USS Benfold DDG 65

05/01/2026

Join us 1000 today via https://www.facebook.com/share/1EBFDc5z8B/?mibextid=wwXIfr to watch the ceremony!
⚓️🦁🇺🇸

04/01/2026

10/05/2025

09/28/2025

Congratulations to Hull Technician Chief Petty Officer Zane Ferguson, Fire Controlman Chief Petty Officer Ryan Leard, and Retail Services Specialist Chief Petty Officer Kiman Lubong on earning the title of Chief Petty Officer! Your hard work, expertise, initiative, and character have been instrumental in ensuring Benfold’s continued success and we are excited to continue to see you advance to the next stage of your careers as United States Navy Chief Petty Officers! BRAVO ZULU CHIEFS! Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photos by LTJG Christian Dean)

09/27/2025

YOKOSUKA, JA (Sep 03, 2025) Cmdr. Rich Mayer, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), recognized the Japan Regional Maintenance Center (JRMC) Project Team critical to Benfold’s recent Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV). We recognized Anson Wong, Chris Woodson, Waymon Jackson, Devin Ortal, Masaki Hamamoto, Yoshikuni Kawada, MMCM Alexander Daniel, HTC Drew Bowen, Joseph Sheppard, and Travis Miwa. We also recognized Dan Weaver, Gary Payne, Daniel Demoss, Carlos Cortes, Alberto Lapid, Mangubat Regalado, Masahiro Oota, Nolan Young, Makoto Muramatsu, Takayuki Watanabe, and Taro Goto.

The Project Team has gone above and beyond to bolster Benfold’s engineering and combat systems equipment readiness. Their repairs efforts ensure Benfold can conduct operations in the Seventh Fleet area of operations. BRAVO ZULU and our deepest gratitude to Benfold’s JRMC Project Team! Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photos by LTJG Christian Dean)

09/22/2025

YOKOSUKA, JA Capt. Shockey Snyder, commander of Naval Surface Group Western Pacific (CNSG WP) and Cmdr. Rich Mayer, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), recognize Sailors and Officers for meritorious accomplishments.

We recognized Hull Technician Second Class Petty Officer Kwesi Brown, Cryptologic Technician Second Class Petty Officer Aaron Hernandez, and Sonar Technician Second Class Julius Villasenor Jr. for earning their Enlisted Surface Warfare Pins. BRAVO ZULU to you, Shipmates, for your hard work!

Congratulations to Hospital Corpsman Chief Petty Officer Zachary Boydsnee and Lieutenant Commander Aaron Van Driessche for earning Navy and Marine Corps Commendations Medals for their service onboard USS Benfold. BRAVO ZULU to you, Shipmates, as you transfer to your new assignments!

Congratulations to Electronics Technician Third Class Petty Officer Lawton Wong for earning his first set of crows. BRAVO ZULU to you, Shipmate, as you assume the title and responsibilities of a Petty Officer!

Congratulations to Quartermaster Seaman Trey Ewing and Gunners Mate Third Class Khristian Green for their selection as Lions of the Week! Keep it up, Shipmates! Your dedication and hard work are noticed and a model to all.

Congratulations to Quartermaster Second Class Breonna Mcclendon on earning the Good Conduct Fidelity Zeal Obedience Award. For faithfulness, zealous, and obedient naval service. Bravo Zulu Shipmate!

Capt. Snyder congratulated the crew of the USS Benfold for their hard work in restoring essential systems during the recent maintenance period, as well for the resilience and dedication to the mission at sea. Thank you for your visit, Sir!

09/22/2025

YOKOSUKA, JA (Sep 03, 2025) Cmdr. Richard Mayer, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65), recognizes Zone Manager (ZM) Takayuki Watanabe and Work Controls Manager Devin Ortal as Teammates of the Week.

During Benfold’s recent Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV), ZM Watanabe was essential in coordinating multiple ship-to-shop jobs, including generating documentation to support new work requests for in-shop calibration of critical Damage Control (DC) system gauges. Additionally, he was the driving force in utilizing a phase replacement plan to keep all three shipboard DC lockers at or above minimum equipment while cycling the correct number of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders from ship-to-shop for completion of required testing.

Work Control Manager Devin Ortal was the key to keeping work flowing smoothly! He coordinated Work Authorization Forms (WAFs) and maintained the production schedule. Devin was responsible for the production coordination of 146 work items equating to more than 390 continuous upkeep phases. Devin Ortal and Watanabe-san’s dedication to duty were in keeping with the BENFOLD’s motto -- Onward with Valor! (U.S. Navy Photos by ENS Jesse Dennis and LTJG Christian Dean)

09/13/2025

YOKOSUKA, JA. We had the honor this past month of hosting Rear Adm. Lincoln Reifsteck, Commander, Submarine Group 7, who visited to congratulate our Combat Acoustics Division and Benfold for professional achievement and going beyond the call of duty as lethal underwater acoustic warriors during our latest patrol in supporting SEVENTH Fleet tasking! Bravo Zulu Shipmates! Benfold is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s Largest DESRON and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Monica Walker.)

09/08/2025

Yokosuka, JA. Cmdr Mayer recognizes Zone Manager Hamamoto-San as the Teammate of the Week! Through creative, “outside-the-box” thinking, Zone Manager Hamamoto-San created a plan using a six day work week, one shift per day, that maximized shop efficiencies, and reduced the time in which Benfold’s vacuum-operated collecting and holding tank (VCHT) system was offline for maintenance. Hamamoto-San epitomizes the Benfold motto of “Onward with Valor!”