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Video: Team Hanscom Today Features Air Force Couple Giving Back to Community
HANSCOM AFB, Massachusetts, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Air Force Hanscom Air Force Base issued the following news on Dec. 16, 2025:
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Video: Team Hanscom Today features Air Force couple giving back to community
By Rick Berry, 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The latest episode of Team Hanscom Today shines a light on a local Air Force couple's support for military families, showcases a key division powering the HAFB acquisition mission, and celebrates the Trees for Soldiers event.
Senior Airmen Jacob Haseker, Electronic Systems staff support team, and Melissa
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HANSCOM AFB, Massachusetts, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Air Force Hanscom Air Force Base issued the following news on Dec. 16, 2025:
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Video: Team Hanscom Today features Air Force couple giving back to community
By Rick Berry, 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The latest episode of Team Hanscom Today shines a light on a local Air Force couple's support for military families, showcases a key division powering the HAFB acquisition mission, and celebrates the Trees for Soldiers event.
Senior Airmen Jacob Haseker, Electronic Systems staff support team, and MelissaHaseker, 66th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight technician, served as guest hosts for the episode.
"This week, we're highlighting a program that's especially meaningful to us," said Melissa Haseker during the weekly broadcast, referring to a free produce drive held outside the Hanscom Chapel.
The drive, held on the third Thursday of each month, is open to active duty, Guard, Reserve and retiree families.
"With support from the Bedford VA, we typically assist 75 to 100 families each month, distributing 400 to 500 pounds of produce," Melissa Haseker said.
The next distribution will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or while supplies last.
The latest episode also highlights the Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure Division within the Cyber and Networks Directorate.
The division oversees more than 100 information technology projects that support and defend the Air Force's global network infrastructure.
"HNI personnel play a critical role in developing and sustaining the information technology, network infrastructure, and defensive cyber capabilities necessary for war-winning operations," Jacob Haseker said.
The episode concluded with coverage of the annual Trees for Soldiers event held Dec. 11.
The event provided free Christmas trees and children's toys to active-duty, Guard, Reserve and veteran families.
Former Bruins players Bob Sweeney and Andrew Raycroft, along with "Blades," the Bruins' mascot, assisted with distribution.
"We want to thank all of our military personnel for what you do for us to keep us safe every year," Sweeney said during the event.
To view this or previous episodes of Team Hanscom Today, visit the Hanscom Air Force Base YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@TeamHanscom).
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Original text here: https://www.hanscom.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4361602/video-team-hanscom-today-features-air-force-couple-giving-back-to-community/
UN Command, Thailand Mark Final Resting of Two Korean War Veterans in Busan
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news:
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UN Command, Thailand Mark Final Resting of Two Korean War Veterans in Busan
BUSAN, South Korea -- The Embassy of Thailand hosted an interment ceremony Dec. 12 at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea to honor two Thai veterans who served under the United Nations Command during the Korean War: Reserve Sgt. Manoch Pummaneekorn of the Royal Thai Navy and Private Narong "Kae" Yeamniyom of the Royal Thai Army.
Reserve Sgt. Pummaneekorn served aboard HTMS Bangpakong from October 1950 to July 1951
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CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news:
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UN Command, Thailand Mark Final Resting of Two Korean War Veterans in Busan
BUSAN, South Korea -- The Embassy of Thailand hosted an interment ceremony Dec. 12 at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea to honor two Thai veterans who served under the United Nations Command during the Korean War: Reserve Sgt. Manoch Pummaneekorn of the Royal Thai Navy and Private Narong "Kae" Yeamniyom of the Royal Thai Army.
Reserve Sgt. Pummaneekorn served aboard HTMS Bangpakong from October 1950 to July 1951as a naval artillery station officer. His ship provided supporting fire along the eastern coast of North Korea, often under extreme winter conditions that left sailors without heat, light or drinking water. He passed away in 2021 at age 95. His family sought interment at UNMCK to honor his deep bond with Korea, and the request was approved Sept. 12, 2025.
