US President Donald Trump leaves after announcing the US Navy’s new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. President Donald Trump on December 22 announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named after himself — an honor usually reserved for US leaders who have left office. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), salutes side boys during the USFFC assumption of command ceremony in the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Knight/Released)
Adm. Karl Thomas, the new commander of USFFC, previously served as deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence.
Adm. Daryl Caudle salutes the sideboys during a U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) Relinquishment of Command ceremony aboard Naval Station Norfolk, August 6, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Knight/Released)
Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), utilizes the 1MC announcement system from the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) to address the crew during a ship visit, Aug. 13, 2024. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan T. Beard)
Lt. Elliot Reed, right, assigned to Air Department aboard the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), signals to a Carrier Air Wing 8 F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 87, as it launches from the flight deck, July 14, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tajh Payne)
"Without a replacement for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler, the Navy will be forced to retrofit 4th generation aircraft and increase procurement of 5th generation…
Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), utilizes the 1MC announcement system from the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) to address the crew during a ship visit, Aug. 13, 2024. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan T. Beard)
The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) conducts an underway replenishment with USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) in the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 5, 2021 during Large Scale Exercise. (Photo by Mark Perdue)
The next iteration of the biennial event will loop in nine maritime operations centers, six carrier strike groups, three amphibious ready groups, 25 ships and submarines, more…
