Kaine Meets With Vice Chief Of Naval Operations To Discuss USS Mahan Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after meeting yesterday with Admiral Michelle Howard, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, to discuss the state of readiness in the U.S. Navy. They also spoke about the findings of a recently released report on the USS Mahan (DDG-72) shooting last year.

“I had a very meaningful discussion with Admiral Howard to talk about a number of matters impacting readiness across the Navy and how I can best support its mission through my service on the Senate Armed Services and Budget Committees. During our conversation, I voiced my concern over the findings of security lapses in the USS Mahan incident, ending in the tragic loss of Petty Officer Mayo. Admiral Howard was very forthcoming about the challenges identified in the report as well as the steps she has taken to strengthen the Navy’s civilian police force and her commitment to bolstering security at all Navy installations. I am confident her efforts will improve the security at our installations, and I will remain in close contact to ensure our servicemembers are safeguarded against future threats.”

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