Private Yeamniyom served in the 1st Infantry Battalion, 21st Regimental Combat Team, deploying in both the first and third Thai contingents. He fought in operations north and south of the 38th Parallel, including protecting the UNC withdrawal from Pyongyang and supporting operations in Uijeongbu. He died in 2017 at age 88. His family requested interment to reflect his lifelong pride in contributing to global peace and stability; approval was granted Sept. 12, 2025.
Senior Thai, ROK and UNC officials attended the ceremony, including Thai Ambassador Tanee Sangrat; Lee Nam Il, director general of the Busan Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; and Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay, UNC deputy commander. The families of both veterans participated in the interment, soil scattering, and wreath-laying rites.
The ceremony underscored Thailand's enduring contribution to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and the United Nations Command's commitment to honoring those who served. Officials emphasized that preserving these veterans' legacies strengthens today's multinational partnerships and reaffirms a shared commitment to peace.
The United Nations Command remains steadfast in honoring the legacy of those who served under its flag. Their sacrifice represents the highest ideals of service, and through remembrance, we strengthen alliances and shape a more secure future together.
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Original text here: https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4362050/un-command-thailand-mark-final-resting-of-two-korean-war-veterans-in-busan/
One of NASA's Key Cameras Orbiting Mars Takes 100,000th Image
PASADENA, California, Dec. 17 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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One of NASA's Key Cameras Orbiting Mars Takes 100,000th Image
Mesas and dunes stand out in the view snapped by HiRISE, one of the imagers aboard the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
After nearly 20 years at the Red Planet, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has snapped its 100,000th image of the surface with its HiRISE camera. Short for High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE is the instrument the mission relies on for high-resolution images of features ranging from
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PASADENA, California, Dec. 17 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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One of NASA's Key Cameras Orbiting Mars Takes 100,000th Image
Mesas and dunes stand out in the view snapped by HiRISE, one of the imagers aboard the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
After nearly 20 years at the Red Planet, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has snapped its 100,000th image of the surface with its HiRISE camera. Short for High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, HiRISE is the instrument the mission relies on for high-resolution images of features ranging fromimpact craters, sand dunes, and ice deposits to potential landing sites. Those images, in turn, help improve our understanding of Mars and prepare for NASA's future human missions there.
Captured Oct. 7, this milestone image from the spacecraft shows mesas and dunes within Syrtis Major, a region about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Jezero Crater, which NASA's Perseverance rover is exploring. Scientists are analyzing the image to better understand the source of windblown sand that gets trapped in the region's landscape, eventually forming dunes.
"HiRISE hasn't just discovered how different the Martian surface is from Earth, it's also shown us how that surface changes over time," said MRO's project scientist, Leslie Tamppari of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "We've seen dune fields marching along with the wind and avalanches careening down steep slopes."
The subject of the 100,000th image was recommended by a high school student through the HiWish site, where anyone can suggest parts of the planet to study. Team members at University of Arizona in Tucson, which operates the camera, also make 3D models of HiRISE imagery so that viewers can experience virtual flyover videos.
"Rapid data releases, as well as imaging targets suggested by the broader science community and public, have been a hallmark of HiRISE," said the camera's principal investigator, Shane Byrne of the University of Arizona in Tucson. "One hundred thousand images just like this one have made Mars more familiar and accessible for everyone."
More about MRO
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California manages MRO for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built MRO and supports its operations.
The University of Arizona in Tucson operates HiRISE, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., in Boulder, Colorado.
For more information, visit:
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/one-of-nasas-key-cameras-orbiting-mars-takes-100000th-image/
Member of Violent Third World Mob Gang Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio posted the following news release on Dec. 16, 2025:
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Member of violent Third World Mob gang sentenced to 17.5 years in prison
A Third World Mob (3WM) drug dealer was sentenced in federal court here today to 210 months in prison. Members of the gang were responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Teddy Asefa, 37, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in August 2024 less than a week before his jury trial was scheduled to commence. Asefa admitted to trafficking drugs and to committing
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio posted the following news release on Dec. 16, 2025:
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Member of violent Third World Mob gang sentenced to 17.5 years in prison
A Third World Mob (3WM) drug dealer was sentenced in federal court here today to 210 months in prison. Members of the gang were responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Teddy Asefa, 37, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in August 2024 less than a week before his jury trial was scheduled to commence. Asefa admitted to trafficking drugs and to committingwire fraud.
