Dubuque Earns 2010 Safety Excellence Award

USS DUBUQUE, USCENTCOM, AT SEA

09.10.2010

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

By Petty Officer 1st Class David McKee

USS DUBUQUE, At Sea - USS Dubuque is one of 21 recipients of the 2010 Secretary of the Navy Safety Excellence Award for the amphibious class of warships.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus congratulated the commands who received the awards in a message released, Sept. 10.

"What you have accomplished in the last year is proof-positive of your 'mission first, safety always' command culture and your commitment to each other, safety excellence, the nation, and the advent of the Department of the Navy as a world class safety organization," Mabus said.

According to Dubuque's safety officer, Lt. Cmdr. Doyle Flannery, there isn't anything groundbreaking about how the ship's crew does business.

"Safety is an all-hands process and we use all our tools effectively to do everything we do safely," Flannery said. "We have safety observers on station for all evolutions and having leadership involved goes a long way in maintaining safety."

Recipients have the right to fly the SECNAV Safety Excellence flag for one year.

The Safety Excellence Award was established in 2002 by the Honorable Gordon R. England, who served twice as SECNAV. It is the Department of the Navy's premier tribute to commands and programs that promote the safety of sailors, Marines and civilians, and protect aircraft, ships and facilities from mishaps.

Earlier this year, Dubuque also earned the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for the fourth consecutive year.

Dubuque is part of Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, under the command of Amphibious Squadron 3. PEL ARG and the embarked Marines of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are on a regularly scheduled deployment to the region in support of ongoing maritime security operations, and serve as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.

• Date Taken: 09.10.2010
• Date Posted: 09.27.2010 09:17
• Story ID: 57065
• Location: USS DUBUQUE, USCENTCOM, AT SEA