YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Rear Adm. Leonard “Butch” Dollaga relieved Rear Adm. James “Jimmy” Pitts as Commander, Submarine Group 7 (CSG7), Commander, Task Force 74 (CTF74) and Commander, Task Force 54 (CTF54) during a change of command ceremony held in front of a virtual audience Friday.Vice Adm. William...

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Whether it’s a blanket of snow covering the roads or a crack in the flight line’s concrete, keeping the roadways functional is crucial for the Wolf Pack. Swinging sledge hammers, operating heavy construction vehicles and jack hammering in the elements, the “Dirt...

CAMP H.M. SMITH, HAWAII -- Senior military leaders from 29 countries virtually joined the annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) conference August 24-25.The conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, provides a forum for military leaders from...

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper visited sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex to experience the Rim of the Pacific exercise — a multinational operation involving 10 nations.The exercise has been scaled back due to COVID-19, but still had a decent turnout...

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A single COVID cell is no more than 140 nanometers in diameter — about 1/500th the width of a human hair — but it has come to dominate daily life the world over.Beyond its physical health impact, Diann Richardson, 176th Wing director of Psychological...

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The international, rules-based system that has brought security and stability to much of the globe is under duress, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said in Honolulu today.Esper said China is threatening the basis for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, and like-minded...

CAMP ZAMA, Japan -- Staff at the Camp Zama Veterinary Treatment Facility have always worked diligently to gain the trust of their clients, and today under COVID-19 restrictions, those efforts are paying off.“I trust them,” said Carolina Chong, shortly after handing over her two dogs’ leashes to Cpl...

WASHINGTON -- Defense Department leaders in the fields of training and education discussed reform efforts the department is pursuing to more effectively and efficiently deliver various types of learning to its uniformed and civilian personnel.Fred Drummond, deputy assistant secretary of defense for...

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper arrived in Hawaii, beginning a trip to explain America's vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and to honor the World War II generation that made a peaceful region possible.The secretary will visit Hawaii, Palau and Guam.The Indo-Pacific is the...

PACIFIC OCEAN -- The first frigate to complete the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade, HMAS Arunta has successfully fired Surface-to-Air Missiles at Exercise Rim of the Pacific in Hawaii.Conducted alongside ships from Canada and the United States, the firing demonstrated the...