According to court documents, Asefa was part of the leadership of the gang. The Third World Mob dealt no less than 500 pounds of marijuana per month from 2015 through October 2022 with total profits of at least $94 million. The gang was subject to a years-long investigation by federal law enforcement.
Third World Mob members brought hundreds of pounds of marijuana into Ohio from other states like California and Georgia to sell in central Ohio. They used U-Haul trucks and rental cars to move the drugs. Coconspirators used rental houses or houses leased or owned in other individuals' names as "stash houses" or "trap houses" to facilitate the drug trafficking and to store significant amounts of cash from the drug proceeds.
For example, in August 2019, gang members possessed a suitcase with approximately $940,000 in cash in it in a house on Phlox Avenue in Blacklick.
Third World Mob leaders and members used violence and the threat of violence to maintain authority over their drug trafficking. Sentencing documents detail that multiple deaths had a nexus to the gang. One person who was killed was thought to owe them money. Another was a Third World Mob member murdered at a house on Reeb Avenue. Several people thought to be at the house the night of that murder were themselves murdered within a few months. Another Third World compatriot was murdered in a drug deal gone bad in front of a Third World Mob stash house on 12th Avenue.
Additionally, Asefa fraudulently obtained at least $16,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, claiming to work in customer service.
In total, seven members of the Third World Mob have been charged federally since 2021. Fellow member Menelik Solomon pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. Klegewerges Abate and Abubakarr Savage were convicted by a jury and found guilty on all counts in August 2024. Another defendant stood trial with Abate and Savage and was acquitted of the single obstruction of justice charge against him. Abate has since been sentenced to more than 25 years in prison and Savage was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. U.S. Attorney Gerace recognized the assistance from the Columbus, Whitehall and Tucson, Arizona, police departments and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/member-violent-third-world-mob-gang-sentenced-175-years-prison
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.86 Trillion in November
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.86 Trillion in November
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding reached $2.86 trillion as of November 2025. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $54.8 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.8 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 660,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the November issuance include:
* $52.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $2.4
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Ginnie Mae issued the following news release:
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Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio Reached $2.86 Trillion in November
Ginnie Mae's mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolio outstanding reached $2.86 trillion as of November 2025. In addition, Ginnie Mae issued $54.8 billion in total MBS, resulting in net portfolio growth of $20.8 billion. Ginnie Mae facilitated the pooling and securitization of more than 660,000 loans for first-time homebuyers year to date.
Key highlights from the November issuance include:
* $52.4 billion in Ginnie Mae II MBS.
* $2.4billion in Ginnie Mae I MBS, including $2.3 billion for multifamily housing loans.
* The pooling and securitization of loans for more than 154,000 American households, including over 56,000 first-time homebuyers.
For detailed information on monthly MBS issuance, unpaid principal balance, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) issuance, and a broader analysis of global market trends, visit Ginnie Mae Disclosure (https://www.ginniemae.gov/data_and_reports/reporting/Pages/monthly_issuance_reports.aspx).
