Navy Reserve Sailors from Navy Reserve Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two (NR LCSRON 2) made history by supporting overseas planned maintenance availabilities (PMAV) with Maintenance Execution Teams during the first-ever deployment of a littoral combat ship to U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet. More than two dozen Reserve Sailors from Reserve Maintenance Execution Teams (RMET) traveled overseas to conduct maintenance for USS Sioux City (LCS 11).
Implementing METs is a key initiative for Commander, Naval Surface Forces. METs provide Sailor-centric teams in forward locations performing maintenance during deployed operations. These teams provide specialized assistance from Sailors on station, reducing the need for contractors to conduct maintenance and repairs.
In line with Chief of the Navy Reserve’s 2022 Fighting Instructions, RMET Sailors train frequently aboard Freedom-variant littoral combat ships in Mayport, FL to achieve Maintenance and Material Management (3M) and Damage Control (DC) qualifications. Sailors assigned to NR LCSRON Two’s six RMET detachments provide homeport expeditionary maintenance as well as antiterrorism/force protection support to LCSRON Two’s growing fleet of ships.
“Overall, our integration with the AMET was excellent,” said Senior Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Neil Prowse, NR LCSRON 2’s officer-in-charge for the first PMAV. “There was a lot of experience used from both components to ensure this mission would be successful.”
In Souda Bay, the blended METs performed over 660 hours of maintenance, completing more than 500 maintenance requirements, both preventative and corrective. The required tasks completed by the MET equated to roughly 95 percent of the Sailor-assigned items and were critical to Sioux City getting underway on time and in shape for its planned transit to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AO).
Once the ship arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet AO, RMET Sailors deployed to support Sioux City’s second PMAV in Bahrain. When operational tasking delayed the ship’s planned arrival in port, RMET Sailors dynamically reoriented. By proactively engaging Bahrain port operations and directly with ships on the waterfront, RMET Sailors found meaningful employment by supporting USS Devastator (MCM 6) while waiting for Sioux City’s arrival. In total, they provided nearly 500 hours of maintenance support to Devastator and completed 213 equipment validations. Once Sioux City arrived, RMETs completed over 200 additional hours of maintenance requirements.
“Our teams, Reserve and Active Sailors working side-by-side, got Sioux City where every warship belongs and kept it there,” said Capt. Dave Rewkowski the commander of NR LCSRON Two. “I’m incredibly proud of what our Sailors are doing. We’re delivering presence.”
The success of these overseas PMAVs and the unexpected events in U.S. 5th Fleet highlight the capability of reserve Sailors to conduct expeditionary maintenance on multiple platforms. CDR Steven “Scott” Whitworth, Commanding Officer of USS Sioux City Blue Crew, noted, “Bottom line, the Reserve Component impact to our PMAVs since being deployed in the C5F and C6F AoRs has been invaluable. In the future, I see both [Active and Reserve Component] METs playing a much larger role in supporting Freedom Variant LCS on deployment and easing or eliminating the need for contract-based maintenance.”
Navy Reserve Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (NR LCSRON) Two is headquartered in Mayport, Florida with Reserve Maintenance Execution Teams (RMET) in Atlanta, Mayport, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, and subordinate detachments in Great Lakes, Michigan New York City, and Tampa, Florida.
Rear Adm. Richard S. Lofgren serves as the Acting Chief of Navy Reserve and Acting Commander, Navy Reserve Force. In this role, he provides strategic leadership and oversight for Navy Reserve personnel and operations worldwide, supporting the readiness and integration of Reserve forces across the fleet. A Surface Warfare Officer, Rear Adm. Lofgren brings extensive operational and command experience across maritime expeditionary, coastal riverine, and surface warfare missions, including service in senior leadership roles supporting U.S. naval operations in multiple geographic combatant commands. His career reflects a sustained commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and the effective employment of Navy Reserve forces in support of national security objectives.
Rear Adm. Luke Frost is a Surface Warfare Officer with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across the fleet. He has served in senior command roles at sea and ashore, including command of major surface combatants and amphibious forces operating throughout the Central Command and Indo-Pacific areas of responsibility. As a Flag Officer, Rear Adm. Frost served as Director, Reserve Warfare (OPNAV N0959) on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, where he provided oversight and strategic guidance for Reserve force integration and readiness. His career reflects a deep commitment to warfighting excellence, joint operations, and the effective employment of naval forces in support of U.S. national security objectives.
Rear Admiral John Saccomando is a Naval Aviator with extensive operational, command, and strategic leadership experience across both active and reserve components. He has served in multiple senior command and flag assignments supporting naval aviation, expeditionary operations, and installation readiness, including leadership roles within U.S. Fleet Forces and Naval Air Forces Atlantic. A combat-experienced aviator, Rear Adm. Saccomando brings deep expertise in joint operations, force integration, and operational readiness, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing naval capabilities and supporting U.S. national security objectives worldwide.
Rear Adm. Greg Emery is a Navy Reserve flag officer with extensive leadership experience across naval oceanography, intelligence, and information warfare. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he has served in a wide range of operational, command, and staff assignments supporting global naval and joint operations, including senior leadership roles within Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Rear Adm. Emery brings deep expertise in intelligence integration, operational support, and information warfare, reflecting a sustained commitment to advancing decision advantage and mission readiness across the fleet.
Force Master Chief Nicole C. Rios serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Navy Reserve, advising on the readiness, welfare, and professional development of approximately 59,000 Reserve Component Sailors supporting Navy, Marine Corps, and joint operations worldwide. A seasoned Command Master Chief, she brings extensive experience across aviation, expeditionary, and information warfare communities, with senior enlisted leadership assignments at the unit, regional, and force levels. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to Sailor advocacy, operational readiness, and the effective integration of Navy Reserve forces in support of national defense objectives.
Command Master Chief Lyons brings extensive operational and shore-based leadership experience across aviation, logistics, manpower, and readiness organizations within the Navy Reserve enterprise. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2016, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at Navy Operational Support Center Pearl Harbor, Navy Personnel Command, Maritime Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command. An Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is recognized for sustained excellence in leadership and readiness, earning multiple personal, joint, and unit awards throughout his career.
Command Master Chief Louvier enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997 and brings extensive aviation maintenance and readiness leadership experience across multiple Fleet Logistics, Strike Fighter, Helicopter, and Reserve aviation commands. Selected as a Command Master Chief in 2015, he has served in senior enlisted leadership roles at VR-56, Commander, Tactical Support Wing, Fleet Readiness Center Reserve Mid-West, and currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. An Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, he is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and multiple executive leadership programs and has earned numerous personal and unit awards for sustained excellence in leadership and mission readiness.
Master Chief Jerry E. Dotson was born in Garden Grove, California, and raised in Sacramento. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 29, 2002, and completed recruit training and Electrician’s Mate “A” School in Great Lakes, Illinois. His career spans operational, reserve, aviation, and senior enlisted leadership assignments, and he currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve.