Mike Burke

The Defense Information School (DINFOS) was established in 1964 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, consolidating various U.S. military public affairs and visual information training programs. Its mission is to provide joint-service training in public affairs, journalism, broadcasting, and multimedia for the Department of Defense, international military students, and U.S. government agencies. In 1995, DINFOS relocated to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, where it continues to evolve its curriculum to meet the modern information environment. Over the decades, DINFOS has trained tens of thousands of military communicators, playing a crucial role in shaping effective military messaging and information dissemination worldwide.

The Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) was established in 1942, evolving from earlier Navy administrative offices responsible for personnel matters. Its creation centralized the management of Navy manpower, including recruitment, assignments, promotions, and training, during World War II—a period of massive naval expansion. BUPERS has since played a critical role in shaping the careers of sailors and officers, adapting its policies through major conflicts such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, and into the modern era. Today, BUPERS continues to ensure the effective management and professional development of U.S. Navy personnel worldwide.

USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy, commissioned in April 1944. She served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, providing crucial naval gunfire support during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After being decommissioned post-war, Wisconsin was reactivated for service in the Korean War, again offering significant fire support for United Nations forces. Modernized in the 1980s, she saw action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 before being decommissioned for the final time in 1991 and later becoming a museum ship in Norfolk, Virginia.

USS CARL VINSON

U.S. Navy

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy on March 13, 1982. Named after Congressman Carl Vinson, a key supporter of American naval power, the ship has played a significant role in major operations, including Operation Desert Strike, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. The Vinson made global headlines in May 2011 as the vessel from which Osama bin Laden’s body was buried at sea after his death in a U.S. special operations raid. Throughout its service, the USS Carl Vinson has projected American naval air power worldwide, supporting both combat missions and humanitarian assistance.