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About Ginnie Mae
Ginnie Mae is a wholly government-owned corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Additional information about Ginnie Mae is available at www.ginniemae.gov and on X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Original text here: https://www.ginniemae.gov/newsroom/Pages/PressReleaseDispPage.aspx?ParamID=367
FDA Issues Warning Letter to Harbor Marine Product
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following warning letter to Harbor Marine Product Inc. from the Office of Compliance and Enforcement:
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Recipient: Joon Do Kim, Owner, Harbor Marine Product Inc., 5088 Fruitland Ave, Vernon, CA 90058-2715, United States, harbormarineproduct@gmail.com
Issuing Office: Office of Compliance and Enforcement, United States
WARNING LETTER
Re: CMS #710589
Dear Mr. Kim:
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your seafood processing facility and importer establishment,
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration issued the following warning letter to Harbor Marine Product Inc. from the Office of Compliance and Enforcement:
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Recipient: Joon Do Kim, Owner, Harbor Marine Product Inc., 5088 Fruitland Ave, Vernon, CA 90058-2715, United States, harbormarineproduct@gmail.com
Issuing Office: Office of Compliance and Enforcement, United States
WARNING LETTER
Re: CMS #710589
Dear Mr. Kim:
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your seafood processing facility and importer establishment,located at 5088 Fruitland Ave, Vernon, CA 90058-2715, from March 5, 2025, through March 27, 2025. During our inspection, FDA found evidence of serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 123 (21 CFR Part 123). In addition, FDA collected environmental samples (i.e., swabs) from various areas in your processing facility. FDA laboratory analyses of the environmental swabs found the presence of non-pathogenic Listeria spp. in (b)(4)% of the swabs collected at your facility.
Based on FDA's inspectional findings and analytical results for samples collected from your processing environment, we have determined that your raw, ready-to-eat (RTE) fish are adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) (21 U.S.C. Sec. 342(a)(4)) in that they have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health. Furthermore, in accordance with 21 CFR 123.6(g), failure of a processor of fish or fishery products to have and implement a HACCP plan that complies with 21 CFR 123.6 whenever a HACCP plan is necessary or otherwise operate in accordance with the requirements of Part 123, renders the fish or fishery products adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(4) of the Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 342(a)(4)).
In addition, as an importer of fish or fishery products, you must operate in accordance with the requirements of 21 CFR 123.12. In accordance with 21 CFR 123.12(d), there must be evidence that all fish and fishery products offered for entry into the United States have been processed under conditions that comply with 21 CFR Part 123. If assurances do not exist that the imported fish or fishery products have been processed under conditions equivalent to those required of domestic processors under 21 CFR Part 123, the fish or fishery products will appear to be adulterated under section 402(a)(4) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 342(a)(4), and may be denied entry into the United States.
You may find the Act and further information about FDA's regulations through links in FDA's home page at http://www.fda.gov.
At the conclusion of the inspection, the FDA investigator issued your facility a Form FDA 483 (FDA-483), Inspectional Observations. You provided responses to the FDA-483 on April 18, 2025, and May 2, 2025, which included a description of corrective actions taken by your firm. After reviewing the inspectional findings and your firm's response, we are issuing this letter to advise you of FDA's concerns and to provide detailed information describing the findings at your facility. We also address your response below.
Environmental Testing of Your Facility
Our inspection included the collection of environmental swabs (FDA Sample #1253177) from various areas in your processing facility on March 10, 2025, during the production of raw, RTE salmon (raw, RTE tuna was previously processed on the same day). FDA laboratory analysis found that (b)(4) of the (b)(4) environmental swabs were positive for non-pathogenic Listeria spp., including Listeria innocua, Listeria welshimeri, and Listeria grayi. Of the (b)(4) positive swabs, (b)(4)% ((b)(4) swabs) were collected from food contact surfaces in areas where raw, RTE salmon and tuna are processed. The positive food contact surfaces included:
* cutting board surface on fillet tables where raw, RTE salmon was touching;
* surfaces of tools, including pliers and knives, used to directly cut and manipulate raw, RTE salmon;
* table dividers, edges, and corners where raw, RTE tuna and salmon contacts;
* blade and handle of knife in ice bed used to cut raw, RTE tuna;
* water drain hole at the end of table where raw, RTE salmon is handled;
* cutting board surface of corner fillet table (where condensate was observed dripping from the air conditioning unit) where raw, RTE tuna and salmon contacts.
