PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) will depart Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam April 2 for an independent deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The ship's departure, originally planned for Feb. 28, was deferred to better refine sequestration planning and execution.

Commanded by Cmdr. Justin Orlich, the ship and its crew of nearly 280 Sailors will conduct integrated operations in conjunction with allies and partners.

"Our team is looking forward to executing the mission," Orlich said. "This is why we train. This is why we remain ready. This is what we do: operate forward."

The ship's motto is, "Imua e na Koa Kai" which translates to "Go Forward Sea Warriors." As part of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and Destroyer Squadron 31, Chung-Hoon operates forward, maintaining the highest warfighting readiness to preserve the freedom of vital sea lanes.

Chung-Hoon is a guided-missile destroyer that is a multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatant -- an important component of the Navy's rebalancing of assets and forces to the Pacific.

USS Chung-Hoon is named in honor of native Hawaiian Rear Adm. Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon, recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star in World War II for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism as commanding officer of USS Sigsbee (DD 502) from May 1944 to October 1945.

Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatants, an important component of the Navy's rebalancing of assets and forces to the Pacific.