Chief Operations Specialist Steven Lowe receives his combination cover during a chief petty officer pinning ceremony aboard future amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). This year marks the first time a chief pinning ceremony was held aboard the ship. America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa-class of amphibious assault ships. As the next generation "big-deck" amphibious assault ship, America is optimized for aviation, capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. The ship is scheduled to be ceremoniously commissioned Oct. 11 in San Francisco. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan A. Colon /Released)