The high level of non-pathogenic Listeria spp. in your facility demonstrates your sanitation procedures have been inadequate to effectively control microbiological contamination in your facility. Appropriate control of Listeria spp. in a food processing environment requires knowledge of the unique characteristics of the organism and implementation of the hygienic practices necessary to control this microbe. Once Listeria spp. is established in a production area, personnel or equipment can facilitate the microbe's movement and contamination of food-contact surfaces and finished product. It is essential to identify the harborage sites in the food processing plant and equipment where this organism is able to grow and survive, and to apply controls or take corrective actions as necessary to eradicate the organism by rendering these areas unable to support the survival and growth of the organism and to prevent the organism from being re-established in such sites.
The presence of non-pathogenic Listeria spp. indicates insanitary conditions suitable for the survival and growth of the pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). If L. monocytogenes is introduced into a food processing facility without proper controls, it can proliferate in the food processing environment where it may contaminate food. Consuming food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can lead to a severe, sometimes life-threatening illness called listeriosis, a foodborne illness which is a major public health concern due to the severity of the disease, its high case-fatality rate, long incubation time, and tendency to affect individuals with underlying conditions.
We acknowledge your responses dated April 18, 2025, and May 2, 2025, and find them to be inadequate. Your corrective actions do not fully address the Listeria spp. findings in your facility, and your responses did not include corrective actions such as a procedure for environmental monitoring, any indication you are performing environmental swabbing (including to verify intensified cleaning and sanitation), and a root cause analysis. The root cause analysis should evaluate potential sources and explain the basis for their elimination. If the likely source of contamination cannot be identified, then the root cause analysis should thoroughly investigate and evaluate all potential sources, implemented controls, and problems. As a processor of raw, ready-to-eat (RTE) fish, you are responsible for ensuring that you have Listeria controls in your facility to prevent L. monocytogenes from contaminating your products.
Seafood HACCP (21 CFR Part 123)
Additionally, numerous serious insanitary conditions and practices were observed in your facility during your most recent FDA inspection. The following are concerning because they are potential pathways for the contamination of your raw, RTE products:
1. You must monitor sanitation conditions and practices during processing with sufficient frequency to ensure conformance with the conditions and practices specified in 21 CFR Part 117 Subpart B (current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements) that are both appropriate to the plant and the food being processed and relate to the items listed in 21 CFR 123.11(b). However, your firm did not monitor sanitation conditions and practices during processing with sufficient frequency to ensure compliance with CGMP requirements, as evidenced by the following serious observations during the FDA inspection.
a. You did not conduct all food manufacturing, processing, packing, and holding under conditions and controls necessary to minimize the potential growth of microorganisms, contamination of food, and deterioration of food, as required by 21 CFR 117.80(c)(2). This is related to the prevention of cross-contamination from insanitary objects to food, food packaging material, and other food contact surfaces, including utensils, gloves, and outer garments, and from raw product to cooked product, as required by 21 CFR 123.11(b)(3).
i. On March 6 and March 10, 2025, an employee was observed dropping the hose head onto the floor, the hose was observed falling from the anchor point onto the floor, and employees were observed picking the hose and hose head off the floor with fabric gloved hand and returning to handle raw, RTE salmon without sanitizing the hose head or gloved hand. The hose was used constantly during production to spray down the salmon and food contact surfaces. Hose heads were also observed to be hanging from blue bins used for fish waste that are emptied into larger bins for lobster feed and are returned to processing areas without cleaning and sanitizing. FDA environmental swab subsample #(b)(4) was collected from a hose handle by a packing table. Employees touch and hang the hose handle on blue waste bins before directly handling raw, RTE salmon. Subsample #(b)(4) was found positive for L. innocua. FDA environmental swab subsample #(b)(4), collected from cracked top edge of blue waste bin, was found positive for L. innocua.
