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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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USS Russell leaving Pearl Harbor
The Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer USS Russell will leave the islands tomorrow to join the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. Cmdr. J.D. Weston is the Russell's commanding officer. The aircraft carrier Lincoln, led by Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, departed its home port of Everett, Wash., March 13 for San Diego to pick up personnel and aircraft before deploying overseas.
BAE Systems Ship Repair donated $50,000 to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Association, a nonprofit organization, to help Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard celebrate its centennial.
The shipyard will observe its 100th anniversary on May 13. It was established on that day in 1908. Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest industrial employer in the state, with a combined civilian and military work force of about 4,700. In fiscal year 2007 it had an operating budget of $550 million, of which $387 million was payroll for civilian employees. It is a full-service naval shipyard and regional maintenance center for the Navy's surface ships and submarines.
Chapter 19 of the Federal Managers Association wants all retirees of the shipyard to register at the FMA Web site so the association can archive historical information and to ensure former workers get notice of upcoming events. Shipyard retirees can register online at www.fmachapter19. org. From the FMA home page, click on "Administration" to open up the menu that includes the registry. Deadline for registration is March 31.
The shipyard's commander, Capt. Gregory Thomas, Command Master Chief David Lajoie, Production Resources Manager Gregory "Kaipo" Crowell, Chief Engineer Brian Yim and Congressional Relations Specialist Liane Nakahara were honored Tuesday by the state House of Representatives with a proclamation commending the shipyard's 100 years of service.
The proclamation was sponsored by Rep. Lynn Finnegan, whose district includes Pearl Harbor.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, director of operations for the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, was promoted to lieutenant general and will be the next commander of the Alaskan Command, and also will serve as commander of the 11th Air Force and the Alaskan North American Defense Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. His nomination was announced last week by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
MOVING UP
Pearl Harbor: Cmdr. Robert Koonce has assumed command of the nuclear submarine USS Key West, relieving Cmdr. Thomas Ishee.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.