove discussed the value of finding out for a broad swath of subsea industries, from offshore oil and gas to offshore renewables; dredging to subsea cabling; with emerging opportunities including carbon capture and storage.The catastrophic implosion of the Titan submersible that killed five people in 2023 maintained reader attention in 2025
In Memoriam: Captain Charles Robert MacVean, USN, (Ret.), PhD
. Following graduation from high school in Ridgewood, New Jersey, he attended Dartmouth College as an NROTC student. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, majoring in Engineering Physics, and was commissioned in 1959. Ensign MacVean served as Communicator on board the USS FORREST SHERMAN (DD931) prior to attending Cornell University where he received a PhD in Nuclear Science and Engineering. Lieutenant MacVean then entered the Nuclear Power and Submarine Curriculum, completing courses in Bainbridge, MD, Windsor Locks, CT, and New London, CT.Lieutenant Commander MacVean
HII Marks Oklahoma Submarine Construction Milestone at Newport News Shipbuilding
HII announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has reached a significant construction milestone for Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802).Oklahoma is now “pressure hull complete,” which signifies all of the hull sections have joined to form a single, watertight unit.It is the 29th Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the first of Block V and the 14th to be delivered by NNS.The ship’s sponsor is Mary “Molly” Slavonic, an Oklahoma native. Slavonic has long supported both the state of Oklahoma and the Navy. She worked alongside her husband, former
December 2025