ii. On March 6 and March 10, 2025, the drain by descaler operations had pooling water in at least a five-foot radius, into the surrounding area, and the water was over an inch high. Drains can be contaminated with pathogens and pooling water around drains can be a source of splash that can spread the contamination around processing areas and potentially contaminate food and food contact surfaces. Carts of boxed product were observed being pushed through the water, a wooden pallet was soaked in the water, and cases of salmon were stored directly on the floor. FDA environmental swab subsample #(b)(4), collected from a wheel of a cart containing boxes of product, was found positive for L. innocua. Additionally, employees were observed using fabric-gloved hands to intermittently grab and pull a line attached to the drain grate submerged in the pooling water, in order to release water; the employees returned to handling raw, RTE salmon without changing, washing, or sanitizing their hands/gloves. This line attached to the drain gate was the site for FDA environmental swab subsample #(b)(4), which was found to be positive for L. innocua. Furthermore, your pre-op and post-op sanitation monitoring record on both days when these observations were made noted the "hands, gloves, equipment and utensils washed/sanitized after contact with unsanitary objects" as acceptable, when it was not acceptable.
iii. On March 6, 2025, Styrofoam cases used to hold fish, including exposed raw, RTE salmon, were stored on the floor in the (b)(4) area in contact with run-off water from (b)(4) and in contact with a drain. (b)(4) fish and (b)(4) fish are placed back into the Styrofoam cases before (b)(4), and the cases are stacked after they have been on the floor. Furthermore, the extra cases and lids are stored overnight outside behind the trash bin for use in the morning as shipping containers. Styrofoam is a material that consists of fused foam beads which can provide channels for water and harborages for pathogens.
iv. On March 6, 2025, a (b)(4) tool, used to (b)(4) raw, RTE salmon, was hanging and touching a wet wooden pallet on the floor. The (b)(4) was not sanitized prior to use. Your HACCP Coordinator stated (b)(4).
v. On March 6, 2025, overspray and mist from an employee hosing down a wooden pallet was observed while an immediately adjacent table was used for cutting and (b)(4) raw, RTE salmon. Overspray and mist from insanitary objects (e.g., wooden pallet) can transport and spread bacterial pathogens to contaminate adjacent food and food contact surfaces.
b. You did not prevent drip or condensate from fixtures, ducts and pipes from contaminating food, food-contact surfaces, or food-packaging materials, as required by 21 CFR 117.20(b)(4). This is related to the protection of food, food packaging material, and food contact surfaces from adulteration with condensate, as required by 21 CFR 123.11(b)(5).
On March 6 and March 10, 2025, condensate was dripping onto a filleting table during the processing of raw, RTE salmon and during sanitation, respectively. Additionally, your pre-op and post-op sanitation monitoring records on both days these observations were made noted the "(b)(4)" as acceptable when it was not acceptable. FDA environmental swab subsample #(b)(4) collected from the food contact surface of the filleting table was positive for L. grayi.
2. You must conduct or have conducted for you a hazard analysis to determine whether there are food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur for each kind of fish and fishery product you produce and have and implement a HACCP plan that lists the critical control points for each food safety hazard you identified in your hazard analysis, to comply with 21 CFR 123.6(a) and (c)(2). A critical control point is defined in 21 CFR 123.3(b) as a "point, step, or procedure in a food process at which control can be applied, and a food safety hazard can as a result be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to acceptable levels." However, your HACCP plans for scombroid and non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE do not list critical control points to control cumulative time and temperature exposures for the unrefrigerated processing during (b)(4) to control pathogen growth and toxin formation and (for scombroid fish) histamine formation. These unrefrigerated processing steps were observed to occur at ambient air temperatures up to 57 F.
