Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) at Naval Station Rota to fulfill with the crew and acknowledge their accomplishments, Feb. 9, 2024.
Since arriving to Rota to hitch the Ahead Deployed Naval Forces Europe (FDNF-E) drive in June 2022, Paul Ignatius’ crew has accomplished two patrols within the U.S. Sixth Fleet space of operations, working alongside Allies and companions to make sure safety and stability all through European and African waters.
“The sailors of the united statesPaul Ignatius have proven distinctive talent and dedication in finishing up their duties since becoming a member of the FDNF-E drive lower than two years in the past,” stated Ishee. “Their onerous work and dedication have made a big impression on naval operations, and I’m proud to have this extremely succesful warship and crew in our area.”
Paul Ignatius efficiently accomplished a sequence of missions and operations throughout an prolonged regional patrol all through a lot of 2023, together with joint workout routines with Allies and companions from the Baltic Sea to the coast of Morocco and different maritime safety operations all through the Sixth Fleet space of operations.
“Your warfighting spirit is clear in every crew member and the best way I see your crew function collectively,” stated Ishee. “Our nation, the NATO Alliance, and our regional Allies and companions proceed to depend on the aptitude and resolve that Paul Ignatius brings to take care of freedom of navigation in worldwide waters, deter aggression and assist our companions in Europe and Africa.”
Paul Ignatius returned to its homeport in Rota, Spain on the finish of the November 2023, and has spent their inport interval sustaining proficiency, retaining the ship and crew match to combat, and getting ready for future workout routines and operations all through the Sixth Fleet area.
Paul Ignatius is considered one of 4 Ahead-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) destroyers assigned to Commander Process Pressure 65 as a part of the U.S. Navy’s assist to NATO’s Built-in Air Missile Protection (IAMD) structure. These FDNF-E ships reveal the U.S. Navy’s flexibility to function all through Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, supporting safety and stability within the maritime area.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with allies and companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM areas of duty. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by way of the total spectrum of joint and naval operations.
