Gilbert (Skip) Mackenna

Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare San Diego, also known as Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center (FASWTC), was established in 1960 to enhance the United States Navy’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities during the Cold War. Located on Point Loma in San Diego, California, the center provided specialized training for Navy personnel in detecting, tracking, and neutralizing enemy submarines. Over the decades, FASWTC adapted to advancements in submarine and ASW technologies, incorporating state-of-the-art simulators and tactics into its curriculum. The training center continues to serve as a vital hub for ASW education, supporting fleet readiness and undersea warfare dominance for the U.S. Navy and its allies.

The 14th Naval District was established in 1916, with its headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to oversee U.S. Navy operations across the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding Pacific territories. Its strategic location made it central to American naval defense and logistics in the Pacific, particularly during World War II. On December 7, 1941, the 14th Naval District’s jurisdiction included Pearl Harbor, the site of the infamous Japanese attack that drew the United States into the war. Throughout the conflict, the district played a vital role in coordinating repairs, logistics, and defense for the Pacific Fleet, supporting key operations until the war’s end.