What was the “Fletcher Factor,” and how did it help get Arleigh Burke to Sea?
Fletcher Factor
Tag Archives: DDG51
Loss of a Shipmate – OS1 (SW) Charles Priebe
Charles Priebe passed on October 15, 2024, after a long and courageous fight with cancer.
Services will be held Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 5:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church on Chincoteague Island, VA.
1983 – 2024
1983
“Would it not be better to save lives than avenge them? …”
Strategic Defense Initiative
March 23, 1983
2024
U.S. Assets in Mediterranean Again Helped Defend Israel Against Iranian Missiles
Oct. 1, 2024 – C. Todd Lopez – DOD News
AEGIS BMD – SM-3 First Combat Use Coin Presented to Program Executive
Aegis BMD Program Executive, Mr. Paul Mann, was presented the Arleigh Burke commemorative coin on 30 Sept by CAPT (Ret) Rick Easton. The coin commemorates the ship’s April 2024 combat events in the Mediterranean Sea. The events marked the first use of Standard Missile 3 in combat to achieve successful intercepts of ballistic missiles in defense of our Allies.
The presentation was on the 20th anniversary of initial deployment of AEGIS BMD on 9-30-04.
Mr. Mann was a project engineer during successful preparation of the Arleigh Burke for Development and Operational Test.
Continue reading “AEGIS BMD – SM-3 First Combat Use Coin Presented to Program Executive”AEGIS BMD – 20 Years on Patrol
Ballistic Missile Defense System Initial Defensive Operations commenced on September 30, 2004, in response to National Security Presidential Directive 23.
Two destroyers, USS Curtis Wilbur and USS John S. McCain were outfitted with the long range surveillance and track capability, supporting defense of the homeland by providing radar track data to the Ground-Based Midcourse system.
Later in October 2004, the initial deployment SM-3 Block I missiles were transferred to the US Navy.
Since then, AEGIS BMD, hosted in AEGIS Cruisers and Destroyers has been on patrol, with continuously advancing levels of combat system performance supporting more capable missiles: SM-3 Blocks I, IA, IB, and IIA, and SM-6.
Continue reading “AEGIS BMD – 20 Years on Patrol”Loss of a Success Contributor – RADM Virgil Hill
Wait….?
What….?
Wasn’t OPTEVFOR the enemy, or at least our adversary?
AEGIS BMD – SM-3 Operational Use Coin
Loss of a Shipmate – CWO4 Nick Moore
The association has learned Nick Moore passed in Aug 2024 from complications of brain cancer. Nick was a plankowner – assistant CIC Officer.
Update: A celebration of Nick’s life will be held September 7, 2024 from 10:00 until 1:00 at Sturtevant Event Center, 5100 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, VA
Read more about Nick
Success Has Many Parents
Failure has none
The ship was recently in the news with the first combat employment of AEGIS BMD – SM-3. The history of AEGIS BMD – SM-3 is as interesting and convoluted (maybe more) than the development of the ship.
Some of those without whom AEGIS BMD – SM-3 would not have been on station, and maybe not even the ship – BMD provides a fresh relevancy to the AEGIS fleet.
| Ronald Reagan | George W. Bush | ADM Boorda | VADM Rempt | VADM Williams |
| RADM Meyer | Lt Gen Kadish | LTG O’Reilly | Don Mitchell | RADM (Sel) Grant |
Shipmate in the News
Mark Vandroff, CEO Fincantieri Marinette Marine, hosting Constellation Keel Authentication Ceremony, (Precomm Auxo)
USS Arleigh Burke Association 