The U.S. Navy, now in its 235th year, was present and engaged on the world’s oceans during 2009, earning the right to be called “a global force for good.” There are more than 60,000 sailors deployed on, above, and below the seas, and another 14,000 sailors on the ground in support of joint missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. The Navy added new ships and aircraft to the fleet, developed new systems, and acquired new missions, and that demand for naval capabilities will continue in 2010.

The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) was commissioned Jan. 10, 2009, at Norfolk, Va. The United States continues to have 10 large nuclear-powered carriers in the fleet, which not only project power but can also respond quickly to conduct military as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

CVN 77 was actually commissioned before acceptance, but additional time was needed for complete trials before actual delivery. The minor delay does not change the fact that George H.W. Bush, the final Nimitz-class carrier, will serve as a frontline warship for the next 50 years. The 1,092-foot, 100,000-ton carrier was berthed next to the Navy’s new littoral combat ship, the 337-foot, 3,000-ton USS Freedom (LCS 1), which had been commissioned several weeks earlier and had just arrived from the Great Lakes.

The Navy announced its intention to homeport a carrier in Mayport, Fla., as it has done for many years (USS John F. Kennedy was based there until it was decommissioned). The issue has become politicized, with the Virginia congressional delegation unwilling to part with a Norfolk-based CVN.

In January 2009, the United States established a multinational task force, CTF 151, to conduct counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. A number of other navies participated in anti-piracy operations in the area, either as a part of the task force, with NATO, the European Union, or independently. The determined efforts of the U.S. Navy and other naval forces deterred many incidents of piracy, and thwarted such incidents as the M/V Maersk Alabama, whose master was rescued when Navy SEALs shot the pirates holding him. But piracy in that part of the world grows out of the lawlessness of Somalia, a failed state. Even with the increased presence of many navies, the number of incidents increased in 2009 over 2008.

Throughout the year, U.S. Navy forces were present around the world to execute A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower. While Afghanistan was far from the sea, carriers maintained station to provide precision strike missions in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom coalition ground forces in Afghanistan.

The year 2009 was one of engagement, where the Navy worked alongside friends and allies around the world, as exemplified by Pacific Partnership Station (PPS), Southern Partnership Station (SPS), and Africa Partnership Station (APS).

The Navy was engaged with nations, navies, and people in need around the world. USS Nashville (LPD 13) led a multinational team on APS, visiting Senegal, Ghana, Gabon, Cameroon, and Nigeria. During later phases of APS 2009, USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) visited Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya; USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), HSV Swift, and USCGC Legare (WMEC 912) continued the APS mission in West and Central Africa. The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) deployed to the U.S. Southern Command in support of Continuing Promise 2009, while USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) took part in Pacific Partnership 2009, visiting Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands. Many people will remember 2009 as the year of “swine flu,” the H1N1 virus. USS Dubuque’s [LPD 8] participation in Pacific Partnership 2009 was canceled when a significant portion of the ship’s crew were confirmed to have H1N1 influenza.

The Navy augmented forces ashore in Afghanistan and Iraq with personnel to support the ground war. Fourteen thousand Navy men and women are serving ashore in the Central Command area of responsibility (AOR), more than the 10,000 who are afloat in that AOR.

In February, the Navy marked the completion of the 1,000th Trident ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) patrol since first deployment of the USS Ohio (SSBN 726) in 1982.

The persistent presence of naval forces requires a robust logistics system. The fleet is sustained at sea by a combat logistics force of replenishment ships that literally bring the supply chain right alongside the fighting ships so they can remain on station. During the year, two more USNS Lewis and Clark-class T-AKE replenishment ships, USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) and USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8), joined the fleet.

During 2009, several new surface combatants and amphibious ships entered the fleet.

Freedom began testing and evaluation, and USS Independence (LCS 2) was delivered to the Navy. The Navy announced it would select from one of the two ship designs in 2010. Freedom will deploy earlier than originally scheduled to close urgent warfighting gaps, carrying a tailored surface warfare mission package, including a prototype maritime security module to provide visit, board, search, and seizure capability.

Construction of Zumwalt (DDG 1000) began at Bath Iron Works. The DDG 1000 design was more mature than any lead ship surface combatant to date at the start of construction in February 2009. Guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) were commissioned, and the Navy has announced a restart of the DDG 51 production line.

In September, USS Makin Island [LHA 8] became the eighth Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, and the first built with a fuel-efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system. In November, USS New York (LPD 21) was commissioned in New York City. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport’s bow incorporates steel salvaged from the site of the World Trade Center, which was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

Additionally, USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), the oldest of the Aegis cruisers, was modernized to become the most capable of the missile cruisers. All of the 22 guided-missile cruisers will be modernized. Hull, mechanical, and electrical upgrades, as well as improvements to combat systems, will provide the capability to pace emerging threats and ensure Aegis cruisers and destroyers remain combat relevant throughout their expected service life.