3. You must implement your written HACCP plan, to comply with 21 CFR 123.6(b). However, your firm did not implement the procedures at the following critical control points (CCP's) listed in your HACCP plans for scombroid and non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE. This is a repeat observation from the FDA inspection dated February 11 to February 12, 2020.
a. Your firm did not follow the monitoring procedure of continuously monitoring the cooler temperature with a data logger to ensure that the cooler temperature does not exceed (b)(4) F at the (b)(4) CCP, as stated in your HACCP plans for scombroid and non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE. In practice you only document the temperature twice per day around (b)(4) AM and (b)(4) PM by reading the non-continuous, digital thermometers. You do not have any continuous temperature recording devices for measuring cooler temperature.
b. Your HACCP plan for non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE identifies freezing as a control for parasites. In practice, you do not freeze any of your fresh fish.
c. Your HACCP plans for scombroid and non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE identify undeclared major food allergens as a hazard at the Finished Product Labeling CCP. Your critical limit states finished products labels must declare the presence of fish and shellfish, with a visual examination of labels in every container to be documented on a record of review of finished product labels. However, you did not have any CCP monitoring records and your finished product had no labels other than a logo/brand sticker.
d. You are not following your verification procedure of "(b)(4)" as stated at the (b)(4) CCP and (b)(4) CCP in your HACCP plans for scombroid and non-scombroid fish that are consumed as raw, RTE. In practice, you calibrate all thermometers in-house (b)(4) by comparing the temperatures to a handheld thermometer. In addition, you perform weekly accuracy checks with a requirement of (b)(4)F degrees, but you do not indicate a baseline temperature for which the range begins, and you only perform regular accuracy checks on (b)(4) out of the approximately (b)(4) thermometers your firm uses.
4. You must have and implement written verification procedures for ensuring that the fish and fishery product(s) you offer for import were processed in accordance with the seafood HACCP Regulation, to comply with 21 CFR 123.12(a)(2). You import fish such as salmon, halibut, shad, and flounder from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, and the Faroe Islands; however, you have no importer verification procedures, including no product specifications, and no affirmative step or records showing that the seafood products offered for import were processed in accordance with the seafood HACCP Regulation. This is a repeat observation made during previous FDA inspections in 2017 and 2020.
We reviewed your responses dated April 18, 2025, and May 2, 2025, and we are unable to assess their adequacy. Your responses described actions that you have taken, including repairs to the cooler unit, drain maintenance, employee training, revising standard sanitation operating procedures (SSOPs), revised SSOP monitoring, purchasing new continuous temperature recording devices, revising your HACCP plans, creating new procedures, obtaining importer verification documentation for foreign suppliers, and training employees. However, your corrective actions did not include adequate supporting documentation as evidence of implementation of your actions such as revised SSOPs, copies of SSOPs monitoring records for five consecutive processing days following implementation of corrective actions, employee training records, records for cooler unit repairs and drain maintenance, revised HACCP plans, description and process flow diagram that include your new processing steps, and copies of your CCP monitoring records for five processing days to demonstrate implementation. We encourage you to submit supporting documentation.
The violations cited in this letter are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of violations that may exist at your facility or in connection with your products. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure that your facility complies with all requirements of federal law, including applicable FDA regulations.
This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. Failure to adequately address this matter may result in legal action by the FDA including, without limitation, seizure, injunction, or administrative action for suspension of food facility registration if criteria and conditions warrant.
Please notify FDA in writing within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of this letter as to the specific steps you have taken to address these violations, including an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as providing copies of related documents. If you cannot complete all corrections within fifteen (15) days, state the reason for the delay and the time frame within which you will do so. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration.
Please send your reply via email to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Attention: Michael Dominick, Compliance Officer at Michael.Dominick@fda.hhs.gov. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Mr. Dominick at (301) 837-4300 or to the email address listed above. Please include reference #710589 on all submission documents and in the subject line of any email correspondence to the agency.
Sincerely,
/s/ Maria Knirk, J.D., MBA, Acting Director, Office of Enforcement, Office of Compliance and Enforcement, Human Foods Program
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Original text here: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/harbor-marine-product-inc-710589-11282025
Eyes of the Pacific: Allied ISR strengthens deterrence at Kadena Air Base
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news:
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Eyes of the Pacific: Allied ISR strengthens deterrence at Kadena Air Base
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Information is power, and from Kadena Air Base, allied intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance forces deliver it around the clock.
