230401-N-RU672-0108

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (Apr 1, 2023) Cmdr. Brian Sparks, left, commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32), accepts a letter from Mayor Randy Rowse of Santa Barbara during the ship's commissioning ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) in Port Hueneme, Calif., April 1, 2023. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. NBVC is a strategically located Naval installation composed of three operating facilities: Point Mugu, Port Hueneme and San Nicolas Island. NBVC is the home of the Pacific Seabees, West Coast E-2D Hawkeyes, 3 warfare centers and 80 tenants. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 1st Class Douglas "Evan" Parker)