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USFF and PACFLT Sign Damage Control Charter

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS130425-04
4/25/2013

By U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va.-- (April 25, 2013) (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) signed an Executive Agent for Damage Control Charter April 16.

The charter outlines the objectives and establishes the organization to support USFF as the Navy's executive agent for damage control - and ultimately the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on all damage control matters.

The CNO, Adm. Jonathan Greenert, made the decision in December to appoint an executive agent based on lessons learned from the fire that occurred last year aboard USS Miami (SSN 755).

The charter also calls for the expansion of the current Miami fire lessons learned oversight board into a Damage Control Board of Directors (DCBOD). This board will act as the principal damage control review authority for damage control related issues as well as the actions being implemented as a result of the lessons learned from the Miami fire.

As the executive agent for damage control, USFF will also head an advisory group on all damage control matters. In coordination with Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CPF), USFF will oversee changes to doctrine, training and equipment that result from Class A, B, and C mishaps, safety investigation boards, and Judge Advocate General (JAGMAN) Investigations.

'Safety underpins all that we do,' said USFF Commander Adm. Bill Gortney. 'Anytime we have an incident like the Miami fire, there are a number of things we can learn. We are a learning organization and the establishment of this board is a major example of how we're taking those lessons and incorporating them into how we operate.'

USFF will also ensure damage control improvements and modernization are properly identified and prioritized in the planning, programming and requirements process.

Following the fire aboard Miami in May 2012, a fire review panel was established to conduct a comprehensive examination of the incident and make recommendations on how to increase firefighting and damage control readiness.

In the message, Gortney states that the existing working groups for emergency planning/casualty drill, industrial processes, firefighting processes, and technology improvement will be maintained while a new shipboard damage control working group will be established.

Additionally, the new shipboard damage control working group will capture the damage control lessons learned and any recommendations for improvements from all mishap investigations, safety investigation boards, JAGMAN investigations and modernization proposals. The group will then develop implementation plans, and provide actionable recommendations to the DCBOD.

Gortney adds that a Fleet Damage Control Integration Team will be established to function as the fleet commander's damage control oversight and management team who tracks implementation of damage control action items and providing regular updates to Gortney and Adm. Cecil Haney, his PACFLT counterpart.

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/clf/.