Navy Reorganizes Surface Fleet System
Virginian-Pilot | April 18, 2007
NORFOLK -- The Navy rolled out a new organizational plan Tuesday to better track training, maintenance and readiness in the surface fleet.
The system - known as class squadrons - groups ships by types, such as destroyers or frigates, and allows the Navy to collect data common to each hull.
Atlantic Surface Fleet's commanding officer, Rear Adm. D.C. Curtis, expects the changes to reduce unnecessary training, find and fix maintenance problems earlier, and boost the fleet's ability to deploy quickly. The reorganization does not add personnel to the surface fleet.
"We needed a better process, a better way of doing business for the surface community," Curtis said Tuesday at Norfolk Naval Station.
Capt. Bill Valentine, commander of the new amphibious ship squadron, said the changes could mean higher readiness levels and more regular deployment schedules for sailors.
Before the reorganization, the Navy tracked and combined training and maintenance data across several different classes of ships. They collected plenty of information but sometimes overlooked trends in certain types of ships, Valentine said.
The Navy began creating a new staff for the class squadrons on destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious assault and dock ships in October, and it will formally establish operations in the next three months.
The process has already paid dividends, said Cmdr. Mike Hegarty, a surface fleet readiness officer. Engineers on a frigate discovered the regular failure of a fire pump seal and have identified a longer- lasting part as a replacement for other frigates, he said.
"It's not just saving money, it's making smart decisions," Hegarty said
