U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Joe Cahill, commander, Naval Surface Forces and commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Austal USA’s West Coast waterfront repair and services facility in National City, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026.
While onsite, he engaged with specialists and technicians performing ship maintenance and thanked them for their continued efforts toward building combat readiness on the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24). Oakland is in the newly certified Dry Dock Independence for repairs. He also met with leadership to receive an update on the activities at the facility and discuss the value the dry dock brings to the defense maritime industry in the region.
“Our decisive combat power begins right here in the Foundry, with the Sailors and maritime and industrial workforce who are performing this vital repair effort to build the combat readiness of our warships,” said Cahill. “The dry dock capabilities of our partners here in San Diego enables us to build and sustain our combat readiness in the Foundry.”
Oakland is the first U.S. Navy warship to undergo maintenance and repairs in this dry dock.
Built in the Foundry, tempered in the Fleet and forged to Fight, the Surface Force integrates personnel, materiel and training to generate fully manned, combat-ready warships and cohesive teams for the Fleet who are ready on arrival to fight, win and sustain combat power.
This post was originally published on this site