New ships, aircraft, and systems are being developed and built to meet a pressing requirement. The current average age of naval aircraft is 19.5 years, for example, the highest average in the history of naval aviation. The Navy has stated it needs a floor of 313 ships, but currently has 289. The first of six Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) P-8A Poseidon aircraft and the first of four F-35 carrier aircraft commenced construction. Since the beginning of 2009, seven ships have been delivered to the fleet, while construction started on five. Additionally, the Navy procured 89 boats and craft and conducted 186 foreign military sales.

The Navy continued its commitment to joint programs, such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The Navy versions of the JSF will be able to land and take off from amphibious assault ships (F-35B) as well as aircraft carriers (F-35C) to provide air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strike capabilities. JHSV will be built for both the Navy and Army to quickly move troops and their vehicles and equipment within a theater of operations. The first of the class will be named Fortitude.

In March, USS Annapolis (SSN 760) and USS Helena (SSN 725) took part in ICEX 2009, helping to establish a scientific research camp about 200 miles north of Alaska. The exercise gave the submarine force the opportunity to test combat systems, sonar systems, communication systems, and navigation systems in the challenging Arctic environment, where the Navy has operated since USS Nautilus (SSN 571) made the first submerged transit in 1958.

The demand for ballistic missile defense (BMD) capabilities from the sea to defend U.S. territory, assets, and allies against ballistic missile attack continues to grow. With the proliferation of ballistic missile threats around the globe, Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) has become a core mission of the U.S. Navy, a role the sea service is uniquely suited for. Interoperability of Navy BMD capability with other elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and international partners provides for defense in depth using the inherent mobility of deployed maritime forces.

The Navy Air and Missile Defense Command (NAMDC) at Dahlgren, Va., was established in April to serve as a center of excellence focused on IAMD, one of the key enabling capabilities that the Navy provides the joint force.

Seabees have deployed around the world to support combat operations and help victims of earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Seabees built base camps and forward operating bases, roads, airfields, and bridges in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as community centers, schools, clinics, and wells in such remote places as Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Uganda and Comoros, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Timor, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and many others.

The Navy received a $1.6 billion “stimulus package” for critical infrastructure and energy projects as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help build hospital, housing, and child development projects, as well as invest in energy efficiency technology, conservation, and alternate fuel sources.

Sailors aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Chafee (DDG 90), and USS Sea Wolf (SSN 21) participated in Malabar 2009, the annual Indian-led exercise designed to increase interoperability between the Indian and U.S. armed forces, a relationship that has been growing in importance to both countries.

Bilateral exercises were conducted with six Asia-Pacific partner navies as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises. CARAT partner nations included the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brunei. Additionally, the United States participated in a separate bilateral exercise with Indonesia, called Naval Engagement Activity.

Guided missile submarine (SSGN) deployments are now routine. The converted Ohio-class submarines can covertly support special operations forces with a sophisticated mobile offshore platform, while also packing a punch with Tomahawk land-attack missiles.

At the beginning of the year, Navy leadership announced that it would return to the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployment construct as the standard amphibious force deployment package. The ARG/MEU includes an amphibious squadron of 5,000 sailors and Marines.

Naval Special Warfare forces, including SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), are currently deployed in more than 40 countries around the world, and continue their sustained combat operations in the Central Command area of operations. Riverine Group One has received two of six armed, high-speed riverine command boats (RCBs) capable of day and night operations.

The Navy is also moving ahead with unmanned systems, including several unmanned aircraft systems. The Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program is a high-altitude, long-endurance system that will provide persistent maritime and littoral intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The BAMS aircraft can fly long distances to operate on station for 24 hours or more, providing ISR to fleet and combatant commanders. The MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Take-off Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) can operate from smaller ships such as LCS to provide ISR and communications relay. The Small Tactical UAS (STUAS) will provide tactical ISR capability for Naval Special Warfare, LSD 41-class ships, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, and Marine Corps squad- and platoon-size units. The Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) will be a large carrier-based UAV to conduct combat missions in high-threat airspace.

Fleet Cyber Command and the U.S. 10th Fleet stood up in October, charged with achieving information dominance in cyber warfare.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that female officers could report to submarines in 2011.

The Navy will deploy Freedom in early 2010 to the Southern Command area of focus and Pacific Command AOR ahead of her originally scheduled maiden deployment. Every aspect of the littoral combat ship and program is new, from the operational concepts, the crew training and certification, to the support and sustainment. LCS will be a key component of the 21st century Navy. The early deployment of LCS 1 is a tremendous opportunity to begin the essential integration of the littoral combat ship into the fleet. The lessons that the Navy is learning from accelerating the deployment will inform the larger LCS Fleet Integration Strategy.

Afloat, ashore, or in the air, aboard ships new and old, large and small, the U.S. Navy covered the oceans as a global force for good.

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