USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. conducts flight ops in Pacific Ocean

Chief Boatswain’s Mate Benjamin Kehn, right, provides safety as Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Artez Patterson, signals a U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, as it prepares to take off the flight deck of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) on Dec. 4, 2025. Frank E. Petersen Jr., assigned to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christian Kibler)