190330-N-AZ808-1270

KUCHING, Malaysia (March 30, 2019) – U.S. Navy Capt. Randy Van Rossum, Pacific Partnership 2019 mission commander, rings the ceremonial gong to open Pacific Partnership 2019 in Malaysia. Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.