Matthew Hipple

Lieutenant Commander Hipple is an active-duty surface warfare officer, former LCS combat systems officer and operations officer, and former PC executive officer.

Articles by Matthew Hipple

U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians and maritime EOD technicians from the Royal Netherlands Navy conduct floating mine response drills in the Baltic Sea in June. Instead of struggling to unilaterally produce the knowledge and capabilities necessary to address mine threats, the U.S. Navy should look to successful allied programs, such as the Franco-British Maritime Mine Countermeasures Program.

Turn to Allies to Improve U.S. Mine Warfare

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Instead of struggling to unilaterally produce the capabilities necessary to address mine threats to U.S. Navy freedom of maneuver, the service should look to successful allied defense programs.

The USNS dry cargo ships Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4) and Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11) at a Unithai facility in Thailand. Unithai holds one of the 46 master ship repair agreements issued in the western Pacific that allow private shipyards to perform work on U.S. Military Sealift Command ships—but not commissioned U.S. warships.

Fat Leonard Still Weighs on WestPac Logistics

By Commander Grant Bryan and Lieutenant Commander Matt Hipple, U.S. Navy

November 2024

The scandal known by the name of its infamous protagonist—“Fat Leonard”—continues to exact a toll on the Navy.

An explosive ordnance disposal technician disposes of a training mine. The technology and ideas to revive U.S. mine warfare are available and plentiful, but the community lacks a command structure to cohesively advocate, support, and properly conduct mine warfare.

The Navy Must Fix Mine Warfare’s Institutional Structure

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

January 2024

The Navy needs a strong advocate for fleet mine warfare, one who operationally and programmatically unites the mine warfare mission.

The Textron Systems Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), shown here, can be used for mine sweeping and neutralization. At approximately 12 meters long, the CUSV would benefit from a new “green over red” light scheme to warn civilian mariners in its operating area.

Give Mine Countermeasure USVs a New Light and Shape

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

December 2023

MCM operations involving multiple USVs less than 12 meters long over a wide area leaves mariners visually unaware of the USVs’ restricted maneuvering status and surrounding danger.

Save Early Command

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

May 2021

By 2027, surface fleet early command may cease to exist in the Navy.

Matthew Hipple

Articles by Matthew Hipple

Turn to Allies to Improve U.S. Mine Warfare

Fat Leonard Still Weighs on WestPac Logistics

The Navy Must Fix Mine Warfare’s Institutional Structure

Give Mine Countermeasure USVs a New Light and Shape

Save Early Command

Quicklinks

Receive the Newsletter