In a region where distance defines every mission, information dominance serves as the cornerstone of deterrence. Kadena Air Base stands as the forward hub for joint and allied ISR operations that preserve stability, reassure partners and ensure U.S. forces remain
... Show Full Article
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii, Dec. 17 -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued the following news:
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Eyes of the Pacific: Allied ISR strengthens deterrence at Kadena Air Base
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Information is power, and from Kadena Air Base, allied intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance forces deliver it around the clock.
In a region where distance defines every mission, information dominance serves as the cornerstone of deterrence. Kadena Air Base stands as the forward hub for joint and allied ISR operations that preserve stability, reassure partners and ensure U.S. forces remainready to respond at a moment's notice.
Every day, a formidable mix of aircraft the U.S. Air Force's RC-135 Rivet Joint, E-3 Sentry and MQ-9 Reaper; the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton; U.S. Marine Corps MQ-9 Reapers; and allied Royal New Zealand and Royal Australian Air Force crews work together to maintain a constant, shared operational picture across the Indo-Pacific.
Together, these joint and allied ISR teams form one of the most robust intelligence networks in the Pacific: a coalition that sees first, understands first and acts first. Their unified vigilance ensures any challenge is met with speed, precision and strength.
"The 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron delivers multi-domain situational awareness that is critical to all operational decisions in the Indo-Pacific," said Lt. Col. Michael Ellsworth, 82 ERS commander. "Our RC-135 Rivet Joint aircrew partner with Kadena-based ISR platforms to provide clarity that allows commanders to anticipate, not react."
Lt. Col. Sean Batson, commander of the 390th Intelligence Squadron, added, "Rivet Joint cryptologic and special signals crews provide unmatched adversary insight to Kadena and national leadership."
The Air Force's ISR presence at Kadena is a cornerstone of regional operations. The Rivet Joint intercepts and analyzes signals from afar, while E-3 Sentry aircraft operated by Airmen of the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron integrate that data into the broader command and control network, enabling commanders to synchronize joint and allied forces and maintain real-time battlespace awareness.
Leading the maritime domain awareness mission, the U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidons, including the currently deployed Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 "Skinny Dragons," conduct anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance and reconnaissance across key sea lanes. Royal New Zealand Air Force crews augment these operations, strengthening interoperability and expanding coalition maritime reach.
"Every sortie we fly adds to the shared picture," said Cmdr. Sasha Frankhouser, commanding officer of VP-4. "Operating from Kadena alongside our Air Force partners ensures no vessel or aircraft goes unseen."
Supporting those operations, the Navy's MQ-4C Triton provides persistent, high-altitude surveillance across the maritime domain. Capable of covering millions of square miles per flight, the Triton connects commanders with real-time intelligence across the world's largest ocean, transforming information into action.
Meanwhile, Air Force and Marine Corps MQ-9 Reapers extend that vigilance day and night. The 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 operate side-by-side to conduct continuous reconnaissance missions with the Japan Ministry of Defense, ensuring full visibility across key approaches to Japan and the First Island Chain.
"The MQ-9 brings persistence; 24 hours a day, seven days a week there are Reapers overhead gathering intelligence and giving commanders the clarity to act with precision," said Lt. Col. Christopher Saltares, 319th ERS commander. "Every mission sharpens readiness and reminds potential adversaries that we're always watching."
These integrated ISR operations linking U.S., Japanese and allied partners create a seamless network that amplifies awareness and ensures the region's most capable forces operate as one.
"Interoperability is deterrence," Frankhouser added. "We join together with like-minded Indo-Pacific allies and partners in ways that strengthen peace and security across the region. Our readiness is never in doubt."
From the Rivet Joint scanning the horizon, to the E-3 Sentry coordinating air operations, the P-8 Poseidons and MQ-4C Tritons patrolling maritime lanes, and the Air Force and Marine Corps MQ-9 Reapers maintaining constant watch Kadena Air Base remains the eyes of the Pacific, projecting vigilance, coordination and strength across the region
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Original text here: https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4360979/eyes-of-the-pacific-allied-isr-strengthens-deterrence-at-kadena-air-base/
