SAN DIEGO

Led by a celebrating tractor tugboat, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) returns from an eight-month deployment to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego on Oct. 15, 2024. The Russell departed San Diego on Feb. 10 and joined the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Fleet areas of operation to conduct global maritime security operations supporting regional stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mark. D. Faram) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 13, 2024) U.S Navy Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Christopher Stamps, from Indianapolis, left, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Diquan Anderson, from Cameron, North Carolina, middle, and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Robert Taylor, from Jonesboro, Georgia, conduct flight quarters with a Philippine Navy AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter aboard U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) during Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea, Oct. 13, 2024. Sama Sama is a bilateral exercise hosted by the Philippines and the United States with participants from Australia, Canada, France and Japan, designed to promote regional security, cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandria Esteban) Share

SOUTH CHINA SEA

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 12, 2024) A Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft Kawasaki P-1, Philippine Navy first-in-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), and the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) conduct a replenishment-at-sea exercise in the South China Sea as part of Sama Sama 2024, Oct. 12, 2024. Sama Sama is a bilateral exercise hosted by the Philippines and the United States with participants from Australia, Canada, France and Japan, designed to promote regional security, cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandria Esteban) Share

SAN DIEGO

A CH-53E Super Stallion attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466 takes off from amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 15, 2024. Tripoli is an America-class amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego. The ship is currently underway conducting routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Austyn Riley) Share

VISAKHAPATNAM, India

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Rear Adm. K Venkatraman, assistant chief of naval staff for communications, space, and network centric operations, at the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region in New Delhi, India, Oct. 8, 2024. The visit to India emphasized the U.S. commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships for an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) returns to its homeport of San Diego Oct. 15, 2024, after conducting operations in the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation as part of a routine deployment in support of global maritime security operations. The Russell, in support of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, deployed to the Indo-Pacific region to support regional security and stability, keep sea lanes open, and to reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. Navy’s unwavering commitment to the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Melanie Perez) Share

SRI LANKA

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, center left, Sampath Thuyacontha, secretary of defence of Sri Lanka, center right, and Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, participate in an induction ceremony of a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, Oct. 10, 2024. The transfer of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft will provide key capabilities for the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to patrol its own waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The visit to Sri Lanka underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

SRI LANKA

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung speaks about the importance of the U.S. – Sri Lanka partnership during an induction ceremony of a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, Oct. 10, 2024. The transfer of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft will provide key capabilities for the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to patrol its own waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The visit to Sri Lanka underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

SRI LANKA

From left to right: Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, Sampath Thuyacontha, Sri Lanka’s secretary of defence, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, his wife Gina Koehler and other senior military officials participate in an induction ceremony of a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, Oct. 10, 2024. The transfer of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft will provide key capabilities for the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to patrol its own waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The visit to Sri Lanka underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

SRI LANKA

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, fifth from left, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, center right, Sampath Thuyacontha, Sri Lanka’s secretary of defence, center left, and Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, sixth from left, and other senior military officers and officials participate in an induction ceremony of a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, Oct. 10, 2024. The transfer of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft will provide key capabilities for the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to patrol its own waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The visit to Sri Lanka underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

SRI LANKA

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, center left, Sampath Thuyacontha, Sri Lanka’s secretary of defence, center right, and Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force, participate in an induction ceremony of a Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, Oct. 10, 2024. The transfer of the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft will provide key capabilities for the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy to patrol its own waters, counter maritime threats, and secure vital trade routes in the Indian Ocean. The visit to Sri Lanka underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability by upholding the rules based international order. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share

PALAU

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, Joel Ehrendreich, in Airai, Palau, Oct. 12, 2024. The visit to the Republic of Palau underscored Koehler’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy) Share