Speaking with the Aviation Maintenance Master Chief mess alongside CNAF and CNAL at @nas_oceana and addressing Navy, civic, and business leaders at @HRVA_Alliance's Ironclad Summit were two phenomenal opportunities to discuss two of my Lines of Effort: taking care of Sailors and expanding the maritime industrial base.

Royce Williams earned his wings in 1945. At 101, the Medal of Honor recipient returned to Pensacola to encourage 29 students working toward theirs. “You have to want it,” he told them. He’s still helping the next generation get there.

WATCH Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle participate in the U.S. Navy Memorial's SITREP Speaker Series TODAY from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, where he'll discuss the state of the Navy, the challenges facing the Fleet, and the priorities guiding the Navy today and into the future:

Meet the Reserve Sailors standing up the Navy Innovation Unit. Commercial builders and technical leaders will join them through direct commissions. I’m excited about this team. Their job is to get useful technology into our warfighters’ hands faster.

Talk about a fine Navy day! Today, the Honorable Michael P. Duffey, Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, and I welcomed home and presented the Presidential Unit Citation to USS McFaul after 332 days at sea, celebrated our $1.7 billion unaccompanied housing Hunt contract closure with Hampton Roads civic leaders, spent time with Norfolk Public School students at a @NAV_STA_NORFOLK STEM day, and had lunch with USS San Antonio warriors.

In Remembrance of Beirut #OTD# in 1983, a terrorist bombing at the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, claimed the lives of 241 U.S. service members, including 220 Marines, serving as part of the Multinational Force in Lebanon. On October 23, a suicide bomber drove a truck laden with explosives into the barracks where U.S. Marines were stationed on a peacekeeping mission. The attack devastated the building and became one of the deadliest days in Marine Corps History. The Marines in Beirut were deployed to help restore peace and stability amid escalating violence in Lebanon. Despite the dangers they faced, they carried out their mission with courage, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to one another. The Beirut bombing left a lasting mark on the #MarineCorps# and the nation. We remember the lost lives, honor the wounded and survivors, and recognize the families and loved ones who continue to carry the weight of that day. Their sacrifice remains woven into the legacy of every #Marine# who has answered the call to serve. Today, we pause to remember the 241 American service members who never made it home and honor their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty. They came in peace. They will never be forgotten. Semper Fidelis #BeirutBombing# #NeverForgotten# #SemperFi# #RememberTheFallen#

The bravery of those who fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II is the foundation upon which our Navy stands. Today, we honor the legacy and valor of those courageous warfighters who participated in the largest naval battle in history.

The Framers of the Constitution understood our freedom depended on our strength at sea. That is why generations of Sailors have answered the call to protect our nation on the deck, beneath the waves, and in the skies above. 251 years. One team. One fight. 🇺🇸⚓

#OTD# 247 years ago, Capt. John Paul Jones refused to surrender. Outgunned, burning and taking on water, Jones famously replied, “I have not yet begun to fight!” These immortal words and the resolve behind them helped define America's naval tradition that endures to this day.

⚓📰 #USNAVY# UPDATE: USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) Ready for Fleet Tasking WASHINGTON - The Navy has completed shakedown trials on the USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) and the submarine is ready for Fleet tasking. As a result of the superb material condition and combat readiness, the Navy waived the post-shakedown availability of USS Massachusetts (SSN 798). This decision was made possible by the operational quality of the ship during trials and the urgency to deliver warfighting capability to the Fleet. “USS Massachusetts is ready to fight, and that is exactly where we need her, in the hands of our Sailors and available to the Fleet,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. “Waiving this availability reflects the exceptional condition of the ship and our determination to deliver combat-ready capability faster. It also allows our shipbuilding workforce to focus its talent and capacity where we need it most, building the next generation of submarines our nation requires.”

December 7, 1941: A date which will live in infamy. 84 years ago, the attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into World War II, forever changing our Navy and nation.  Today we remember the heroism and sacrifice of those lost on that fateful day. Their courage echoes across generations. #PearlHarborRemembranceDay# #NeverForget#